What Your House Plants Are Trying To Tell You
By Ange Arnal
1 year ago
1. Wilting or drooping leaves - it's a watering problem!
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There are several possible reasons as to why your plant could be wilting or drooping; overwatering or underwatering are the most likely but it could be the temperature of the room the plant is kept in too, the amount of light it receives, nutrient deficiency or pests and diseases that could have attacked the plant.2. Yellow or brown leaves - not enough light!
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Excessive watering can lead to root rot, which in turn can cause the leaves to turn yellow or brown, insufficient light or too much direct sunlight can cause yellowing or browning of leaves. Natural ageing, however, can also leave your plant looking yellow/brown.3. Leaf drop - temperature changes!
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To determine the cause of the leaf drop, examine your plant, the soil, adjust watering habits, ensure it is receiving appropriate light, and check the plant for signs of pests or disease. Temperature changes, like a sudden cold draft, can cause leaves to drop off.4. Stunted growth - pot size is an issue!
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To help your plant grow and avoid stunting it's growth, make sure it's in a pot that is the right size for its root system, give it the plenty of amount of water and light, use high-quality soil, and consider fertilizing it with a balanced plant food. It needs as much TLC as possible.5. Spindly stems - not enough light!
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Spindly stems on a house plant are tends to be a sign of insufficient light. Your house plant is attempting to stretch out its stems in an attempt to get more sunlight so always make sure you place your plants where the sun can reach them. Other causes for spindly stems could be over-fertilization or over-watering, which can also lead to rapid, weak growth.6. Root rot - the soil isn't draining properly!
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To prevent root rot in your house plant, make sure that the soil is draining properly and that you don't over water your plant. Allow the soil to dry out slightly after watering, and that it dries out between watering. You should also use a plant pot with drainage holes, as this will help to ensure that water does not accumulate in the soil.7. Slow Growth - you need better soil!
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Your house plant with grow quickly and thrive if you make sure it is getting enough light, water, and nutrients. Use high-quality soil and avoid over-fertilizing. Make sure that the pot is the appropriate size for the plant's root, and provide optimal environmental conditions for growth.8. Mold or mildew on the leaves or the soil - wipe it off!
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If you notice mold or mildew on your plant, you can try wiping it off with a damp cloth or spraying the plant with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Improve air circulation, make sure you don't over water your plants and allow the soil to dry enough between waterings.9. Pests on the plant or the soil - it's too late!
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If your soil is contaminated, there could be pests due to over watering which creates a damp environment that is ideal for pests like fungus gants and soil dwelling insects. Plants bought from a garden center are often infested with pests before you even bring the plant home.10. Brown or black spots on the leaves - it's got an infection...
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Brown or black spots on house plants can be a sign of a number of issues, including fungal or bacterial infections, pest infestations, or environmental stress. Adjust the watering schedule or try to improve the air circulation around the plant.11. Curling leaves - use pesticides!
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If your house plant has curling leaves, it can be a sign of several issues, including environmental stress, pest infestations, nutrient deficiencies, or disease. Use pesticides or fungicide and make sure your plant is getting enough air circulation and if it's a nutrient deficiency, then make sure to be using a high-quality fertilizer. Always use high quality products just to be sure.12. Brittle or crunchy leaves
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Brittle or curling leaves on a house plant can be a sign of several issues, including under watering, overwatering, low humidity, or environmental stress. If the issue is related to environmental stress, try moving the plant to a more suitable location and increase the levels of humidity around the plant.13. Scorched leaves
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Too much direct sunlight will cause your house plant to have scorched leaves, so to prevent this fro happening again, more the plant away from sunlight. Prune the affected leaves and avoid over fertilising as this will only make things worse for your plants leaves.14. Abnormally shaped leaves
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Genetic factors can cause your house plant to have abnormally shaped leaves, some plant species have naturally unique or abnormal leaf shapes that are characteristic of the plant so if this is the case, abnormally shaped leaves are not a cause for concern. Environmental stress and pests can also be a cause.15. No new growth
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Check the light levels, and make sure your plant is receiving adequate amounts of water and nutrients. Consider repotting your plant if it has outgrown its current holder. In some cases, you may need to address pest or disease issues or over/under watering.16. Loss of color and vibrancy in the leaves
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If your plant is not getting enough light, try moving it to a brighter spot. Adjust the watering schedule if needs be! You can also fertilize your plant with a balanced fertilizer to make sure it's receiving the necessary nutrients and if your plant is suffering from pests or disease, make sure to get it treated as quickly as possible.17. Stem or leaf discoloration
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You may need to see a horticulturalist if these problems persist. Adjust your watering schedule if needs be and make sure your plant is receiving adequate nutrients. You may actually need to move your plant to a location with more lighting or adjust the temperature and humidity levels.18. Fungus on the leaves or the soil
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Isolate the diseased part of the plant and trim the affected areas to start with. Improve the air quality and circulation and increase the space between other plants to avoid any splashing water that could infected other plants you may have nearby.19. White, cotton like dots on the leaves
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Pests can be a real issue for your house plants and one of the most common pests you're likely to encounter is the mealybug. Insects look like tiny bits of waxy white cotton stuck to the stems and leaves of the plant and they can become a real threat to your house plants if they're not treated.20. Smelly soil or plant
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When the soil smells rotten, it's an indicator of bad drainage or a lack of oxygen to the plant. The soil in your plant should crumble easily but if it smells or your plant smells, make sure you're not over watering or under watering your plant and that you're giving it enough time to dry a little between waters.21. Overgrown roots
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The aerial roots help to anchor the plant as well as provide moisture and nutrients from the air. When the roots are overgrown, its a sign that you need to prune them. Make sure that your house plant is in a big enough pot and that you're not overwatering it.22. Roots growing out of the drainage holes
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Your house plant may be a little too big for the pot that it's growing in, you should consider repotting it and making sure that the soil is draining properly, if it's too compact then this will lead to the roots growing out of the drainage holes and causing you a whole lot of trouble.23. Dead or dying branches
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Over and under watering as well as a lack of light could be contributing to your houseplants branches dying or drooping! However, be sure that your plant doesn't have any pests or diseases, spider mites and mealybugs can really affect the way your house plant grows so its worth checking all avenues.24. Leaves turning black or falling off
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Fungi can affect your house plant, it can cause root rot and stem rot so to prevent this from happening, avoid overwatering the plant and cut the roots and leaves that appear to have gone black. Make sure to repot the plant using a sterile pitting mix and a clean pot.25. Yellowing at the edges of the leaves
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Telltale signs of over fertilising are browning of leaf tips and a crust on the top of the soil indicate salt buildup from too much water or fertilisers. cut back on the amount and frequency of fertilizing and repot the plant making sure to drain the soil in the sink before putting it into it's new home.26. Lack of flowering or fruiting
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Some house plants needs less fertlizer than others and indoor plants grown for foliage benefit from a nitrogen boost - a macronutrient which helps increase chlorophyll production. If you add too much nitrogen, your plant will get too much growth, not enough nitrogen, it'll obviously go the opposite way.27. Discoloured or distorted new growth
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Fingal diseases tend to occur in winter mostly, due to the rise of humidity and the change in household temperatures. Remove and throw away any infected leaves and make sure to increase air circulation around the plant so that it's getting enough oxygen. Avoid watering when the soil is damp, give the plant enough time to dry out before watering it again.28. Wilting even after watering
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Having a infrequent watering routine will cause your plant to develop issues like wilting leaves. If you suspect root rot, examine the infected roots and then repot your plant into a clean pot using sterile, well draining potting mix - the Miracle Grow indoor potting mix is perfect.29. Pale green or yellow color
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Overwatering, low humidity, poor soil drainage, low temperatures and pot bound roots can all cause your plant to develop yellowing leaves. If the weather suddenly changes in temperature or your home does this will cause your plant to react to the unexpected environmental changes.30. Lack of response to fertilisers or plant food
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If your house plant appears to be a bit 'absent', if it's not growing or developing new leaves then this is a sign that it's thirsty and that you need to start watering it more frequently and making sure that you stick to a steady watering routine. This will allow the plant to see more growth.31. And now: practically unkillable house plants and how to take care of them! First up: the Cast Iron Plant
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Iron is exactly right because this plant has a strong and resilient nature that won't disappoint! Also known as the aspidistra, this is a great plant if you really want to focus on an obvious foliage in your room, especially for a floor standing plant. They only need watering once a month!32. The Snake Plant
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This is one of the top plants if you find it hard to keep plants alive! Snake plants do well in pretty much all lighting environments, so you don't need to worry about a spot that doesn't get much sunlight. Dust their leaves every now and then and give a light watering once a month!33. Kentia Palm
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Palm trees are super popular for interior decor, because they look so good - and tropical! The Kentia Palm is your best bet if you want a palm in your home but don't want to worry about killing it! Surprisingly, this palm loves a bit of shade, and it doesn't need a lot of care or attention.34. The Corn Plant
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This plant is super stubborn, which means it's great if you want a long-term low maintenance option! This plant can easily cope with low light conditions, as well as changing temperatures. Its tall size also makes it perfect for a living room feature or focal piece!35. Devil's Ivy
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Don't let the name put you off - this is a hardy and reliable plant you can trust in! Not only that, it looks great attached along shelving or the top of rooms. Also known as Golden Porthos (which sounds a bit more positive), this plant won't mind at all if you forget a few waterings - and it easily bounces back!36. ZZ Plant
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It may sound like a rock band, but this is a sturdy plant every home should have if your plant care abilities aren't the best! This plant is capable of going a long time without water; it hails from South Africa where it's used to draught. It's a great eye-catching plant that'll look good in any home!37. Dragon Tree
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A seriously cool name for a seriously cool plant! And easy to care for, at that. This plant works best in good indirect light, but they can also cope easily in shady spots or brighter spots. It only needs a light water - and it's fine if you forget - because overwatering would be more of an issue!38. Rubber Plant
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This plant is one for lovers of extremely tall plants they want to watch grow and grow! Which is likely with minimal care, because this plant is happily low-maintenance. The easiest way to care for this one is to let the soil dry completely between waterings - that way, you'll know when not to overwater!39. Peace Lily
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Peace is what you'll have in your home when it comes to plant care with this one, because there's no drama. The added beauty of this plant is its beautiful white flowers to add that extra touch to any room. This plant is actually perfect for the over-waterer, because they won't mind too much hydration!40. Money Tree
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This is a house tree that thrives in direct light, so perfect if you have a very bright home or direct window space. The money tree is a hardy plant that knows how to bounce back, so this isn't one that's going to be past the point of no return if it looks a little sad! They also grow very quickly!41. Philodendron
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Isn't she a beaut? This one is for lovers of the long trailing plants, but who want an option that won't fade out very easily. This is a great starter plant, too, because it's so low maintenance but will quickly grow to cover anything you want it to climb or grow along!42. Dracaena Lemon & Lime
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This plant is particularly stunning because it shows off both green and yellow hues on its leaves! It's very low maintenance, too, and is happy in a medium-shade spot and only needs a top of water every 7 to 10 days - but fine if you're away for a two week vacation because it won't be fussy!43. Bunny Ear Cactus
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You might have heard that cactus are notable for being practically unkillable, but the bunny-eared cactus is one that you'll definitely want for aesthetics alone! This spiky guy will only need watering every 6 weeks or so, and they're very tolerant to light or draught.44. Spikey Snakey
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Okay, so they're really called 'sansevieria spiky', a member of the Snake plant family, but spiky snakey pretty much sums it up! Any member of the Snake plant family is usually pretty hardy and low maintenance. This one only needs a small amount of water every 3 weeks or so!45. Aloe Succulent
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Another succulent you'll want to get on board with is the aloe succulent! Succulents are always great choices for easy indoor plant care, and the aloe also has larger leaves than most succulents. It will only need a water once a month (or wait until the soil is completely dry) and it likes a warm spot!46. Zebra Cactus
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This one is definitely a show-stopper - just look at that stripy zebra coat! This plant is also known as the Haworthia plant, this cactus comes in many shapes and sizes - but the low maintenance is always the same: a bright, indirect sunlight spot and light watering once a month!47. Sansevieria Punk
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We're back with the Snake plants, but maybe the other ones are too straight up and rigid for you! Let us introduce you to the punk version. He's an air purifier, so brownie points for that, and he'll only need watering every 1-2 months, as well as being very adaptable to any light conditions.48. Satin Porthos
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This beautiful trailing plant will also give off a silver sheen to its leaves if properly cared for - which is very easy to do, because this is another hardy and low-maintenance plant. This plant loves a high-light spot, and he prefers being dry to overly watered. Bonus points if you mist his leaves every now and then!49. The Yucca
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Yuccas are amongst the most popular for easygoing statement plants that can stand tall in a room! They live best in a sunny spot all the time, so placing somewhere that gets some form of sunlight all year round will be ideal! You then only need to water once every 10 days or so.50. Top tip: the bigger they are, the easier they are!
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If you've been struggling to keep your house plants thriving lately, you might have been thinking tiny cactuses would be easier than huge parlor palms - but actually, larger plants are much easier to look after (and more likely to thrive) and that's because they're already established and doing so well already! This makes larger plants better for beginners, too.What To Read Next
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