If your houseplants are looking a little worse for the wear, don’t give up on them just yet! There might be an easy fix! From The All-Seasons Garden Guide, here is a handy guide of common houseplants ailments and how to cure them!
What’s Wrong With My Houseplants?
Symptom: Long, pale leaves; small new leaves
Cause: Not enough light; too much nitrogen
Cure: Give plant more light; reduce fertilizer frequency
Symptom: Leaves curl under or have yellow or brown spots
Cause: Too much light
Cure: Move plant away from light source, or shade plant with blinds or sheer curtain
Symptom: Mushy stems; lower leaves curl and wilt
Cause: Too much water
Cure: Water only when soil is dry to touch; make sure drain hole is not clogged
Symptom: Leaf tips are brown and leaves wilt
Cause: Not enough water
Cure: Soak pot for 20 minutes in water and let drain; water when soil is dry to touch
Symptom: Leaf edges are crinkly and brown
Cause: lack of humidity
Cure: Mist leaves, or place pot on tray of moist pebbles
Symptom: Lower leaves turn pale and drop off
Cause: Lack of fertilizer
Cure: Fertilize plant regularly during growing season
Symptom: Leaves turn yellow or curl and wilt
Cause: Too much heat
Cure: Move plant to cooler spot in house; be sure plant is not close to heat vent or on top of TV
Symptom: Plant wilts between waterings; roots growing out of drainage hole
Cause: Pot too small
Cure: Repot plant into a container one size larger
Check out The 2014 All-Seasons Garden Guide for tips, tricks, and general know-how about indoor and outdoor plants alike!
Did you know that The 2015 Old Farmer’s Almanac is now available exclusively through our website? Get your copy here!
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Help! Whats wrong with my house plants?
Hello,
My parents are both avid plants growers and have always had beautiful house plants. They have big windows, facing south and west. But for the last 3 years no matter what type of plant they bring into the house it dies almost instantly, within 2 weeks all the leaves will fall off and the whole plant dies. Its so quick you can almost watch it happen! We are stumped to figure out what it can be? Something in the air? The soil?
Any suggestions would be great appreciated!
Thank you,