Bringing greenery indoors can liven up any room, boost your mood, and purify your air. But even the most enthusiastic plant parent runs into problems now and then. The good news? Most houseplant struggles have simple solutions. Below, learn how to identify and treat the top three common houseplant problems and how to fix them
Over watering and root rot
Taking care of plants is easy, give water put in sun, right? Well…yes… technically…but it is a little more complex than that. One of the most common problems new plant parents make is giving their plants too much love, in the form of water. You might be asking yourself “wait I thought plants love water” and while you are correct there is a fine line between watering and water boarding your plants. This “excess love” can cause a serious issue known as root rot. Root rot is often cited as the leading cause of indoor house plant decline. So what are the signs of root rot? Glad you asked…there are three main signs of root rot: leaves turning yellow or translucent, stems becoming soft, mushy or blackened at soil level, and a persistent musty or sour smell in the soil.
The Fix:
Now you might be asking “what the heck causes root rot?” Well conveniently I have come up with three main causes: watering on a set schedule and not checking the soil for moisture content, pots without drainage holes, and heavy compacted soil that retains water. Fixing is easy, once you spot the signs. Always check soil moisture before watering by poking your finger an inch deep or using a moisture meter. If you suspect root rot, gently remove the plant from its pot. Trim off any dark, mushy roots with sterile scissors and repot in fresh, well-draining soil. Select pots with drainage holes and empty saucers after watering. Allow the top couple of inches of soil to dry out before watering again, especially during dormant seasons.
Insufficient light
The next common issue plant parents run into is insufficient light for their plants. Much like me during these northwest winters a lack of sunlight can be harmful for your plants development. The main signs of insufficient light are pale leaves (same girl), slow growth (same girl), and leggy growth to reach sunlight (same gir…wait what?). The biggest causes of this are weak seasonal light (again northeast winters man), and plant positioning in regards to a light source (ie. A window or grow light).
The Fix:
So how do you fix it? Step one: move to the equator and live your best sunshine and plant filled life. Ok …if that’s not an option for you start with downloading a light meter app on your phone. The app Photone works well for this. Start by identifying the light intensity in different areas of your house. Then determine how much light your plants need, it is important to cater to your plants light requirements, not every plant loves full sun. Once you have all your plants light needs identified and the locations in your house properly light metered it is time to play matchmaker. So much like my middle school teacher playing match maker with me and the class hamster (I was a weird kid) with the right information you can find the perfect match for every plant.
Pest Infestation (Spider Mites, Mealybugs, Fungus Gnats)
The last and possibly the biggest problem that is common for new plant parents is…bugs. Now personally I like bugs (again weird kid), if I see a spider chilling in the corner that’s cool, that’s Gregg he’s a productive member of this house hold. The problem arises when these bugs specifically target my hardwork. The most common bugs that plant parents deal with are spider mites, Mealybugs, and Fungus Gnats. The common signs are flying bugs(duh) sticky residue, white webbing, and stripped leaves.
The Fix:
The biggest factors that support a big infestation are bringing in new plants, warm and dry conditions, and excessively wet soil. In order to combat these malicious marauders one must first unpack their standard military issued flame thrower. I kid…mostly. The first step to combat is identifying the pest and where it is coming from. Once you have the suspect plant it is important to quarantine it away from all other plants (hey quarantine…y’all remember quarantining?). Rinse the leaves with warm water and then treat with neem oil. For more information on how to combat pests click here!
Conclusion on the Top Three Common Houseplant Problems and how to Fix Them
After learning about the most common issues with house plants it is easy to see that most houseplant hiccups are easily managed with a few tweaks to your care routine. By learning to spot the warning signs early and knowing how to respond, you’ll keep your indoor oasis thriving year-round.