Your Guide to Troubleshooting Common Houseplant Problems
Maintaining thriving indoor houseplants can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s not without its challenges. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned plant parent, it can be very frustrating trying to diagnose and treat common houseplant problems.
From wilting leaves to yellowing stems or those annoying fungus gnats that love to fly by your face while you’re watching T.V., There are many issues that plague even the most experienced plant enthusiasts.
Let’s dig into some of the most common houseplant problems and give you some effective fixes to keep your greenery lush and vibrant.
1. Yellowing Leaves:
Problem: Yellowing leaves can indicate a variety of problems, including overwatering, underwatering, poor drainage, or nutrient deficiencies.
Overwatering can lead to root rot and oxygen deprivation, causing leaves to yellow and wilt.
Underwatering, on the other hand, results in a lack of nutrients reaching the leaves. Poor drainage can exacerbate both problems.
Fix: You will need to test all problems to narrow down the root of the problem. If you are overwatering and the soil is consistently damp check the first two inches of soil. Space out your watering schedule and adjust your routine.
Do the reverse if you are underwatering. Adjust your routine and up your schedule.
Water only when the top inch of soil is dry. Be sure to check the drainage holes in your pots and you may need to re-pot if the soil is too waterlogged.
Also, consider adding a balanced fertilizer or amending the soil with nutrients like iron or magnesium. Follow the instructions and dosage limits.
2. Brown Leaf Tips:
Problem: Brown tips often indicate dry air, inconsistent watering, or excess salt buildup in the soil. Sometimes it’s caused by the plant’s inability to uptake water effectively.
Dry Air can accelerate water loss through the leaves, while inconsistent watering or salt buildup in the soil can hinder water absorption.
Fix: Increasing humidity around your plants using trays of water or a humidifier. Water consistently and ensure proper drainage. Place a tray of water nearby or use a humidifier.
If tap water is high in minerals or chlorine, it can lead to brown tips. Use filtered or distilled water, or let tap water sit out for a day before using it to water your plants.
If salt buildup is the issue, leach the soil by watering until water drains from the bottom drainage holes.
You also need to ensure your plant is potted in the correct well-draining soil. Poorly draining soil can lead to waterlogged roots, causing brown tips. Repot if the soil is compacted or not suitable.
The Container size matters, if the pot is too small, the plant will struggle to take up water, leading to dehydration and brown leaf tips.
Dust and dirt can accumulate on leaves, obstructing their ability to receive light and moisture. Gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep them clean.
3. Fungal Diseases:
Problem: Diseases like powdery mildew that appear as a white powdery substance on the leaves and leaf spot can lead to discoloured lesions, and distorted, or dying leaves. Fungal diseases thrive in humid and moist conditions.
Fix: The first step is to Isolate the affected plant, you want to prevent the fungal disease from spreading to other plants.
You will need to prune, remove and destroy affected leaves and stems to prevent disease. Make sure you use sanitized pruning tools when you do this. Dispose of all of the infected plant material properly.
Improve air circulation by placing it in a well-ventilated area. This can help prevent the buildup of excess moisture that encourages fungal growth.
Overwatering can create a favourable environment for fungal growth. Avoid overhead watering, as wet leaves can promote fungal growth.
Water the plants at their base and avoid getting water on the leaves. Allow the topsoil to dry out before watering again.
Apply a fungicide if necessary, formulated for the specific disease like neem oil or fungicides. Neem oil is a natural fungicide that can help Be sure you are following the instructions carefully.
4. No New Growth:
Problem: Lack of new growth can stem from low light, inadequate nutrients, or an incorrect pot size. Stagnant growth is typical in overcrowded roots, it’s hard to know if your plant is root-bound and outgrowing its current home.
Fix: You need to ensure your plant receives proper light. First, assess the plant’s light requirements. Consider fertilizing with a balanced formula. Different plants have varying light requirements.
If the plant isn’t getting enough light, consider moving it to a brighter location or providing artificial grow lights.
Repot into a slightly larger pot if the plant has outgrown its current container, and use fresh soil to encourage new growth. If it’s become rootbound, this will lead to stagnation in growth.
You will need to repot into a slightly larger container with fresh soil if needed. You can also fertilize the plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season.
Seasonal changes are also a factor as some plants have growth cycles that are influenced by seasons. It’s normal for growth to slow down during certain times of the year, so keep this in mind.
5. Wilting Plants:
Problem: Wilting plants typically point to dehydration, water-related issues, or root stress due to poor soil conditions, compacted roots, or root-bound plants.
Fix: First, water the plant thoroughly, allowing water to drain from the bottom. Check the roots for signs of rot or pests. If the roots are tightly packed, gently tease them apart and repot the plant into a slightly larger pot with fresh soil. Trim any damaged roots to encourage healthy re-growth.
Prune away any dead or damaged leaves, as they contribute to water loss and stress on the plant. It might also be beneficial to mist the leaves with water to increase the humidity.
You can also apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce water evaporation.
If the plant is severely wilted, don’t rush the recovery process. You will need to gradually increase water to provide care to prevent your plant from going into shock.
Keep a close eye on your plant’s progress. It may take some time for the plant to fully recover. keep adjusting your care techniques.
6. Pests and Fungus gnats:
Problem: Pests and fungus gnats, this is the last most common houseplant problem we will cover in this post.
We will dig deep into this one. I have a ton of experience in this problem and have tried every method you can find on how to get rid of these suckers.
There are also insects like aphids, mealybugs and spider mites that can weaken plants and spread diseases.
Fix: Identify the pest, and isolate the affected plants. You can use a variety of insecticidal soap or neem oil spray.
Allow the soil to dry, gnats thrive in moist soil and allow plants to dry out in between waterings to help reduce their population by making the environment less enjoyable for their larvae.
Bottom watering instead of watering from the top. The Larva likes to be near the topsoil so this will allow the plant to dry up from the top and watering from the bottom makes sure you plant still gets the moisture it needs but the gnats do not.
Sticky traps, Those yellow sticky traps placed near your plants can catch the adult fungus gnats in mid-air,
They are attracted to these as they are coated with a sticky substance that traps them when they come in contact with it. These have been one of my tried and true methods I use and swear by.
Diatomaceous Earth, Cinnamon and Beneficial nematodes are some other options. Sprinkling these on the soil’s surface can help control fungus gnats and prevent them from laying eggs in the soil.
The beneficial nematodes are microscopic organisms that are safe for plants, pets and humans, they prey on the larvae of the fungus gnats.
Hydrogen peroxide solution, mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with 4 parts water, spray your plants or water them with the solution will help kill the larvae.
Only do this in moderation so you don’t harm your plants. I usually keep a spray bottle of this solution as a top-up if needed.
That’s it for your Common Houseplant Problems and ways to fix them.
I hope you take away some solutions to your most common houseplant problems and use a few of the strategies we have given you to solve those pesky problems so you can enjoy a thriving and beautiful lush green indoor garden.
Remember successful plant care involves a combination of observation, adjustment and patience. Every plant parent knows that troubleshooting is an essential part of caring for and nurturing plant babies.
When you’re better equipped to solve these common houseplant problems with patience and nurturing care you will have a thriving beautiful indoor plant garden.
