Identifying Stressed-Out Houseplants
You love your houseplants as much as we do, and sometimes you notice that they don’t seem quite as happy as they once were. How do you diagnose problems with your houseplants when there could be so many things going wrong? We’ll talk about some of the most common houseplant problems and how to make a formal and effective diagnosis.
How Do You Diagnose Problems in a Houseplant?
The good news is that most plants show very distinct signs that something’s rubbing them the wrong way, with telltale symptoms of a problem or discomfort. They might show discolouration, droopiness, or a general appearance of not jiving with life. Here are some common visual cues of houseplant issues that might prompt a further investigation and swift diagnosis.
Yellow leaves: the worst part about yellowing leaves on a houseplant is that it can be tricky to diagnose the problem. Why? Because so many things can cause this symptom, and if you’re not in tune with your plant’s regular mojo or don’t pay too much attention to watering and feeding schedules, you might have some investigating to do. The most common diagnosis of yellow leaves is watering problems (overwatering or underwatering), lack of sunlight, poor soil nutrition, and even cold drafts. Make sure you don’t place tropicals close to cold air coming in from outside and ensure all houseplants receive adequate amounts of light required. Getting these components right is key to a happy houseplant and far fewer problems!
Leaf drop: sometimes, a houseplant will start dropping a few leaves here and there, enough to make you wonder if there’s a problem. If you’ve ruled out a diagnosis of watering issues and light exposure concerns, take a close look at the roots and see if your plant might be getting a bit too snug in its pot. If a houseplant is root bound, it could be time to move it into a larger pot. Another sign of this diagnosis is a houseplant that stops growing (outside of the dormant winter season). Leaves dropping can sometimes be a problem caused by too much water leading to root rot, so make sure your houseplant is never sitting in water at the base of its pot.
Houseplant Problems Over Winter
You know that winter means quiet time for houseplants just as it does for the rest of nature, but that doesn’t mean they won’t respond to problems in the home any less! Winter can be a trying time for houseplants with rapid temperature changes, dry air, and exposure to cold drafts or heat vents. If you’re housing tropicals, watch humidity levels over winter and consider adding a humidifier close by for that extra dose of moisture to prevent problems. Moving plants into a bathroom (provided you have a window for light) is often a great winter home for plants until temperatures rise in the spring. You can also cluster plants together to raise humidity levels, or put smaller plants in terrariums. Light is also a problem over winter, and if you find your home lacking in sun, try adding grow lights temporarily to make sure your resting houseplants are still getting the light they need to photosynthesize.
Pests: making a diagnosis that your houseplant has pest problems can be tricky and, if confirmed, can be a real pain to get rid of. Aside from actually seeing pests on your houseplant, how do you know if something has moved into your plants’ abode? Here are common houseplants pests and how your plant may show you they’ve moved in.
Mealybugs
With the appearance of white cotton, these somewhat common pests are sure to dampen your houseplant’s mood. Tricky by nature, mealybugs will hide before suddenly appearing all over your plant. They like new plant growth, and their annoying presence can cause yellow leaves and leaf drop.
Spider Mites
A houseplant’s worst nightmare—spider mites are not the diagnosis you want to make! Making webs across your plant, these destructive pests are fairly easy to spot and need to be taken care of right away before they suck the life from your houseplant. If you notice fine webbing and dried-up, shrivelled leaves, you know they’re in there! Quarantine-infested plants during treatment and spray both sides of leaves with insecticidal soap.
Fungus Gnats
These common houseplant pests like to lay their eggs on damp soil, and just love plants that get watered frequently. While not terribly damaging to houseplants, enough of them can damage plant roots—so it’s best to get rid of them. If fungus gnats are the diagnosis, let the soil dry out between waterings, or try placing a layer of gravel or sand on top to prevent gnats from making themselves at home. Another way to reduce these pests is by placing a yellow sticky trap in the soil of your plants’ pot.
If you need more info on houseplant care tips, design, or inspiration, or if you’re just trying to find the best place to buy houseplants in Powell River, we’d love to see you stop by! Our expert team has advice no matter what you’re looking for, and a great selection of garden favourites and decor.