common houseplants problems: One of the most frustrating parts of keeping houseplants is that after a while, due to different factors, their leaves suddenly start to turn yellow, fall or wither; Little by little, these beautiful lovely creatures lose their health and beauty and disappear; Worst of all, we don’t know what happened to them, and we will have to watch them die.
keeping plants in today’s modern apartment life, despite the difficulties it brings, has been recommended by many doctors and psychologists because of the positive effects of the freshness and greenness of flowers on the mental and psychological health and even the physical health of family members, especially Children are approved by many scientists and researchers around the world. But the common houseplants problems and houseplants diseases often put off most people from keeping them, even those interested in this work. In this article, we in theHplants team will describe the most common houseplants problems, how to prevent them, and solutions so that you can save a diseased plant.
Most common houseplants problems
1. What is the cause of the leggy growth of houseplants?
Sometimes you see that the plants grow thin and long stem with few leaves on it. this situation is called leggy growth. it gives plants an unusual appearance and significantly reduces their beauty. The most common cause of this problem is lack of light, to fix it, move the plant to a brighter environment; of course, you should keep in mind that the amount of light varies according to the type of plant. This light can be received directly or indirectly, and you need to consider the type of plant.
If you have low light at home, you can use artificial lights designed to grow indoor plants. But before buying any, ensure it is suitable for indoor plants.
2. What is the reason for houseplant leaves burning ?
Another common houseplants problems that can happen to most of them is leave and leave’s tip burn. Leave burn may be seen on the tips of the leaves or its sides or even on the entire leaf surface; the leading cause of this problem is direct sunlight, humidity deficiency and spraying under the sun. To solve this problem, move your plant to an environment that get indirect light.
to meet the humidity need, use the island method for your plant; that is, Choose a plant saucer larger than the previous one ,and then pours pebbles into it. Place the pot on top of the pebbles and fill the saucer with water to the level that the water does not touch the bottom of the pot.
Sometimes, it you may witness that the leaves get burned due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers; in both cases, remove the damaged leaves and adjust the amount of fertilization.
Apart from the above cases, this houseplants problems can be happen due to a damage to the roots. In this case, check the plant and ensure the health of the roots.
3. What is the reason for fading and burning leaves of indoor plants?
Another common houseplants problem is the burning and withering of leaves. Above we have mentioned some reasons for leave burn. plants can get sunburned just like humans. Pale or white leaves are a sign of sunburn and too much light. Fortunately, the solution to this problem is straightforward, and you need to move the plant from the place it receive direct sunlight so that it could heal itself.
Of course, leave burn may also be caused by excessive fertilization. Too much fertilizer can cause salt accumulation in the soil and burn the plant leaves. To solve this problem, you need to reduce the amount of fertilization or dilute the fertilizer you use more.
4. Increasing the number of leaves and decreasing the amount of flowering
The decrease in flowering has various factors, but if your plant does not bloom even though it has good growth in the branches and leaves, the cause of these houseplants problems can be found in the high amount of nitrogen in the soil, which may be due to the excessive use of Nitrogen fertilizers whether chemical or homemade, in these cases, reduce the amount of nitrogen in your plant.
Note that excessive use of coffee grounds for houseplants can cause the same problem because coffee grounds contain a lot of nitrogen.
5. What is the cause of the yellowing leaves of houseplants?
Yellowing of leaves is one of the common houseplants problems that even experts may face.
it can be said that the reason for the yellowing of the leaves, of the plants for those who have recently started to keep plant, are usually because of watering more than the plant needs because most people believe that they should water the plants every day; while most plants need to be watered only if at least 1 inch of their soil is dry, apart from overwatering, the yellowing of the leaves is due to factors such as the cold environment, unsuitable pot, low humidity and sometimes the lack of roots. as soon as Diagnosing the cause, you must seek to fix it.
In a separate article, we discussed the cause of the houseplants leaves turning yellow, which you should read if your plants suffer from this problem.
6. The reason why the leaves remain small or bend and wither
Sometimes you may notice that a leave is much smaller than the other leaves, or you see your healthy plant with a withered appearance. this is one of the most common houseplant problems that happen due to improper level of humidity in the plant, which, depending on the type of plant and the conditions of the plant in question, may be due to a lack of humidity or too much of that. These problems may also occur if the soil surface becomes too dry or humid.
Of course, nutrients deficiency in plants especially in the soil can be one of the reasons for the small leaves, which can solve by using special fertilizers for ornamental plants such as NPK 20-20-20 fertilizer.
7. What is the main reason for the leaves to turn brown?
The lack of moisture and fungal disease can be the reason for this problem; the island’s method prevents the this common houseplants problem by creating the right amount of moisture. If the soil in your pot is contaminated when you use pesticides, you will also see browning of the leaves.
don’t forget to check out 9 Pesticides for houseplants
If you have used pesticides, replace the soil in the pot or water it thoroughly to remove the toxins. It has been observed that root rot also sometimes causes the leaves to turn brown, so if you see brown leaves, in addition to the cases mentioned above, ensure the roots’ health and the air balance of the environment.
We have a complete article about the reason for the browning of the leaves tips, which you’d better read.
8. What is the cause of the yellowing of the leaves?
Another common houseplants problems with that is common among those who keep houseplant, is the yellowing of the leaves’ sides. If your plant turns yellow from the sides and edges and this yellowing gradually spreads towards the center of the leaf, it is due nutrients deficiency . In these cases, you should use the required fertilizer according to your plant’s needs. Usually, plants should be fertilized once a month, except in winter. The best fertilizer for such cases is NPK 20-20-20 fertilize.
9. Losing of the natural appearance of the leaf and appearing spots with different colors on the leaves
In these cases, with a little investigation, you will notice insects and pests that feed on your plant, in these cases; depending on the progress of the infestation, use pesticides or clean houseplant leaves; of course, in both cases, cut out the damaged leaves.
10. Why does the plant wither?
If your plant is still withered despite proper moisture, light and nutrition conditions, look for the cause in the roots. to solve this common houseplants problems, remove the black and damaged roots and plant it in a pot with the right size and new soil. this problem can also happen because of overwatering.
also you can plant wilting after repotting which is a natural process; so, don’t worry about it
11. What is the cause of spots on the leaves of houseplants?
In addition to the withering of the leaves, appearing spots is another common houseplants problems. Fungal, bacterial or viral diseases usually cause these spots. To solve this problem, you need to move the plant to a place with better air circulation so that the soil dries faster between waterings. You should also remove all the infected leaves from the plant and throw them away.
Keep in mind that all the infected parts must be cut from the plant and you should move the plant away from other plants as soon as possible. Otherwise, it is also possible to spread to other plants.
Also, to prevent the plants from getting this problem again, try to provide enough space for each plant and do not place the plants too close. Also, always pour water from the lower part and close to the plant’s soil during watering so that the leaves or the plant’s main trunk do not get as much wet as possible. and try to use suitable water For indoor plants
12. What is the reason for stopping the growth and drying up of the plant?
of other houseplants problems is that when the plants stop growing .this may worry you, but don’t worry; the problem is not serious; it happens when air circulation is closed or when it’s time to repot houseplants causes these problems. In these cases, separating the plant from other plants is recommended. And keep it in a environment with better air circulation.
13. What is the cause of the sudden drying of the plant?
The most important cause of this houseplant problem, which happens mostly in summer and winter, is the sudden temperature change, so it is necessary to pay attention to moving the plants inside or outside the house according to their temperature needs at the beginning of summer and winter.
14. plant does not blooming or the blossoms falling before blooming
Another common houseplants problem that is for plants that have flowers is that the plant does not bloom. the reason for this problem is cold air, low humidity or low light. So make sure to provide the right conditions for your plants.
15. What causes small brown spots on the leaves?
If you fertilize your plant correctly, the amount of salt in the soil will increase after some time. This salt will cause brown spots. The higher the amount, the bigger the spots. To get rid of excess salt, you just need to carry out the Flood or surface Irrigation the plant once a month.
16. Withering and powdery mildew
Suppose you see a white powdery fungus on the plant’s foliage, and the leaf withers and eventually fall. In that case, the leading cause of this problem is powdery mildew, and to solve this problem, first remove the infected leaves from the plant and isolate the sick plant from others, and use the proper air circulation system for them and finally use fungicides to fix the problem.
17. The cause of mold in houseplants
Its name is superficial powdery mildew, a fungal disease that infects many plants. This fungus develops in conditions where the light is low, the leaves are dry, and the humidity is high. At first, this problem appears in white dust on your plant, and then it manifests as white spots that destroy the leaves.
The causative agents of surface powdery mildew can spread to other plants through the wind, so it is better to quarantine the infected plant as soon as possible so that the causative agents of the disease are not transferred to your other plants. To fix this problem, remove all the infected leaves from the plant, move it to an environment with better ventilation and lower humidity, and then treat the plant with industrial fungicides.
18. Why are the leaves getting smaller?
Another houseplants problem is the shrinking of the leaves. The cause of this problem can be a lack of moisture in the soil or overwatering. To solve the first problem, you need to know the amount of watering your plants to water them accordingly, but in the first step, if there is too much watering, Stop it and check the pot’s drainage. Then check the root of the plant to remove it from the plant if it has turned black.
Critical points in keeping plant that you should know
in this article we examined common houseplants problems; now, you will be able to identify the problems of your houseplants and take action to solve them. Still, it is necessary to mention that prevention is better than cure in the case of plants, so pay attention to the following points to avoid getting involved with The common houseplants problems.
- When Buying Houseplants , choose a plant that is compatible with the conditions of your home
- Avoid buying damaged and diseased plants
- After buying the new plant, keep it away from the rest of the plants for a while
- Choosing a pot for your plant is important; check its drainage every so often
- Avoid overwatering and overfertilizing
- If you are a beginner, choose plants that are easier to keep
- Supply moisture to the plant using an island; other methods, such as spraying, will cause you many problems, so use either an island or a humidifier.
- Adjust the light required by the plant; most houseplants need filtered light.
- You can prevent salt accumulation on the soil surface by fertilizing at the right time and in the right amount, along with watering houseplants. Water in such a way that the excess water comes out from under the pot
- In most cases, overwatering, moving, temperature and environmental changes can shock the plant, and create houseplants problems.
- Plants need to rest in certain seasons (usually late autumn to late winter), so avoid fertilizing and watering too much during this period.
Frequently asked questions about houseplant problems
In the following, we will examine some of the questions about the most common houseplants problems.
What kills houseplants?
One of the most critical houseplants problems is overwatering, which leads to root rot. A disease that causes the stems or roots of a plant to turn slimy, black, or brown. Usually, this disease leads to the death of the plant, and you have to start with a new plant.
Dehydration, pests, bacteria, fungi and problems related to light are other things that can lead a plant to die.
How do we know if a plant has a problem?
To diagnose houseplants problems, you should pay attention to their shape. If the leaves of a plant are out of their original shape, their color has changed, and they don’t have the usual freshness and health, it means there is a problem; Things like spots on the leaves, yellowing or drying leaves on plants or stopping the growth of the plant can be a sign of a problem or disease. You need to check the maintenance of the plant.
How to diagnose fungal diseases in plants?
Plants’ fungi show themselves in different forms; Sometimes, they appear as black spots on the upper part of the leaf (not under the leaf), and these spots spread to involve the entire leaf.
Sometimes the fungi appear as rust and spread under the leaves. At the same time, the leaves also become discolored until, finally, the leaves of the plant start to fall.
Some fungi also show themselves as mold. These fungi appear due to lack of air conditioning and high humidity; if not paid attention to, they involve the whole plant.
How to recognize root rot in plants?
The roots of a plant are always out of sight, so detecting their decay or disease requires indirect observation. To diagnose this problem, pay attention to the leaves of your plant. Leaves that fall turn yellow and become soft or crushed, indicating a problem in the root of the plant.
At this stage, you should go to direct observation, remove the plant from the soil, and check its roots carefully. If your plant’s roots are soft, slimy, black or brown, it has rotted.
If the root rot has not spread, you can bring the plant back to life by removing the rotten parts and planting it in fresh soil with better drainage, but if the rot has progressed, your plant’s work is over.
How to deal with a sick plant?
If you have a diseased plant at home and you are treating it, you should pay attention to always using gloves. Wash the tools you use for this plant after doing the work, and never use them directly for other plants. You can do this by mixing one-tenth of bleach and nine-tenths of water.
Try to put the diseased plant in an isolated and quarantined environment so as not to spread the disease to other plants. A sick plant needs more care and maintenance, and you have to provide it with perfect conditions to recover itself again.
conclusion of houseplants problems
In addition to the everyday houseplants problems that mentioned above, do you happen to know any other problems that you may face while keeping indoor plants? make sure to write us about the the houseplants problems that you have in the comment section so that our experts answer them as soon as possible .