7 Things Your Indoor Plants are Trying to Tell You
No idea why your plants keep dying? Take a closer look at their leaves and soil for clues, these three experts suggest
Georgia Madden
4 December 2018
Plants might not be the chattiest of housemates, but make no mistake – they’re constantly communicating with you and telling you exactly what they need, say these three experts. Here are seven of the most common symptoms of poor plant health to look out for and how you can rectify them.
“Taking care of plants is a lot like looking after kids or pets; they seldom tell you when something is really wrong – you need to be observant and give them a close look regularly,” says Jimmy Turner, director of horticultural management for Royal Botanic Garden Trust and Centennial Parklands Trust.
“Do they look slightly off colour? A little yellow? Do they seem to be stretching or leaning towards the light?” These are telltale signs that your plant isn’t getting what it needs to flourish, says Turner.
Here are seven of the most common signs of trouble to look for in plants and what to do about them.
“Do they look slightly off colour? A little yellow? Do they seem to be stretching or leaning towards the light?” These are telltale signs that your plant isn’t getting what it needs to flourish, says Turner.
Here are seven of the most common signs of trouble to look for in plants and what to do about them.
Image courtesy of Jason Chongue for Hardie Grant
Photography by Armelle Habib
1. Drooping leaves
“This can indicate that the plant either needs to be watered or has had too much water,” says Angie Thomas, horticultural consultant to Yates.
“Some plants can tolerate short periods of wilted foliage, however plants such as ferns can be very unforgiving about becoming dry and can quickly drop dead,” says Thomas.
“Too much water can also cause the rapid death of roots in plants that prefer to be kept on the drier side. Never leave water in pot saucers as this results in the bottom layer of the potting mix being constantly wet.”
What to do
“Check the moisture levels in the potting mix by gently digging around in the top few centimetres with your finger,” says Thomas. “It’s important to become familiar with the amount of water your plants require and adjust to their needs.”
Photography by Armelle Habib
1. Drooping leaves
“This can indicate that the plant either needs to be watered or has had too much water,” says Angie Thomas, horticultural consultant to Yates.
“Some plants can tolerate short periods of wilted foliage, however plants such as ferns can be very unforgiving about becoming dry and can quickly drop dead,” says Thomas.
“Too much water can also cause the rapid death of roots in plants that prefer to be kept on the drier side. Never leave water in pot saucers as this results in the bottom layer of the potting mix being constantly wet.”
What to do
“Check the moisture levels in the potting mix by gently digging around in the top few centimetres with your finger,” says Thomas. “It’s important to become familiar with the amount of water your plants require and adjust to their needs.”
2. Potting mix that’s difficult to wet
“If this happens, your soil might have become water-repellent,” says Thomas. “You’ll know for sure if water runs down the inside wall of the pot or pools on the potting mix surface.”
What to do
“It’s important to fix water-repellency problems as soon as you detect them so that the plant roots can access water,” says Thomas. “Try the soak method or apply a wetting agent. For small pots, soak them in a bucket of water for 15 minutes to thoroughly saturate the potting mix and roots. You can also use a soil wetter, which breaks down the waxy, water-repellent layer that can develop on potting mix,” she says.
Did you know that certain plants can help cool your home? Find out more here
“If this happens, your soil might have become water-repellent,” says Thomas. “You’ll know for sure if water runs down the inside wall of the pot or pools on the potting mix surface.”
What to do
“It’s important to fix water-repellency problems as soon as you detect them so that the plant roots can access water,” says Thomas. “Try the soak method or apply a wetting agent. For small pots, soak them in a bucket of water for 15 minutes to thoroughly saturate the potting mix and roots. You can also use a soil wetter, which breaks down the waxy, water-repellent layer that can develop on potting mix,” she says.
Did you know that certain plants can help cool your home? Find out more here
Image courtesy of Jason Chongue for Hardie Grant
Photography by Armelle Habib
3. Brown leaf edges or tips
Browning edges can indicate a number of things, according to the experts. “It can indicate that the plant is being overwatered, over-exposed to direct sunlight or has been overfed,” says Thomas.
“It can also indicate that you’re not watering enough or that the air in your home is too dry,” says Jason Chongue, creative director at The Plant Society.
What to do
“Check the moisture level of the potting mix with your finger, move the plant away from direct sunlight, and temporarily reduce or stop feeding to turn the plants’ fortunes around,” says Thomas.
“If the air in your home is dry or you’re under-watering, mist the foliage and make sure the soil is kept moist,” says Chongue.
Photography by Armelle Habib
3. Brown leaf edges or tips
Browning edges can indicate a number of things, according to the experts. “It can indicate that the plant is being overwatered, over-exposed to direct sunlight or has been overfed,” says Thomas.
“It can also indicate that you’re not watering enough or that the air in your home is too dry,” says Jason Chongue, creative director at The Plant Society.
What to do
“Check the moisture level of the potting mix with your finger, move the plant away from direct sunlight, and temporarily reduce or stop feeding to turn the plants’ fortunes around,” says Thomas.
“If the air in your home is dry or you’re under-watering, mist the foliage and make sure the soil is kept moist,” says Chongue.
4. Yellow leaves
“This can be a natural part of a plant’s ageing process, however premature yellowing can also indicate overwatering, being exposed to too much sunlight or that the plant needs to be fed,” says Thomas.
What to do
“If over-watering is the cause of yellowing, it’s important to fix this quickly as some plants are very sensitive to wet feet,” says Thomas. “Check moisture levels in the potting mix, move the plant out of direct sunlight and, if the plant hasn’t been recently fed, apply a liquid fertiliser,” she advises.
“This can be a natural part of a plant’s ageing process, however premature yellowing can also indicate overwatering, being exposed to too much sunlight or that the plant needs to be fed,” says Thomas.
What to do
“If over-watering is the cause of yellowing, it’s important to fix this quickly as some plants are very sensitive to wet feet,” says Thomas. “Check moisture levels in the potting mix, move the plant out of direct sunlight and, if the plant hasn’t been recently fed, apply a liquid fertiliser,” she advises.
5. Long, leggy growth
A lack of sunlight can cause leggy or thin growth as the plant tries to reach up to find more UV rays, says Chongue.
What do to
“Move the plant to a location with more intense natural light or longer light exposure,” says Chongue.
“You can also find out what light levels your plant prefers by checking the plant tag, chatting to a horticulturist or researching online,” says Thomas.
A lack of sunlight can cause leggy or thin growth as the plant tries to reach up to find more UV rays, says Chongue.
What do to
“Move the plant to a location with more intense natural light or longer light exposure,” says Chongue.
“You can also find out what light levels your plant prefers by checking the plant tag, chatting to a horticulturist or researching online,” says Thomas.
6. Curled or deformed leaves
“This is caused by sap-sucking pests such as aphids,” says Thomas. “You’ll often find aphids hiding underneath leaves and between stems.”
What to do
If you spot aphids, spray your plant with an insecticidal soap straight away, says Thomas.
“This is caused by sap-sucking pests such as aphids,” says Thomas. “You’ll often find aphids hiding underneath leaves and between stems.”
What to do
If you spot aphids, spray your plant with an insecticidal soap straight away, says Thomas.
7. Mottled or discoloured leaves or foliage
“Spot this and your plant might have mites,” says Thomas. “Large infestations of mites can also start to form spidery-like webs on plants.”
What to do
“Misting the plant foliage can help as can regular spraying with an insecticidal soap,” says Thomas.
Want to spruce up your home with plants? Talk to a local gardener to find out which plants will work best
“Spot this and your plant might have mites,” says Thomas. “Large infestations of mites can also start to form spidery-like webs on plants.”
What to do
“Misting the plant foliage can help as can regular spraying with an insecticidal soap,” says Thomas.
Want to spruce up your home with plants? Talk to a local gardener to find out which plants will work best
What are the most common ways people kill indoor plants?
“Does the plant look thirsty, wilted or droopy? Then give it a good soak,” says Turner. “If you’re still not sure, stick your finger into the soil down to your second knuckle. If it feels dry, give it a water.
“Another trick is to pick up the pot and feel how heavy it is. Soil holds a lot of water and water is heavy. Next time you give your plant a good drink, pick up the pot afterwards and get a feel for how heavy it is when fully watered, and then compare it when it is dry. Over time you’ll learn when it’s time to water using this simple trick,” says Turner.
- Too much water: “This will drown your plants,” says Turner. “I’ve seen too many plant parents obsessed with keeping the saucer at the bottom of the plant full of water, but this will only rot your plant. It is better to let plants dry out a little and wilt a tad between watering,” says Turner.
“Does the plant look thirsty, wilted or droopy? Then give it a good soak,” says Turner. “If you’re still not sure, stick your finger into the soil down to your second knuckle. If it feels dry, give it a water.
“Another trick is to pick up the pot and feel how heavy it is. Soil holds a lot of water and water is heavy. Next time you give your plant a good drink, pick up the pot afterwards and get a feel for how heavy it is when fully watered, and then compare it when it is dry. Over time you’ll learn when it’s time to water using this simple trick,” says Turner.
- Too little light: Most plants need at least half a day of bright sunlight to survive, says Turner. “If you’re unsure how much light a room receives, you can buy a light-metre app on your phone to tell you. Then, select plants to suit the amount of light in the room,” says Turner.
- Moving your plant temporarily into the light: Thinking of giving your plant in a low-lit room a few hours of sunshine? You may want to think again, says Turner. “When you jerk a plant out of dim conditions and slap it into full-on burning sun for a few hours, it will get fried like a teenager at Bondi Beach,” he says.
What are your top tips for keeping indoor plants healthy?
- Nurture your plants regularly: “Choose a day of the week when you aren’t typically busy and spend this time checking the soil and foliage of all your plants,” says Chongue. “This will help you understand if they require watering or specific care.”
- Regularly check your plants for signs of insect pests: “Look underneath the foliage to monitor for any pests that might have made themselves at home,” says Chongue.
- Check moisture levels in potting mix: “This is key to helping keep indoor plants happy,” says Thomas. “I also recommend becoming familiar with what moisture level your plant needs.”
- Choose premium potting mix: “Poor-quality potting mix can lead to a range of watering problems,” says Chongue. “Always use a premium-grade potting mix so that your plants have a good balance and source of nutrients.”
- Feed regularly: “Potted plants can run out of nutrients quickly and this will help promote healthy growth,” says Thomas.
- Monitor air-moisture levels: “Humidity-loving plants don’t like the dry air created by heaters, so regularly misting their foliage with water can help,” says Thomas. “Also, warmth-loving plants will not like cool air conditioning, so consider growing these plants in a different area that’s not exposed to cool air.”
… And don’t be afraid to kill a few
“Houseplants don’t last forever and most will end up on the compost heap eventually,” says Turner. “If you manage to keep them alive for a few years then you are a master plantsperson. A few months? You’ve done pretty well. A few days? Hire help!”
“Houseplants don’t last forever and most will end up on the compost heap eventually,” says Turner. “If you manage to keep them alive for a few years then you are a master plantsperson. A few months? You’ve done pretty well. A few days? Hire help!”
Tell us
Do you have any tips for keeping indoor plants alive? Share them with us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, save it for future reference, and join the conversation.
More
Loving all this talk of greenery? Get more gorgeous indoor-plant display ideas here
Do you have any tips for keeping indoor plants alive? Share them with us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, save it for future reference, and join the conversation.
More
Loving all this talk of greenery? Get more gorgeous indoor-plant display ideas here
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Do you recommend a specific brand of insecticidal soap for aphids etc?