Why is My Plant Dying? Tips on Growing Lush, Green Plant Life

Nothing breathes life into a room like lush, green houseplants. If you have a naturally green thumb, then keeping them alive and thriving is no issue. However, not all of us were blessed with a knack for plant life, and we may find ourselves befuddled as to why our plants keep dying.

In reality, there is really no such thing as a black thumb, and with a little education and some common sense anyone can have a home full of beautiful, thriving houseplants.

Keep reading for a few reasons your plants aren’t surviving, as well as other tips for growing lush indoor plant life.

Why Your Plants are Dying

Here are 5 reasons your plants aren’t doing so hot as well as tips on how to save them!

Over or Underwatering

One of the quickest ways to kill a plant is to give it too much or too little water. When you bring your plant home, you have to do the research to understand its watering needs. Plants like succulents, for example will die with overwatering, while plants like ferns should only be left with dry soil briefly before watering.

Fertilizing

Similar to understanding your plant’s watering schedule, you should have a basic understanding of its fertilizer needs. Most potting soil contains the nutrients needed to encourage lush plant life. However, after a few months your plant can deplete the nutrients in the soil and may need a fertilizer to replenish them. Many companies make plant-specific fertilizers, and each product should advise you on fertilizing frequency.

Just the Right Light

Just go back to basic biology, plants need light and water to thrive and complete the cycle of photosynthesis. If you are placing a plant which needs full fun in a shady spot, it won’t do well. Likewise shade-loving plants can wilt and die in a hot and sunny spot. If your plant is not doing so well, make sure you’ve placed it in the right lighting conditions and make needed changes right away.

Pot Problems

If your plant is in the wrong size pot, or the container you’ve planted it in doesn’t have proper drainage, your plant life will start to droop and die. If your plant has grown out of the pot you purchased it in, repot it carefully in a new container with proper drainage using fresh, high-quality potting soil. If your pot is sized correctly, but doesn’t have drainage, repot your plant into a proper container so the root ball never sits in standing water – a sure-fire killer for many plant species.

Bugs and Mites

If you’ve noticed bugs or mites on your plant or in the dirt surrounding it, it’s time to take action. Start by getting a closer look at the pest in question, and once you’ve identified the bug you can take the next steps. Some common indoor bugs are spider mites, aphids, fungus gnats, and russet mites. Each of these pests can require a different treatment, so a local plant expert or an online search can help you take the next steps.

However, one universal way to prevent indoor pests from munching on your plants is to ensure your new plants are pest free. Additionally, once you notice pests, isolate that plant right away so the infestation doesn’t spread.

What are your favorite houseplants? How do you keep them healthy and thriving? Share your favorite plants and best gardening tips with us in the comments section below.

###

Photo by Daniel Hjalmarsson on Unsplash

Hardy Indoor Plants that Won't Die on You

Indoor plants add a natural, pop of green to any room, cleaning the air and adding color and texture to your decor and vignettes. However, many of us haven’t been blessed with a green thumb, and tend to toss out more houseplants than we successfully nurture. There are many ways to kill a houseplant from overwatering to forgetfulness, but if you select a hardy indoor plant your odds of success are higher.

Keep reading for 6 hardy indoor plants even you will succeed in keeping alive.

Try These Hardy Indoor Houseplants!

Spider Plants

Available in green or variegated varieties the spider plant is easy to care for and hardy in a variety of conditions. This plant gets its name from the spiderettes or baby spider plants that dangle off the mother plant like small white spiders before rooting into the soil below. The great thing about this variety is that it reproduces quickly, so you can add to your collection or give baby plants as gifts.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Fiddle leaf figs are extremely trendy at the moment, producing large, green leaves in a tapered fiddle-like shape. This variety is considered a hardy indoor plant but can suffer from incorrect watering or too much light. Make sure you know how to correctly care for your fiddle leaf fig, a little knowledge goes a long way. if you worry you’re going to forget to water it, set an alert on your phone to cover your bases.

Jade Plant

The jade plant has the look of a succulent but provides height, texture and a richness most succulents cannot. Jade plants are slow to grow but are hardy indoor plants and easy to care for. The easiest way to kill your jade plant is by overwatering or not providing enough light for it to thrive.

English Ivy

Well known for gracing the exterior of country cottages, English ivy provides a beautiful pop of green to any room as it spills over the sides of the pot. Be sure that your english ivy gets enough direct sunlight only water the plant when the top of the soil is dry.

Aloe

The aloe plant is visually interesting and easy to care for, and now that summer is here having fresh aloe on hand is always a good idea. Aloe does best in lots of sunlight and should not be overwatered as it is a member of the succulent family.

Rubber Tree

If you’re looking for a plant that will fill a boring corner and make a statement, look no further than the rubber tree. When well cared-for this plant can get up to 8 feet tall with shiny, vibrant green leaves. If you don’t want your plant to reach such heights, simply prune down new growth at the top to maintain your desired size. The rubber tree likes medium to bright sunlight and will suffer from overwatering – so only water when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch.

When it comes to hardy outdoor plants, evergreens, holly, and olive trees are good old standards. If you start to have problems with your plants dying, there are tips to keeping them healthy and thriving. Plants that are hairy or have thick dermal tissue are also naturally hardy.

What are your favorite, hardy plants? What have you had success with growing in your home or apartment? Share your houseplant tips and favorite varieties with us in the comments section below.

###

Photo by Ben Lockwood on Unsplash