We’ve all been there, sad to say. Even the most experienced plant parents will find a dead plant in their herd at some point.
In the last five years, I’ve killed so many plants that I can’t count them. I promise to do the best I can.
5 Reasons for Plant Problems
Plants are a great addition to any home, but they can be challenging to take care of. You can go from thinking, “Wow, I’m killing it!” to “Wow, I killed it!” faster than you can say, “Monstera deliciosa.” If you can’t find answers, ask yourself a few of the following:
1. Did You Just Put the Plant in a New Pot?
A little transplant shock could have happened. If the roots were damaged when the plant was re-potted, the new pot is a very different size, or the weather or plant growth season was not ideal, the re-potting could hurt the plant in some way.
2. Did You Move the Plant to a Different Room?
Think about how you would feel if you were taken away from your home without your permission. You were doing well where you were, so how could this new place ever measure up? The only choice is to wilt.
The new spot might be closer to your heater, air conditioner, or window, and it might not be as good as the first one.
3. Watering Schedule Changed?
Over-watering has killed plants for days. I started watering by sight, soil feel, and pot weight. It’s a much better watering system, in my opinion.
4. Changed Seasons?
Because there are trees close to my house, the light changes a lot from season to season. Even more so from winter to spring! My library room has one tiny window, and when the tree outside doesn’t have any leaves in the winter, plants in that room THRIVE because of all the beautiful sunlight. It seems strange that plants do well in the winter and die in the summer, but it’s all about that light, baby.
5. Recently Treat Plants for Pests/mold?
When it gets cold, bugs sometimes try to find warmer places to live. When they get into your house, they look for places to stay that are warm and safe, like your plants.
Root babies could be unfortunate if they got gnats, spider mites, or several other common plant pests. They can attack leaves, roots, and the soil itself, making it hard for plants to do photosynthesis and absorb nutrients. This can happen any time of year, but I’ve had more problems with bugs in my plants in the winter.
I’ve also had problems with mold on my plants because they got too much water or didn’t drain well enough. When the soil is too wet, it can bring in more bugs… It’s a never-ending cycle.
Conclusion
I’m not an expert on plants by any means, but these are some things I’ve learned over the years and the most common reasons why plants die in my house. Even though it’s sad, don’t give up!
Happy planting!