Believe it or not, sometimes, your houseplants are not happy at all!
Indoor plants have become a staple in your homes, bringing a piece of nature and turning it into fabulous decor. But just like a cute dog or a lovely cat, your houseplants deserve your attention to thrive. They need water, TLC, light, and a good pot to flourish and beautify your space.
Unfortunately, as hard as we try to look after them, they can still be unhappy and find it difficult to prosper. Just like when you feel sick, several symptoms and signs show your plants are not happy. The good news is that in most cases, these issues can be easily addressed and treated, so your greenery can flourish and be healthy again.
If you’re wondering whether your plants are thriving or not, we have all the signs you need to know. So, without further ado, here are 8 indicators your houseplants are not happy at all:
1. Yellow leaves
One of the first signs your houseplants are not happy is the presence of yellow leaves. However, this can be tricky because leaves that turn yellow are sometimes only a part of the aging process, and in this case, you can easily cut them off.
But if the leaves keep turning yellow, your plant might be trying to tell you a few things. According to professional gardeners, overwatering and underwatering are two of the most popular reasons for this phenomenon, but nutrient deficiency, lack of light, viral infection, pests, or being next to a cold draft could also be to blame.
It might be hard to know what the problem is, so start by adjusting the water levels, and if you don’t see changes in a few days, move it to a new spot. There might be times when this doesn’t work either, so if you don’t see any signs of infection or bugs, repot the plant.
2. Wilting leaves
If the leaves are wilting, you’d better believe your houseplants are not happy. In most cases, this is a sign your plant is thirsty and needs some water. If the soil is dry, water it (you can check that by inserting your pinky an inch to see if it’s damp). If this was the reason why your plant was wilting, you could see improvements within a couple of hours.
On the other hand, wilting leaves could also mean you gave your plants too much water. Do the same thing to check the soil and see if it’s damp. If there’s still water in it, you should wait for it to dry to water your plants again. If you followed these steps and the leaves are still wilting, repot your greenery.
3. Brown leaves
As you can see, when your houseplants are not happy, it will be shown in their leaves. If your plants’ leaves are brown, water might be at fault again. But if the browning is limited to the tips or margins of the leaves, the plant is probably submerged and in need of water.
On the other hand, brown spots in the center of a leaf indicate overwatering and you should allow the soil to dry before you water it again. Experts say poor ventilation is another potential cause of brown patches on leaves. Try shifting the plant to a different location with proper ventilation and see if there will be changes or not.
4. Burnt leaves
Did you know that burnt leaves are also a sign that your houseplants are not happy at all? If the leaves of your plants seem crispy brown, they’re actually sunburned. Sunburn can also be indicated by yellow and white patches on leaves.
Unfortunately, your gorgeous plants can’t be treated with sunscreen, like humans, so you should cut off the damaged leaves and move your plant to a less sunny spot. Check out the lighting and watering needs for each specific plant you have so that you know how to properly take care of them.
Keep reading to discover other signs your houseplants are not happy!
5. You can see the roots
If the roots show at the top or bottom of the soil, your houseplants are not happy at all. Seeing roots coming out of drainage holes or at the top of the soil can be scary for a beginner, but it only means your plants require more room to grow.
You can quickly fix this issue by reporting them in pots that are a size up from what you already have. Don’t forget that fresh soil, more room, and a high-quality fertilizer, such as this one, will help your plants flourish and turn your home into a gorgeous, green oasis.
6. White patches
Did you know that white patches on the leaves and soil are more likely to be powdery mildew? This doesn’t sound good, and if you see this, your plants suffer from a fungal disease caused by poor ventilation in the room.
You can treat this issue by isolating your lovely plants so the fungus doesn’t affect your entire greenery and using a fungicide to eradicate the issue. You can get a product like this from a hardware store, or you can get it from here.
7. Bad smell
Have you ever noticed any bad-smelling plants? According to experts, a funky odor that comes from your lovely plants, especially from the bottom of the pot, means the root is most likely rotten.
This is mainly caused by poor drainage and overwatering, but don’t worry, it can be fixed. Make sure you treat this problem the moment you see it because otherwise, you risk spreading it to other parts.
So, if you notice any weird smell, take the plant out of the pot and get rid of the soil. Give it a gentle wash, then trim off the infected roots. Only leave the healthy ones, then repot them in a pot that has good drainage.
It would be better to repot your plant in a new pot so there isn’t any chance of getting the same infection. However, if that’s not possible, give the old pot a good scrub to get rid of any signs of bacteria.
8. Lanky or leggy growth
If your houseplants are not happy, here’s why:
Leggy growth is the term used to describe a plant that seems stretched, with few leaves or a lot of space between them. There are many possible causes for this, including improper light, light that is only reaching a portion of the plant (which will be obvious because it has grown toward the light), and a need for more humidity or moisture.
Once their needs for light and moisture have been met, you can make your plants more compact; just make sure you prune them above a node.
Another thing you could do to encourage new growth on a trailing plant is to loop it around the soil and pin it down close to the node. This step will encourage leaves to grow at the node points.
Do you know any other signs your houseplants are not happy? Let us know in the comments below, because we all want our plants to thrive. If you enjoyed reading this article and you’d like to check out something else from Gardeners and Plants, here’s a good post for you: Why Aren’t Your Flowers Blooming? 5 Important Reasons Explained
