Diagnosing your Sick Houseplant

Your indoor plants are going to let you know if something isn’t right.  The leaves will fall 

off, turn brown or some other symptom will manifest itself.  The are various causes, some 

that can be rectified and others that cannot.  When you are trying to figure out what is 

wrong, start with the simplest solution as a starting point.  

The most common cause of a sick houseplant is watering, either too much or not enough.  

If the plant’s leaves are starting too look wilted or are drying up, check the soil and if it is 

dry add a good amount of water to wet the dirt and leave it moist once the water has run 

through.  If you have over watered a plant, make sure the drainage hole is not clogged 

and if you have a dish that catches excess water, empty it out to make room for more 

water to drain out of the pot.

If the edges of the leaves are turning brown and are starting to look dried out it is from 

too much heat.  In this situation it is best to remove the plant from direct sunlight, adjust 

the temperature inside the home if possible.  These symptoms can also show up if there is 

not enough humidity in the house.  As a quick fix you can put a small dish of water near 

the plant and as it evaporates the plant will soak it up.

When a plant looses its leaves it could be because the roots were damages from over 

watering, the plant is not getting enough water to support the amount of foliage, or it is 

too hot.  Assess the plant’s environment to begin nursing it back to health and giving it 

what it needs to get better.  If you need more information you ask the experts at your 

local gardening center.

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