Dying plants are a reality for every gardener and houseplant owner at some point in their lives. However, the more you know about common causes of death, the better you can prevent it and keep your plants healthy. Here are some of the most common causes of dying houseplants:
Over-watering
Watering plants too much and too often is the most common cause of dying houseplants. No matter the type of plant, it's very likely you don't need to water it as much as you would expect. Many popular houseplants are native to drought conditions, like succulents and cacti. While others like monstera and pothos come from tropical regions, they like to dry out completely before being watered.
Always check the soil with your finger or a moisture meter before you water. If it's wet, keep waiting until it dries out. Over-watering can lead to root rot, which can be impossible for a dying plant to recover from.
Lack of sunlight
All plants need sunlight to live. With very few exceptions, even those plants marketed as “low-light” houseplants cannot survive without some natural light. Lack of light can cause discoloration, stunted growth, stretched-out or “leggy” growth patterns and other issues if not addressed.
If you think your plants are struggling due to lack of light, try moving them to a different spot with more sun. Make sure to do so gradually, however, as a sudden move won't give the plant time to adjust to a new environment. If you don't have enough natural light, try full-spectrum LED grow lights for additional support. While they can't fully replace the sun, they can make a huge difference in saving a dying plant.
About the Author
Carolyn Andrews
Carolyn Andrews has over 30 years licensed Brokerage experience in both California and Colorado. Born in England, Carolyn moved to California in 1980, then relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1991. Carolyn has also received recognition for Top Sales at RE/MAX Alliance Aurora in 2007-2008 and is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Chairman’s Club, as well as a recipient of the ReMax Lifetime Achievement Award. Carolyn has sold over 2000 homes personally in her career. Carolyn has been actively involved in many aspects of the Real Estate business including investment property, luxury homes, mountain resort property, skiin/ski out, REO/default management, loss mitigation, valuations, and disposition. She has been a speaker and panelist at several conferences and has been consulted on many occasions by various organizations in the REO/financial industries for her expertise and served on many boards. She has attended numerous ongoing classes to stay abreast of changes in the ever-evolving Real Estate industry. She is the prior State Director for Colorado for VAREP(Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals). She is a member of 3 boards of Realtors including Metro Denver, Colorado Springs and Summit County mountain areas. She heads up The Andrews Group and is or has been an active member of NAR, CAR,REOMAC, CIPS, CRS, AREAA, NAPW, NAHREP, and is an original member of the ELITEReal Estate network. She was ranked #1 for most homes sold in Denver 2007 by Denver Board of Realtors, #2 for 2008, and #2 for 2009, #5 in 2010 and #4 in 2011 and has been consistently in the top 10 ever since. Carolyn Andrews has been a top rated Endorsed Local Provider for the Dave Ramsey Organization and also a Top Producing agent for 2018 for the Homelight Company.
