How to Revive a Dying Houseplant: Don’t Give Up On It Yet!
Saving a dying houseplant might seem like a futile attempt. However, you can still enjoy a long service life from your dying houseplant with a little effort. We understand that it can be confusing to determine what went wrong. With a little help from us, you can learn how to revive a dying houseplant by following simple steps. Keep reading to learn more.
How to revive a dying houseplant: Read the signs
To determine how to revive a houseplant, you will first need to identify the signs. A dying houseplant shows several signs that you can look out for to identify the underlying issue. Some of these signs include:
Yellow leaves
Dying houseplants can develop yellow leaves. The common cause of yellow leaves is overwatering. When you overwater your plant, its roots begin to rot leading to eventual plant death. If the leaves of your houseplant are turning yellow, you can try to save the plant by reducing watering.
Brown leaves
Another common sign of a dying houseplant is brown dry leaves. Brown leaves often indicate underwatering. If it has been a while since you watered your plant, it could be dying due to thirst. Check the plant’s soil. If the soil is dry, watering your plant might just be the key to reviving it.
Dull or discolored foliage
Some houseplants can develop dull or discolored leaves when exposed to too much sunlight. If your plant’s leaves begin to lose their color, it might be an indication that they are getting too much sunlight. Moving your plant to a location with bright indirect sunlight might help save it.
Leaf spots
Houseplants develop bacterial and fungal diseases that cause brown or black leaf spots with yellow halos. When left untreated, the diseases can spread and kill your plant. Some diseases might even spread to other houseplants and you are left wondering why all your houseplants are dying. You can save your plant by treating it with fungicides or removing the damaged parts.
Roots protruding from drainage holes
Roots protruding from drainage holes or creeping above the soil’s surface indicate that your plant is struggling. Your plant’s roots run out of space to grow and the only way they can grow is through drainage holes. The roots might also deplete all the nutrients in the soil leading to plant weakness and gradual death.
How to Revive a dying houseplant step-by-step
If you suspect that your plant is dying, don’t lose hope yet. With the following steps, you can breathe new life into your plant.
Examine your plant for signs of life
Before giving up and discarding your plant, try to examine your plant for signs of life. Gently remove your plant from its pot and check for healthy roots. If any, there is still a chance to save your plant. Also, check for any signs of greenery. Examine your plant’s stems and leaves to determine whether you can find any salvageable greenery.
Check for overwatering signs
After determining that you can save your plant, examine it for any overwatering signs. Such signs include yellow or brown wilting leaves. Moist soil might also indicate overwatering. To save your plant, cut back on watering to allow the soil to dry out. If the soil is too moist, you can save your plant by re-potting it in dry fast-draining soil. Try to research how much water your plant needs to prevent future problems.
Check your plant for under-watering signs
Like overwatering, underwatering can also be fatal for your plant. If you can’t remember the last time you watered your plant, you should examine it for underwatering signs. Brown leaves and dry soil indicate underwatering.
Fortunately, you can save your plant before it’s too late. Thoroughly water your plant and ensure the soil soaks in water evenly. Let the excess water drain completely. Place your plant in a location that receives bright indirect sunlight and wait for it to recover. Discover your plant watering needs to prevent underwatering in the future.
Remove damaged leaves and trim damaged stems
If your plant has damaged leaves, trim them off with clean scissors or pruning shears to revert the plant’s energy to new growth. Carefully cut off damaged stems to encourage healthy growth. Ensure you make clean cuts to avoid tearing or crushing the stems. Wounded stems will aggravate the situation by encouraging diseases.
Evaluate the lighting conditions
Too much or too little light can kill your plant. Some houseplants don’t tolerate harsh sunlight while others thrive in direct sunlight. If your houseplant is getting too much light, its leaves will begin to scorch and appear dull or bleached. On the other hand, when exposed to low light conditions some houseplants begin to drop their leaves and appear leggy.
You can save a scorched plant by placing it in a location that doesn’t receive too much sunlight. If your plant doesn’t receive ample lighting, move it to a brighter location. Discover your plant’s lighting needs to avoid issues in the future. Some thrive in bright direct sunlight while others prefer medium to low indirect light.
Check humidity levels and temperature
Humidity and temperature can affect your plant’s health. Some houseplants thrive in humid areas while others prefer dry conditions to thrive. If your home is too humid for a plant that thrives in dry conditions, it will begin to rot and eventually die.
On the other hand, if your plant needs humid conditions to flourish, it might dry up and die when exposed to dry conditions for too long. Similarly, too high or low temperatures might kill your plant. You can save your plant by either increasing humidity levels or moving it to a less humid location depending on its needs. Adjust the temperatures indoors to suit your plant’s needs.
Give your plant a nutritional boost
Houseplants dying might be due to lack of enough nutrients. Your plant begins to show signs of nutrient deficiency through yellow leaves, stunted growth, light-colored leaves with dark veining, and more. If you are confident that your houseplant is not suffering from other issues, feed it with the right fertilizer. Avoid over-fertilizing or under-fertilizing your plant. You can also use compost to enrich the soil with nutrients. Your plant might also benefit from fresh soil.
Re-pot your plant
When your plant becomes too large, its roots can deplete the nutrients in the soil and run out of space to grow. If you notice roots protruding from the drainage holes, the best solution would be to repot it in a larger container. Use fresh potting soil to repot your plant. Discover the type of soil your plant prefers. Some houseplants thrive in loose fast draining soil while others prefer soil that retains slight moisture.
Houseplants that don’t die
All houseplants can die. However, some houseplants don’t die easily. Such houseplants thrive even in the harshest conditions while providing the greenery and beauty you are looking for. You can opt to grow these resilient houseplants in your home if you have been unlucky in growing houseplants before. Some of the beginner-friendly houseplants you can grow indoors include:
ZZ plant
ZZ plant is a popular houseplant that is hard to kill. This resilient houseplant can tolerate various indoor conditions. A ZZ plant can survive with infrequent watering and bright indirect lighting. This plant would be an excellent choice if you are looking for a hardy plant that adds charm to your space.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a beautiful houseplant that thrives indoors with minimal care. This plant doesn’t demand much apart from occasional watering and plenty of light. However, you should be careful not to overwater your Aloe Vera.
Pothos
Pothos is a striking vining houseplant with many varieties you can choose from. This houseplant is available in variegated and solid-colored varieties. Pothos survives in conditions that other houseplants might not tolerate including low-light conditions.
Snake plant
Snake plant is another easy houseplant you will be happy to grow indoors. This hard-to-kill houseplant prefers to be under-watered rather than over-watered. The Snake plant can survive in bright to low light levels indoors. Besides, it is one of the best air-purifying houseplants that you can place in your bedroom.
Rubber Tree
The Rubber Tree houseplant is a beautiful houseplant that thrives in various indoor conditions. This easy-to-grow houseplant adds glamor and elegance to your home with its glossy foliage. Allow the soil to partially dry before watering your Rubber plant.
Do plants die in winter?
Why all my houseplants are dying in winter might be the question running through your mind. Winter can be difficult for most houseplants due to low temperatures, dry air, low light conditions, and more. While winter can be stressful for houseplants, most plants don’t die but become dormant during winter. During this period, plants preserve their energy and experience slower growth.
You can help your houseplant survive winter by providing favorable growing conditions. Try to adjust the temperatures indoors to prevent your plants from frosting. During winter, you should also cut back on watering. Too much water can damage your plant’s roots. Use artificial lighting during winter to help your plants survive.
Do houseplants die of old age?
Yes. Houseplants can die due to old age. However, on most occasions, houseplants die due to other factors such as poor growing conditions. How long your plant lasts depends on the level of care you provide. If you consistently provide the right growing conditions, your houseplant might live longer compared to a neglected plant. Sometimes plants can die due to pest infestations or diseases.
While dying houseplants might seem impossible to save, don’t give up yet. You can revive your houseplants by discovering the problem and fixing it. Most houseplants die from overwatering, underwatering, inadequate or too much sunlight, excessive humidity or dry conditions, and much more. If you require more assistance, get in touch with us today.