Number one killer of indoor plants
Would it be wrong if I said humans?
In all seriousness, though, there are a LOT of varying factors which can affect the health
of your little green loved ones, but let’s have a look at the 3 worst culprits!
Over Watering
The number one killer beyond all killers is over watering. Or as I like to call it, “over loving”.
As much as we’d like them to, plants don’t run on a schedule. Variations in temperature, seasons & light mean that from month to month your watering schedule can change from weekly, to fortnightly to even monthly. This means that you can’t just water your plants on Wednesdays. Doing this could lead to overwatering, which leads to rotting and infection beneath the soil and eventually death.
Easy rules to remember:
Research whether your plant likes to remain damp or dry out.
Check the soil from the top and the bottom of your pot does it feel dry?
Not sure whether you should water or not? Wait another few days - you’ll generally do less damage by not watering than watering too often.
A soil checker like this one from Botanopia can help you understand what’s going on beneath the surface
2. Light
A handy little guide to better understand lighting from our friends at We the Wild
Did you know that too much light can be just as fatal as not enough light?
When people visit our store looking for a new plant buddy, our first question is always ‘what is the light like in the area you’re wanting to have the plant?’ We then discuss which way the window faces, if there is a tree or building blocking the window, and how far back from the window the plant will be. Only then do we get a full picture of what plant will survive best in that lighting condition, and we know what plants to recommend.
Some plants acclimatise well to darker spots, some will burn instantly in even a little bit of direct sun, so do your research, or speak to your indoor plant professional and do some rearranging if necessary. Note that the sun’s position in the sky changes through the seasons, so plants that did really well by the window in winter may need to be moved back slightly in summer to reduce risk of burn.
3. Pests
Having one or two pests here and there is fairly normal, easily treatable and generally nothing to worry about. However it’s when infestations are left unchecked for too long that fatal damage can occur.
Unfortunately, the difficult part is that common pests on indoor plants like spider mites & thrips are microscopically small. Scale often resembles bumps or nodes on stems and leaves, making it hard to detect them and mealy bugs are really very good at hiding in the folds. Therefore it’s incredibly important to be aware of how your plants are looking. When watering, take the time to look over the leaves. Notice if there is any sticky residue or any slight discolouration. Pests will often suck away at leaves and shoots leaving a mottled appearance of white and yellow patches.
When spotting these changes, try having a look through a magnifying glass to see if you can locate any evidence of pests present. Immediately isolate your plant and wash thoroughly under a strong stream of water, taking care to wash under each leaf and stem. Allow to dry and follow up with a neem soap spray, or a product such as the Soil Revolution immunity booster or We the Wild’s protect. Severe cases may require stronger and repeated treatment to fully control, which is why catching it early is so important.
But I’ve tried everything and I still don’t know what’s wrong with my plant!
If you’re unsure of what the issue may be or how to treat it, just remember that we are always here to help with any plant advice - simply drop into our Richmond store or send us some close up pics and we are always happy to help diagnose the issue and assist with a treatment plan.
We love helping people on their plant parent journey 💚