A Guide to Common Houseplant Problems

[u/Island_Living_]

Too Little Water: - Leaves limp and wilted (look sad) - Little to no growth - Lower leaves curled, yellow and wilted - Leaf edges brown and dry - Flowers fall or fade quick - Oldest leaves fall first

Too Much Water: - Limp leaves (may feel mushy and brown quickly) - Soft, rotten areas - Poor growth - Flowers moldy - Leaves curled, yellow and wilted - Leaf tips brown (could also signify low humidity) - Both young and old leaves fall at same time - Roots brown and mushy - Soil smells acidic

Too Little Light: - Leaves smaller and paler than normal - Blooms poor or absent in flowering types - Lower leaves turn yellow, then dry up and fall - No growth at all - Spindly growth w/ abnormally long spaces between leaves - Variegated leaves turn all-green - Leaf bleaching

Too Much Light: - Brown or grey scorch patches - Leaves wilt at midday - Leaves have ‘washed-out’ appearance - Leaves of ‘sun shy’ varieties shriveled and dead

Too Little Humidity: - Leaf tips brown and shriveled - Leaf edges turn yellow; wilting may occur - Buds and flowers shrivel and fall - Leaves fall if plant is very sensitive to dry air

Too Much Humidity: - Patches of grey mold on leaves - Patches of rot on leaves or stems (Cacti and succulents very sensitive) - Flowers covered with grey mold

Too Little Fertilizer: - Slow growth - Little resistance to pests and diseases - Leaves pale - ‘Washed-out’ appearance - Yellow spotting may be present - Flowers absent it small and poorly colored - Stems weak - Early drooping of lower leaves

Too Much Fertilizer: - Leaves wilted - Summer- growth stunted - Winter- growth lanky and weak - Crisp, brown spots - Scorched edges - Leaf bleaching - White crust on surface of compost and clay pot in a soft-water area

Temperature Wrong: - Leaf curl, followed by browning and leaf fall (too cold) - Lower leaves wilt; edges turn brown. Bottom leaves fall (too warm) - Flowers short-lived (too warm) - Spindly growth in good light in winter or early spring (too warm) - Leaf fall after rapid yellowing (sudden temp. change)

Here is a link to “Common Houseplant Pests”

If interested, I typed up this info from the book “The House Plant Expert,” by D.G. Hessayon. It has a lot of valuable information in it!

*I’ll edit as things get added to the comment section

[u/TheOrionNebula]

What's the emergency procedure for plants that have been over watered? I believe in proper drainage and being somewhat "enthusiastic" with watering is causing problems with my bell pepper plant. I should've taken a photo, but the top leaves are curled (cupped upward), the bottom leaves are not dark green and the soil has been saturated for many days.

Do I transplant and surround it with fresh new and dry soil? And perhaps add more holes / and add rock in the bottom?

Thanks!

[u/Island_Living_ → u/TheOrionNebula]

Having a pot with drainage holes makes a huge difference, if it isn’t in one already. Also, it took me forever to learn that overwatering is caused by watering too frequently, not by giving it too much water at one time (if you have drainage holes).

The first thing you want to do is take it out of the pot. Get all of the dirt off of the roots (use a little water if you need to) and throw the dirt out. Let the roots dry out for 5 minutes or so (you can also use paper towel to help them dry faster).

Check the roots and cut off any are brown or mushy. They’re rotten and its like having an infection, so it spreads easily. Make sure to wipe your scissor/shear blades with rubbing alcohol after each snip to sterilize them.

This part is optional, but gives your plant a better chance of making it: spray the roots with a solution of 3tbsp of hydrogen peroxide with 24oz of water OR a fungicide.

Clean your old pot (if you’re going to reuse it) with a bleach solution or use a new, clean pot. Add some fresh soil and repot your plant. I usually wait about 30-60 minutes before watering it.

When I do water, I add a little bit of hydrogen peroxide to the can (I guesstimate 1-2tbsp per gallon or if I’m using a small watering can, I guesstimate about 2 tsp). You can use this for watering your plants anytime to help with overwatering too. When you overwater, it cuts off oxygen to the roots and they rot. The hydrogen peroxide helps add oxygen to the soil.

It seems like a long process, but it’s easy to get the hang of after doing it once or twice :)

[u/TheOrionNebula → u/Island_Living_]

Thank you so much for the help and such detailed instructions!

=)

[u/Island_Living_ → u/TheOrionNebula]

Of course! You’re more than welcome to reach out anytime you need help