Most Common Ways to Kill a Houseplant

[missmanors]

We've seen some posts about houseplants and how they can contribute to a home's appeal. In reading replies, we've also seen that some of us do not have "green thumbs" and tend to kill those plants.

Here are the most common ways that we tend to kill houseplant - and how to fix those problems.

Overwatering is the most common contributor to houseplant death. Far more plants die from overwatering than underwatering, both indoors and out.

To ensure that you don't overwater: Stick your finger into the soil. If it's damp, hold off adding water until it's dry.


Provide low humidity. Heaters and air conditioning act as a dehumidifiers, making average levels well below the 40 to 60% humidity plants prefer.

Fix the problem: Try placing houseplants on top of pebbles in a shallow tray, and keep it filled with water, as an effective way to provide additional humidity. Make sure the bottom of the pot is not directly in the water. Mist your plants each day is effective in boosting humidity levels. If you will be away for a week or so, make a temporary humidity tent by placing dry-cleaning bags over the plants, or you can place them in the bathtub, with a little water in the bottom.


Give it very little light. Although some houseplants can survive on just artificial light, they are the exception to the rule. In fact, the most important factor in determining if a plant is suitable for surviving indoors is its ability to survive in low-light environments. However, almost all plants benefit from natural light.

How to fix the problem: Some amount of natural light per day is good for almost all plants. Set them in an area near a south-facing window, if possible. Rotate the plant periodically, so all sides benefit from the most direct sunlight during the week.


Overfertilize it. Because these plants typically don't photosynthesize at the same rates as outdoor plants in a full-sun environment, they need less supplemental nutrients. Forcing plants to grow with artificial stimulants under lower-light environments places the plants under stress and can disrupt a plant's natural cycles and rhythms and deplete reserves.

The fix: To replace nutrients that leach through the soil, feed your plant with a water-soluble fertilizer at half the amount suggested for outdoor plants once or twice a month.


Expose your plants to drafts or direct heat. Most houseplants are tropical, and so in their natural environments, they thrive in warm climates. However, exposing plants to direct heat when placed near a vent will quickly dry them out. Conversely, cool or cold drafts can be too much for heat-loving plants.

Fix it: Keep plants away from drafty windows, doors and heating vents.


Ignore pest problems. Just because a plant is indoors doesn't mean it's free of pests. Many insects come into your house undetected under the protective cover of the beautiful foliage of the plant. In fact, houseplants can be the perfect host for many pests, since they aren't exposed to natural beneficial insects and other predators that would otherwise keep populations in check.

To fix this: Most houseplant pests, such as mealy bugs, white flies and aphids, can be dealt with using a mild soap and water bath or horticultural oil. If weather permits, take the plant outside and spray it with the hose, or leave it outside and let natural predators do the job.


Allow it to become pot-bound. Just because that plant you've had for years is still looking good above ground, don't assume all is well below. Eventually roots can become intertwined within the confined space of a container; water, nutrients and even oxygen can have a tough time getting through.

The fix: Once a year or so, lift the plant out of the container and check the roots. If they're tightly wound in a circular pattern, it's time to repot into a slightly larger container. Loosen the roots to break up the pattern, refresh the soil and repot.

[homealone]

I am one of the many which do not have a green thumb. Thanks for these great tips, they will really come in handy when I purchase new plants. I just one snake plant that I have had for over a year now and I have managed to keep it alive, so I am going to be getting more as soon as I can. These tips will help keep me from killing the new house plants I get. Thanks alot.

[missmanors]

I'm glad that you feel these tips will be of use to you. As you begin to use these tips frequently, you will find that you will use them automatically, which will keep your houseplants thriving and beautiful for years to come. (Then you will wonder why you thought you didn't have a green thumb!)

[Eyeofngt]

I try to do all of this but I still have problems with house plants. I have no idea what I am doing wrong. I have a pine cone ginger plant and it will grow get blooms started and then then blooms turn brown and fall off. Any ideas?

[homealone]

Eyeofngt, is your pine cone ginger planted in shade or sun? I have read a bit about them and know that they require a good deal of shade? I can say I have a green thumb or anything but I am getting a great deal better. My problem with my plants is that I was over caring for them. Now I ignore them and they are all loving me for it, LOL.

[badmomma]

Don't forget the animals. Make sure you cat can't reach them, the puppy either. I had lovely house plants that were in large pots. She killed them by using them as a litter box. It made me mad as heck as I keep her box clean. The dog issue is that they like to chew them and do occasionally pull them from their pots.

[Eyeofngt]

My ginger plant in in a huge pot and indoors. It gets some light but not a lot. I even put it outdoors in mostly shade for summer and it did same thing. It looks terrible. Any suggestions?

[missmanors]

Is this the plant that you have Eyeofngt?



The information that I found for this plant, says that it takes full sun to partial shade.......so maybe it isn't getting enough sun where it is. Also it's a tropical or subtropical plant that needs a lot of moisture - almost wet soil. I'd say try moving it to a more sunny location and be sure that the soil is kept fairly moist.

[Eyeofngt]

That is not the one I have missmanors. It look s nothing like that at all. I will find a pic and try to put it on here.

[missmanors]

I'm looking forward to see which plant you have, I hope you can find a pic. Then I'll do my best to find some information for you on the proper way to care for it.