How to Cure a Grumpy Houseplant

Got moody houseplants? Fear not! Many houseplants can be brought back from the verge of demise with just a little bit of tender loving care. It’s up to us to understand the needs of our plants and their unique visual cues when they’re in distress. If your plant is throwing a fit and you can’t figure out why, go through this list of common distress symptoms and see if you can pinpoint the problem!

Common Signs of Houseplant Distress and How to Fix Them

Houseplants are certainly more low-maintenance than fur babies (or actual babies), but they can still encounter problems or get sick. Luckily, most common indoor plant problems have simple solutions! The best thing to do is pay close attention to your plants, glancing at them every few days to see if anything is abnormal. Here are some common signs of a grumpy houseplant and how you can best fix them.

Yellowing Leaves

Yellowing leaves is one of the most common problems with houseplants. The tricky thing is that this sign can signify a few different problems. So, once you spot some yellowing leaves, you’ll need to do some more troubleshooting to identify the issue correctly. Go through this list of questions if you spot yellowing leaves:

Is the soil super dry all the way to the bottom of the pot? You’re probably underwatering. If you have a succulent plant, dry soil can be a good thing, but even these desert plants need regular watering during the growing season. For most tropical plants, the soil should not be allowed to completely dry out and should be checked regularly. Increase watering frequency, by soaking the whole pot thoroughly
Is the soil super moist when you touch the surface or lift it out of its saucer? You’re probably overwatering. Soil that is too moist can smell moldy and just plain wet. Let the soil dry out a bit before you water it again. Overwatering succulents will also lead to soggy leaves and root rot (remember, they retain their water in their leaves!)
Have you already added fertilizer? Check the bottom of the pot to see if roots are sticking out or the plant is lifting up and out from the pot. It’s probably time to repot your plant into a bigger container!

Brown Spots

Brown spots on houseplant leaves are often caused by disease, pests, scorching, or overwatering. Some plants will develop brown spots if the humidity levels are too low, or even as a result of improper fertilization. Do some detective work if your plant has brown spots as most causes are treatable!

Let There Be Light!

Nothing makes a houseplant grumpy like not getting enough light. As people, we get like that too! Many of your sun-loving friends require several hours of light everyday–especially succulents and many varieties of tropicals—so make sure you haven’t moved your plant to a shady or gloomy spot. Depending upon the plant, too much direct sunlight can also get problematic and can scorch leaves in the hotter months. Getting the balance right is key at every time of the year.

Fine Webbing All Over

Eek! It looks like spider mites are attacking your houseplants. To get rid of them:

Bring your houseplants into the shower and gently rinse the leaves off with room-temperature water.
Thoroughly coat the entire plant and soil surface with a natural pesticide like End All or insecticidal soap.
Keep your affected houseplants away from the rest of your collection to prevent the mites from spreading, and reapply pesticide every 2–3 days until they’re gone.

For the most effective pest control treatments, make sure you know what’s invading your greens. Other common houseplant pests include mealybugs, scale, and fungus gnats. We have some wonderful products in stock to help with plant control, including insecticidal soap and sticky strips. If you’re still unsure how to treat whatever has taken over your houseplants come on by and we will be happy to help! The BEST way to curb pest invasions is to maintain a healthy plant with proper watering, nutrition, and light.

Dry, Bleached Patches

This affliction commonly affects tropical plants. It’s from too much sun—essentially, it’s a sunburn for plants, but instead of turning red, they become bleached. Tropicals like monstera deliciosa, fiddle leaf fig, and philodendron are susceptible to sun scorch because, in the wild, they’re accustomed to growing under a canopy overhead from rainforest trees. Remove any severely damaged leaves, then move your plant to a spot that gets bright, indirect sunlight. A south-facing window with indirect light is ideal for many plants, or a sunny window with sheer curtains that can help filter the light.

Are you having trouble determining the cause of your houseplant’s distress? Take a picture and bring it to Royal City Nursery! Our houseplant experts have seen it all, so we’ll be happy to help pinpoint the problem and create a plan of attack.