How to Bring Your Nearly Dead Houseplant Back To Life

Posted on 14/10/2020

Hacks That Will Bring Your Dead Plant Back to Life

Do you have a long history of failed attempts to grow plants indoors? It can be daunting to watch how your greenery declines and its leaves turn yellow until it collapses slowly and painfully. For some people caring for a potted plant comes naturally, while for others it is a real struggle. If your indoors garden is down in the dumps, don’t give up hope just yet. Here is what you need to do to revive your droopy, tired and distressed greenery.

Evaluate the damage

Professional gardeners suggest checking the situation before you take any actions. The first thing to consider is how old the plant is. If you bought it a couple of months or less ago and you notice something wrong, the problem might be related to the light, watering and air circulation. Look for telltale signs that will help you find out why your little sprout is not thriving.

Give It Plenty of Water

We’re all guilty of neglecting our houseplants sometimes. If you forgot to water your greenery for a couple of days, the roots may dry up. Under-watered plants have brown and crispy leaves that may eventually start falling down. The gardening experts advise to put the shrivelled greenery into a bucket of water or into the sink. The pot should remain submerged for half an hour. Then let it drain somewhere. Keep the plant away from direct sunlight. Water it lightly until it starts growing again. If this is not the case, the browning of the leaves may be related to too much or too little light, over-fertilizing, lack of humidity or fungal dieses.

But Avoid Being Over-Ambitious with the Watering

If you spot soft and yellowing leaves, you are most probably adding too much water. When it comes to indoors gardening, adequate drainage is crucial. The wet and poorly drained soil can cause the roots to rot. Your greenery may look healthy on the surface, but underneath it may be dying. Let the soil dry between watering. Check the top of the soil and water only if the surface is dry.

Re-pot Your Greenery

One of the best ways to revive your crummy-looking greenery is by re-planting it in a fresh pot of soil. Take the plant out of its pot and check the roots. If there are healthy roots you can re-pot it in the old container or in a slightly bigger one. Plant the greenery in a pot filled with new potting compost and then water it lightly. If a big part of the rooting system is damaged, trim some of the plant’s leaves so that the roots have less to support.

Feed It Properly

Tired leaves and low pot soil level indicate that your greenery doesn’t get enough nutrients. You can either use fertilizers or organic gardening options such as sprinkling coffee grounds or green tea leaves on the soil.

Mind the Light

Both lack of light and exposure to too much sunlight can cause issues with your houseplants. In the first case you may notice that your greenery grows small and pale leaves. A plant that doesn’t get enough light is also less likely to flower. Place it in a sunnier location and wipe the dust from the leaves. Too much light can leave black or bleached patches on the plant’s foliage. Water the greenery well and trim the dead leaves.

Fight the Pests

Unfortunately, indoors gardening can’t save you from the pests. Tiny insects and fine webbing are signs that your houseplant has been attacked. The most common bugs that fret your buds are mites, whiteflies and scales. The last ones are small, waxy and dark insects that hook up on the plant’s leaves and stems. The whiteflies are tiny yellow or white bugs that get clustered under the greenery’s foliage. These pests can easily disperse from infested plants to the healthy ones. If you notice a problem, isolate the sick greenery from the other houseplants immediately. One way to get rid of the annoying pests is by spraying or wiping the leaves with soapy water. To avoid stressing your plant further, do this in a cool place away from sunshine. You can also consult with the professional gardeners in your local nursery or store.

Planting and growing greenery indoors will make your home healthier and prettier. Inspect your plants regularly to ensure they’re doing well.