“I have tried everything and my plants still die after a short while of being alive.”
Is this something you’ve experienced too? Although there are lots of things you can do to make sure your plant lives longer, here’s some tricks that will help:
You Picked The Wrong Kind Of Plant
One thing to keep in mind when choosing an indoor plant is that not all species can work well in every home. “You need to consider how much light the plant will get and whether you typically forget about watering,” says Karl Gercens, a senior gardener at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.
Garden centers are full of employees who could guide you toward which plants would best suit your living conditions/environmental needs; if buying as gift or seeking something foolproof, look for philodendrons (especially hardy).
You Didn’t Give It The Proper Lightning
Christian Primeau, Conservatory Manager at The New York Botanical Garden suggests that Aloe, Cacti, Boston ferns, and Euphorbia milii, need lots of sunshine.
Therefore, the cubicle or corner in your living room is not a good place for them because they might die from lack of sunlight.
However Monstera deliciosa (the Swiss Cheese plant), Begonias, and Epiphyllums require environments with little filtered light which means less sun exposure compared to other plants like Aloe, and Cacti.
You Brought It Outside For The Summer
When a houseplant is suddenly moved to direct sunlight, it can burn easily and start rotting. If you need to move the plant outside gradually increase its time out in the sun but also monitor moisture levels.
You Over- Or Under-Water
If you often forget to water or spend a lot of nights away from home, succulents and cactus are good choices. “My wife grows the ZZ plant in her cube at work with no natural light and minimal watering,” says Primeau.
Check soil by touching it or checking for dryness on leaves to see how much your specific plants need because general rules aren’t always accurate when it comes down to specifics.
There are many things to take into account when watering your plants, but none more important than making sure that you don’t accidentally get droplets on the leaves.
If you do this, it can cause fungal growth which will kill off any plant; especially African violets!
You Didn’t Protect It From Pests
Neem oil concentrate is Primeau’s favorite organic pest control which can be extremely effective on mites and mealybugs.
To apply it, you mix it in a spray bottle with water and spray the mixture one to two times per day. The neem oil will repel insects by disrupting their reproductive or developmental cycles.
You Used The Wrong Kind Of Pot
Plastic pots retain moisture, so they are the best option for plants that need lots of water.
But clay pots are perfect choices for plants such as cacti and succulents because their porous nature can’t hold onto much water.
“Don’t choose a pot thinking that the plant will grow into it,” says Primeau. When transplanting process comes select a pot 2-4 inches larger than the current one”.
You Didn’t Change The Soil
For growing houseplants, backyard dirt and packaged topsoil are not the best option. Instead of this, get an indoor potting mix which is loose enough to allow roots to grow easily without any problem while also making water run just through at bottom by passing it quickly.
For buying such type of mixes especially for plants you can ask someone from the garden center so that they will guide you to a perfect soil mix according to your requirements.