Houseplants can add so much life and greenery to your home or office. However, it’s easy to accidentally make mistakes that can cause your plants to struggle. Avoiding just a few common errors can make a big difference in how well your houseplants thrive. Here are 8 houseplant mistakes to watch out for along with tips for success.
Overwatering
Overwatering is one of the most common ways that well-meaning houseplant owners inadvertently damage their plants. It’s easy to look at dry soil and think it’s time to water. But you need to pay more attention to the plant itself than to the soil.
Many houseplants are accustomed to going longer between waterings. Their roots need a chance to access oxygen in the spaces between soil particles. When you water too often, it fills up that space and suffocates the roots. This can lead to root rot and other harmful fungus or disease.
How to Avoid Overwatering
- Wait until the top inch or two of soil is dry before watering. Test with your finger or use a moisture probe.
- Pay attention to signs of overwatering like yellow leaves, mushy stems, mold, or foul odors.
- Water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes. But don’t leave plants sitting in water.
- Choose pots with drainage holes and well-draining soil mixes.
- Add amendments like perlite, bark chips, or sand to improve drainage.
- Allow excess water to drain fully from cache pots or decorative covers.
- Water less in winter when most plants are dormant.
Get in the habit of observing your plants and feeling the soil before reaching for the watering can. This will help you develop a sense for when they truly need it.
Underwatering
While overwatering is more common, some houseplant owners struggle with the opposite problem. Underwatering causes similar symptoms to overwatering, like yellow or brown crispy leaves. When unsure, it’s better to wait an extra day or two between waterings. But take care not to let plants sit too long in bone dry soil.
Signs of Underwatering
- Soil is dried out more than just the top few inches.
- Leaves are wrinkled, curled, droopy or brittle.
- Growth is stunted.
- Stems are thin and weak.
- Flowers or buds drop before opening.
How to Avoid Underwatering
- Check soil moisture before watering on a schedule.
- Water when the top few inches of soil are dry.
- Give plants a thorough soaking when you do water.
- Use moisture retaining soil amendments.
- Increase humidity for plants that dry out quickly.
- Water more often for small pots that dry faster.
- Don’t let plants sit dry too long in winter.
Pay attention to your plant’s needs and environmental conditions to find the right balance between overwatering and underwatering for healthy growth.
Improper Lighting
Giving your houseplants the right amount and type of light is crucial yet often overlooked. Even plants described as low light or indirect light varieties need some illumination from natural or artificial sources. And most thrive best with at least some direct sun.
Insufficient light leads to leggy, weak growth and fewer flowers or small blooms. Leaves may be small and far apart or even turn pale green or yellow from lack of chlorophyll.
Too much light can scorch leaves, causing brown or yellow spots, crispy edges, or bleaching. But usually it just results in a need for more frequent watering.
Getting the lighting right depends on the plant variety, time of year, and the direction, distance and intensity of both sun and artificial light. Observe your plants and adjust as needed.
Solving Lighting Problems
- Rotate plants periodically for even light exposure.
- Move plants closer to or further from light sources.
- Use sheer curtains to diffuse harsh direct sun.
- Supplement with grow lights or reflected light.
- Underplant with lower light varieties.
- Prune leggy growth and move to better location.
Take note if your plants are leaning, getting leggy or showing signs of scorch and make adjustments. Proper lighting encourages compact, lush and vibrant growth.
Drafts and Temperature Fluctuation
Plants don’t like rapid changes in temperature. Exposure to cold drafts or overheated air can stress them and make them more prone to pests, disease and other problems.
Many common houseplants thrive in consistent normal room temperatures between 65-75°F. Cooler night temps down to 50°F are fine for some.
Drafts from windows, doors, vents or fans directly on plants can chill or dry out tender growth. Keep plants protected in these zones.
Likewise take care when moving plants in and out of different conditions outside and inside. Allow them to adjust gradually.
Creating Ideal Temperatures
- Monitor for cold or hot spots and adjust placement.
- Provide insulation from drafts.
- Maintain even warmth with thermostats or space heaters.
- Move plants outdoors gradually when acclimating.
- Use enclosed cases or cloches to increase humidity.
- Don’t place in hot zones like above radiators or appliances.
Pay attention to your home’s microclimates. Group plants appropriately and protect them from sudden temperature swings.
Using the Wrong Potting Mix
Houseplants need soil that retains some moisture but also drains well. Using regular garden soil or mixes with too much peat moss can leave roots sitting wet. Or a porous cactus type mix may not retain enough humidity.
Ideally houseplant soil mixes should:
- Provide nutrients
- Retain some moisture
- Drain well
- Allow air circulation
You can amend bagged mixes by adding:
- Perlite or pumice to improve drainage
- Compost or worm castings to increase nutrients
- Peat moss to retain moisture
- Sand or small gravel for aeration
Or make your own custom blend with:
- 1 part potting soil for moisture and nutrients
- 1 part perlite or pumice for drainage
- 1 part peat moss or coco coir to retain water
- 1 part sand or bark chips for aeration
Getting the Potting Mix Right
- Use lightweight commercial mixes made for containers.
- Check the bag to match the formula to the plant needs.
- Amend to adjust moisture retention and drainage.
- Rehydrate peat-heavy mixes.
- Repot in fresh mix periodically.
Choosing and preparing the right potting mix makes a big difference in providing ideal conditions for healthy roots and growth.
Neglecting Humidity
Many popular houseplants originate in tropical or subtropical zones with naturally high humidity. Our heated and air conditioned homes tend to run very dry. This moisture starved air can damage lush green foliage.
Look for crispy brown leaf edges and tips as the most common sign that humidity levels are too low. Also watch for leaves that are small, far apart, dull or even shriveled or puckered.
Increasing Humidity
- Use a humidifier or vaporizer
- Place pots on pebble trays with water
- Mist leaves frequently by hand or use a mister
- Grow in a greenhouse or terrarium
- Group plants together for a mutual microclimate
- Avoid hot airflow from heaters and vents
Providing 40-60% relative humidity will go a long way towards preventing dry air damage and helping most houseplants thrive with full vibrant growth.
Lack of Air Circulation
Like humans, plants breathe and need air circulation. Stagnant air can lead to problems like:
- Dust buildup on leaves blocking light and pores.
- Increased risk of molds, fungus and pests.
- Lack of air circulation slows growth.
- Still air causes high humidity on leaf surfaces where bacteria and fungi can thrive.
But avoid placing houseplants directly into cool drafts which can shock them. Gentle air movement is the goal.
Improving Air Circulation
- Use fans to keep air gently moving – not directed at plants.
- Rotate plants away from walls and corners periodically.
- Keep a little space between plants for air movement.
- Remove small plants from enclosed terrariums/cases periodically.
- Clean dust buildup by wiping with damp cloth or showering.
- Prune or space congested growth allowing internal movement.
Proper airflow maintains healthy respiration and evaporation and discourages pests and diseases.
Infrequent Dusting
As mentioned, houseplants attract dust. Their waxy leaf surfaces and static electricity cause dust particles in the air to cling. A little dust won’t harm most plants. But left to build up it can:
- Cover leaf surfaces and block photosynthesis.
- Prevent pores from opening fully.
- Harbor pests like spider mites.
- Become embedded and hard to remove.
- Allow fungi and bacteria to establish.
- Create an unsightly appearance.
The best time to dust is when watering. Wipe leaves gently with a soft damp cloth wiping from base to tip. Or use a sink or shower spray attachment on a gentle setting to wash away dust.
Creating a Dusting Schedule
- Dust once a month or when watering.
- Dust fine leafed varieties more often.
- Use distilled water to minimize spots.
- Dust undersides of leaves also.
- Increase airflow to prevent excess dust buildup.
- Consider repotting to refresh old dusty soil.
Regular gentle dusting improves plant health. But take care not to damage tender leaves.
Using the Wrong Container
Choosing an appropriate pot or container for your houseplant helps create ideal growing conditions and enhances decor. Consider factors like:
Size – Allow room for growth but not more than 2 inches larger than the root ball. Go up just one size when repotting. Oversized pots hold too much moisture.
Drainage – Be sure containers have holes to allow excess water to drain out fully. Drainage improves oxygen flow to roots.
Material – Plastic, glazed ceramic and metal work well. Avoid porous unglazed terra cotta for plants that need more water retention.
Weight – Use lightweight pots for large plants that will need to be moved. Heavier materials provide stability for top heavy or climbing plants.
Aesthetics – Choose pots that complement your decor style – glazed, raw, vivid colors, simple clean lines, traditional shapes, modern materials, etc.
Budget – You can find high quality affordable pots. But invest in one showpiece display container for your favorite plant.
Take pot selection into consideration when acquiring new plants or moving them into new homes. And reevaluate when repotting. The container influences moisture, airflow, visibility and design impact.
Frequently Asked Questions About Houseplant Mistakes
What causes leaf yellowing and drop?
Yellowing leaves that drop easily result from overwatering, underwatering, insufficient light, pests, diseases, or transplant stress. Identify the cause and take corrective care.
How can I boost humidity for houseplants cheaply?
Some easy and inexpensive ways to increase humidity include misting with a spray bottle daily, placing pots on pebble trays, and grouping plants together.
Where should I place houseplants in my home?
Most houseplants do best in bright, indirect light from an east or west facing window. Avoid direct southern exposure in summer. Keep away from drafts from windows and vents.
Should I put gravel or rocks in the bottom of pots?
No, this outdated practice can actually increase moisture and risk of root rot. Allowing excess water to drain away freely is best.
How often should I fertilize my houseplants?
In the active growing season from spring through summer, fertilizing monthly is ideal for most plants. Cut back on feeding in winter when plants are dormant or slow growing.
Can I use tap water for houseplants?
Tap water containing chemicals like fluoride, chlorine, or salts may cause leaf tip burn or accumulate in the soil. Allowing it to sit out overnight before using can help or use filtered or distilled water.
When should I repot a houseplant?
When roots are crowding the pot, drainage is poor, or the plant is top heavy or unstable in the container, it’s time to move it to a slightly larger pot in fresh potting mix. Do this in spring.
Can I propagate houseplants from cuttings?
Many houseplants can be propagated by taking stem cuttings or dividing tubers and repotting. Remove lower leaves, dip cut end in hormone powder, plant in soil and cover with a plastic bag until roots form.
Conclusion
Avoiding just a few common houseplant mistakes can make a big difference in the health and vigor of your indoor plant collection. Be attentive to your plant’s care needs, environmental conditions and symptoms of distress. With a little diligent attention and proactive adjustments, your plants will thrive under your care. The rewards of lush, beautiful houseplants are well worth the effort.