Things You Are Probably Doing Wrong With Your Plants

Caring for plants is rewarding, but it can also be challenging. If you find that your plants don’t seem to thrive no matter what you do, consider the following common things you are probably doing wrong with your plants.

1. Moving your plants around too much

It’s important not to move your plants around too much. Plants need stability to thrive, so constant moving can inhibit their growing process.

2. Watering too much

You can definitely water your plants too much! Overwatering puts your plants at a higher chance for fungi, mold and certain types of pests; it can also inhibit growth and flood roots. Make sure you water just the right amount for your plants.

3. Not knowing where your plants are from

It’s important to know where each of your plants comes from so that you can tailor your care for them to their needs. Tropical plants, for instance, have very different needs than plants originating from a desert.

4. Keeping tropical plants in low humidity

If you are growing tropical plants, you need to have them in a space with at least 50% humidity. To help achieve this, use a humidifier to bring up the humidity in a room periodically and avoid dry air.

5. Using too much fertilizer

Using too much fertilizer on your plants can lead to a host of problems that inhibit growth or even increase the chances of your plants developing diseases. You need to be especially careful during the fall and winter when plants are far more sensitive to over-fertilizing.

6. Watering in the afternoon or at night

Watering plants during the day increases the chances that your plants will get burnt, while watering at night can cause your plant to develop diseases since it won't have time to dry out before the temperature cools. Mornings are the best time to water your plants.

7. Giving them too much (or too little) sun

Sunlight is essential for the growth of any plant, but different plants have different sunlight requirements. You need to find out whether your plants need full sun, partial sun or shade so that you can tailor their spot to their needs.

8. Not monitoring for pests

It’s not the end of the world if you see a bug on your plants, but you need to be constantly checking them for signs of pests such as spider mites, aphids, and similar pests that can harm the health of your plants.

9. Not allowing them to prepare for winter

Plants will naturally attempt to prepare for winter by reducing their needs, so overwatering and over-fertilizing during the fall and early winter can cause issues.

10. Not repotting the plant

Most houseplants outgrow their pot within one to two years, and this may cause stunted growth and even the plant to die.

When your plant is root-bound and needs to be repotted, you may see roots growing out of the drain holes. You also might notice that the roots have grown into a mass around the soil, or the plant will not easily lift from the pot.