Is your houseplant struggling? Here's how to revive it!

Feb 06, 2025 | 0 comments posted by Adrien SAINT

Is your houseplant struggling? Here's how to revive it!

Sometimes a houseplant loses its luster: yellow, limp, falling leaves… Don't panic! By following a few simple steps, you can often save it and restore its vitality.

1. Observe the signs of suffering

Before taking any action, take the time to observe your plant:
🌿 Yellowing leaves → Overwatering or lack of nutrients. If it's the small leaves at the base of the plant and it's growing well, there's nothing to worry about.
🌿 Brown and dry leaves → Air too dry, lack of water, or too much sun. Sunburn often appears as a black color.
🌿 Soft and drooping leaves → Excess or lack of water, water circulation is no longer working properly and the problem certainly comes from the roots.
🌿 Discoloration spots → Possible disease or pest; each species has its preferred pests: philodendron and monstera: thrips, alocasia and anthurium: mites, colocasia, palms, and hoya: mealybugs
🌿 Plant that no longer grows → Lack of light, nutrients, environment too cold or roots too cramped.

2. Identify the cause of the problem

Once you've identified the signs, try to understand the cause:

💧 Overwatering or underwatering → The potting mix needs to dry out a little between waterings for most plants. A well-draining, airy potting mix will dry out faster than a dense, compact one. Some plants prefer to be soaked: alocasia, marantaceae, begonia, and peperomia, for example.
☀️ Light problem → Place your plant in a suitable location: some species need very bright light, while others tolerate less. It's important to research the plant's needs when you buy it to ensure you provide the right environment.
🌱 Nutrient deficiency → Repot it if it has been in the same pot for a long time or add some fertilizer. Always remember to place the plant in a pot with good drainage.
🐛 Presence of parasites (scale insects, thrips, mites) → There are three solutions, to be explored in order if possible:
- Mechanical solution: clean the leaves (top, bottom, and stems) with a soft cloth, water, and a little soap. Repeat until eradicated. This may take some time.
- Biological control: introducing predators of the pests damaging your plants. You can check out the Insectosphere website for this, which can supply these predators.
- Chemical option: the last resort, but often the most effective with the least effort. I recommend some of the strongest products available to the general public: KB Garden, Rapid Total, and Spruzit, in concentrated form.

3. Apply the right solutions

✔️ Water appropriately : neither too much nor too little. A good rule of thumb: water when the soil is dry on the surface, without letting water stagnate in the saucer.
✔️ Place your plant in the right spot : indirect light for most plants, away from cold drafts and heating that dries out the ambient air.
✔️ Take care of the potting mix : good potting mix ensures proper drainage. If necessary, repot your plant in a slightly larger pot. If you repot in a much larger pot, watering should be adjusted because there will be a lot of uncolonized volume initially, and these areas will remain damp longer, increasing the risk of root rot.
✔️ Watch out for pests : regularly inspect the leaves and clean them to prevent their appearance. Tip: baby wipes are great for cleaning and polishing your leaves.

4. Prevention is better than cure

✔️ Observe before you buy : some retailers and garden centers do not check the quality of their plants, either at the root level or for the presence of pests.
🌿 Maintenance routine : observe your plants regularly to detect and correct certain factors.
🌞 Ideal location : adapt the position according to the season (closer to a window in winter for example).

By taking care of your plant with these simple steps, you'll give it the best chance to thrive and stay healthy! 🌱✨