Houseplants a Green Thumb Away From Healthy Living

Nothing is more discouraging then to buy houseplants and slowly watch them die. You may begin to think that you just don't have a green thumb. Everyone can learn how to properly care for houseplants by knowing what to look for, and what actions to take.

Are the leaves on your plant starting to turn yellow? This is usually a sign of too much light, fertilizer or water. Start keeping track of how much water you are giving your plants. The soil on the top needs to dry out before your plant gets a drink.

If the leaves on your plant are starting to turn brown on the tips, it is usually because your plant hasn't received enough water. Too much sunlight and high temperatures can also be the culprits. If the plant has dark spots on the body of the leaf, it is usually because of over watering.

Do the leaves of your plant become brittle and dry? This is usually because of lack of humidity. Try to raise the amount of humidity in the room. Grouping plants together will raise the humidity, as well.

If you see light yellow blotches showing up on your plant, it is usually from dripping water onto the leaves during watering. Try to water around the rim of the pots to keep the leaves from getting water on them. It is better to use tepid water than cold water.

Does your plant just wilt? You need to move this plant to another location. Wilting is usually caused by too much sun, too high of a temperature, and lack of water. Water the wilted plant well.

If your plant has little or wiry top growth, it is usually not getting a good source of light. Move the plant to a brighter area in your home. You can also pinch back the spindles to promote new growth.

Does your plant simply not bloom like it should? This is usually due to a high evening temperature, and lack of light. You might want to move this plant to a cooler spot that has better light.

If the base of your plant becomes discolored and soft, it probably has root rot. This usually happens when the plant has been watered too often, and does not have proper drainage. Your plant with turn brown, wilt, and start to die. You should probably transplant this plant to a larger container. If the plant is really bad, simply throw it out. Wash the container that this plant was in very well before using it for another plant.

Soft, mushy spots that show up on your plants stem, leaves and flowers is usually botrytis, or gray mold. The sick parts will simply curl up, and fall off. You should remove all sickly parts of this plant and treat the plant with a fungicide. These plants should not be misted with a spray bottle, as that promotes the growth of the fungus. Avoid placing these plants in areas that are high in humidity.