Is your houseplant unwell? Here's how to get it back in shape!

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

1. Observe signs of suffering

Before taking action, take the time to observe your plant:
🌿 Yellow leaves → Overwatering or lack of nutrients. If these are the small leaves at the base of the plant and it is growing well there is nothing to worry about.
🌿 Brown and dry leaves → Air too dry, lack of water or too much sun. Sunburn often appears black.
🌿 Soft and drooping leaves → Excess or lack of water, water circulation is no longer good and the problem certainly comes from the roots.
🌿 Discoloration spots → Possible disease or parasite, each species has its favorite pests: philodendron and monstera: thrips, alocasia and anthurium: mites, colocasia palms and hoya: scale insects
🌿 Plant that no longer grows → Lack of light, nutrients, environment too cold or cramped roots.

2. Identify the cause of the problem

Once you have spotted the signs, try to understand the cause:

💧 Watering too often or not often enough → The substrate must dry out a little between waterings for most plants. A draining and aerated substrate will dry out faster than a dense and compact substrate. Some plants prefer to be watered: alocasia, marantaceae, begonia, peperomia for example.
☀️ Light problem → Place your plant in a suitable location: some species need very good light and others tolerate less. It is important to find out about the needs of the plant at the time of acquisition to be sure to provide it with the appropriate environment.
🌱 Lack of nutrients → 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 draining pot.
🐛 Presence of parasites (mealybugs, thrips, mites) → There are three solutions, to be explored in order if possible:
- mechanical solution by cleaning the leaves (top-bottom-stems) with a soft cloth, water and a little soap. Repeat the operation until eradication. This can take time.
- biological control: introduce predators to the pests damaging your plants. You can look at the insectosphere site for this, which can deliver these predators to you.
- chemical option: the last resort but often the most effective with the least effort. I recommend here some of the strongest products available to the general public: kb garden, rapid total, spruzit, in concentrates.

3. Apply the right solutions

✔️ Adopt appropriate watering : neither too much nor too little. A good rule: water when the soil is dry on the surface, without leaving water stagnating in the saucer.
✔️ Place your plant in the right place : indirect light for most plants, away from cold drafts and heating which dries out the ambient air.
✔️ Take care of the soil : good soil ensures good drainage. If necessary, repot your plant in a slightly larger pot. If you repot in a much larger pot, watering must be adapted because there will be a lot of volume not colonized by the roots at the beginning and these parts will remain wet for longer, increasing the risk of root rot.
✔️ Monitor 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

✔️ Look before you buy : some retailers and garden centers do not check the quality of their plants, either in terms of their roots or 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 will give it the best chance of thriving and staying in great shape! 🌱✨

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