Before watering, stick your finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time to water. If it's still moist, wait a few more days. Overwatering is the most common cause of houseplant death.
Hold your hand a foot above the surface where your plant sits. A sharp, well-defined shadow means bright light. A soft, fuzzy shadow means medium light. No shadow at all means low light.
Most houseplants thrive in a well-draining potting mix. For succulents and cacti, add perlite or sand for extra drainage. For ferns and tropical plants, mix in peat moss to retain more moisture.
Group tropical plants together to create a microclimate of higher humidity. You can also place pots on a tray filled with pebbles and water — as the water evaporates, it humidifies the air around your plants.
Feed most houseplants with a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer. Reduce or stop feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. Always dilute to half strength to avoid root burn.
Rotate your plants a quarter turn each time you water them. This ensures all sides receive even light exposure and prevents your plant from growing lopsided as it leans toward the light source.
If roots are circling the bottom of the pot, growing out of drainage holes, or the plant is drying out faster than usual, it's time to repot. Choose a pot only 1-2 inches larger than the current one.
Leaves turning yellow, starting from the lower leaves
Cause: Usually caused by overwatering, but can also indicate nutrient deficiency or natural aging of lower leaves.
Solution: Check soil moisture before watering. Ensure the pot has drainage holes. If soil is soggy, let it dry out completely before watering again.
Mushy, dark brown or black roots with a foul smell
Cause: Caused by prolonged overwatering or poor drainage, leading to fungal infection in waterlogged roots.
Solution: Remove the plant from its pot, trim all affected roots with sterile scissors, and repot in fresh, well-draining soil. Reduce watering frequency.
Long, stretched stems with sparse leaves and large gaps between leaf nodes
Cause: The plant is reaching toward a light source because it isn't receiving enough light in its current position.
Solution: Move the plant to a brighter location. Prune leggy stems to encourage bushier growth. Consider supplemental grow lights in darker rooms.
Dry, crispy brown edges or tips on leaves
Cause: Typically caused by low humidity, underwatering, or salt build-up from tap water or fertiliser.
Solution: Increase humidity around the plant, use filtered water, and flush the soil periodically to remove mineral build-up.
Tiny white, green, or brown insects on leaves; sticky residue; webbing
Cause: Common pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids are attracted to stressed or overwatered plants, especially indoors.
Solution: Isolate the affected plant. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth, then treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Check neighbouring plants for spread.