Gardening

If your houseplants were to visit a plant whisperer and have a heart-to- heart, what would they say? Are they happy and healthy and glad to be a part of your home? Or are circumstances a little less than ideal?

Unable to hear what your houseplants are saying to you about their accommodations? No worries, I’ll translate here for you. Check out the signs that your houseplants are deliriously happy and the signs indicating that they’re harboring some resentment.

Signs of Contented, Healthy Houseplants

Happy houseplants don’t complain with pests or diseases. Instead, they sport perky, vibrant foliage. Leaves grow in at full size and have a healthy sheen to them. If the houseplant flowers, you’ll find that it regularly buds up and blooms.

Healthy houseplants are also well-anchored in the soil. You won’t find any wobbling. The roots are firmly planted. At the root zone of healthy plants, you’ll find roots that are firm and white or tan.

Signs of Sick Houseplants

Limp leaves that are dull indicate a distressed houseplant. Likely problems are that the plant is dry and needs watering, or the soil is too wet and the roots are suffering from rot. Fix the watering problem and the plant will become more content.

Distorted, shriveled leaves that yellow and fall off are indicative of cultural problems that can lead to plant demise–including insufficient lighting and incorrect watering.

Plants that are wobbly at the base are most likely infected with fungal or bacterial disease. Brown or black roots that are mushy are another sign of root rot. Stop watering the plants when this occurs.