5 ways to recognise diseased houseplants
30.1.2018
Translation: machine translated
If you don't have green fingers or a small creature settles in your houseplant, you can often predict a miserable end for the plant. However, if you notice it early, you can still provide first aid and save the houseplant.
1. drooping leaves
Healthy houseplants have lush, green leaves that look vital. If this is not the case, the plants are not feeling well in some way. The be-all and end-all for plants is light! If this is not guaranteed, then move the plant to the best light source in the home. To avoid sunburn on the plants, it is best to move them on a cloudy day. Before moving, check whether the plant likes direct sunlight at all, otherwise it will probably be even unhappier than it was before.
To ensure that a plant can breathe properly, you should remove the dust layer from time to time. Smaller plants can be given a quick rinse in the shower. Place larger plants on the balcony when it rains. If it is really too heavy, you may have to clean the leaves individually with a damp cloth. To protect it from drowning, place the pot in a bin liner and tie it up at the top.
2 Too much / too little water
If the leaves are drooping on the pot, the roots are starting to rot or the tips of the leaves are dried out and brown, it may mean that you have given too much or too little water. All three symptoms can mean the end of a plant. The reason for this is often that a houseplant does not always need the same amount of water. Depending on the time of year, location, plant species or growth phase, watering needs to be adjusted. After all, we humans are more thirsty in summer or during sport than in winter or when we are lying on the couch.
In general, it can be said that too little water can cause the leaves of houseplants to turn yellow, while too much water leads to brown leaves. It is best to find out about the correct care and growing conditions for the plant when you buy it.
3. black gnats
Who hasn't experienced this? You're sitting comfortably on the sofa and suddenly a small, annoying mosquito buzzes around your head. Well, this annoying thing can of course also come from a piece of fruit that you haven't yet thrown in the bin. In many cases, however, they are so-called fungus gnats, which buzz around the plant in large numbers. They are often found in winter and drop their larvae into the potting soil. The result is that the embedded larvae eat the roots of the houseplant and cause them to die. If you are repotting a plant, get high-quality potting soil, as the midges are usually already in the soil you have bought.
Are you already affected by the midges problem? Then let the plant dry out for the first time. Removing the moisture will reduce the number of midges and kill off the larvae. Then simply remove as much soil as possible from the houseplant and repot it. Alternatively, you can use a yellow trap. The yellow colour attracts insects such as whiteflies, vinegar flies, fungus gnats and aphids.
4. light-coloured spots
Every houseplant shows you when it is not doing well. If the leaves have light-coloured spots, for example, this may be caused by the common spider mite. You can also recognise it by the wafer-thin spider threads that adorn the leaves. The webs become even more visible if you spray them with water.
The problem with spider mites is that they suck out the plant cells of the houseplant and cause them to dry out. Unfortunately, this type of mite is widespread and often occurs in winter due to the low humidity. As a preventative measure, spray the plants with lukewarm water from time to time. If one of them is already infested with spider mites, you should keep them away from the healthy plants and treat them accordingly. To do this, shower them thoroughly and wrap them in a closed plastic bag or bin liner for three to four days after drying. The warm and humid climate will cause the pests to die. As soon as the plant is in the bag for too long, mould can develop. If this method of control does not achieve the desired result, the only option is to use chemicals such as plant protection sprays, which have been specially developed for this purpose.
5. irregular stains
If you place a houseplant directly next to a window and the leaves start to turn yellow or light brown with light, irregular spots on the leaf, this may indicate that the plant is too close to the window and is suffering from sunburn. The sun deprives the leaves of moisture and thus also the green colour, which leads to unsightly spots on the leaves. Unfortunately, the damage caused is irreparable and is no longer visible until enough new leaves have grown back. To prevent further damage, it is best to move the plant to a less sunny place (not dark) as soon as you notice the spots.
Conclusion
Place the houseplant in the right light, pay attention to the time of year and temperature, apply the right care and don't give the plant too much or too little water. The plant should then become a long-lasting companion. And if nothing really helps and the plant just doesn't want to feel at home with you, you still have the option of throwing it in the bin. The green oasis feeling in your home will then only be provided by artificial plants that will last a lifetime.
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