My Rewards
In this blog we look at reasons that plants are not growing, covering common issues such as plant disease, pests and consequently - a plant's stunted growth.
If you're at a loss as to why your plants have stopped growing, don't beat yourself up. Even seasoned plant owners get stumped from time to time. Sometimes the reasons are simple, with an easy fix, but getting there can require a bit of trial and error, coupled with your attentive awareness.
On other occasions, the reasons behind your plants’ lack of growth is outside your control, or relates to the particular species of plant you’re having issues with. This is why it’s important to remember that there’s no “one size fits all” solution to plant care and it is essential that you do research on your plant - so you can distinguish general growth issues from conditions and needs which are relevant to your particular species.
In the meantime, we’ve put our expert knowledge together to help your plants thrive and flourish. Here are 5 reasons why your plants may not be growing:
It's getting insufficient nutrients
This is the most obvious and most common reason your plant's growth has slowed. Remember, we don't just mean fertilizer when we say nutrients. If your plant is getting insufficient natural light or warmth (and during winter, they probably will be) it will conserve all its energy so it can stay alive. When plants are in 'panic mode,' they may drop leaves and extremities so their food doesn't have to travel so far - so they definitely won't be growing! So, if your plant is in a cool, shady patch, try moving nearer an East or South facing window. Of course, if it is winter, your plant may simply have entered a natural period of dormancy, and will be growing again come spring.
On top of a lack of growth, there are several other ways to identify whether your plant lacks the appropriate number of nutrients, these include: the leaf tips beginning to show signs of dead tissue, as well as dead issue on the remainder of the leaf, the plant becoming patchy and yellowing in specific places and on the leaves and yellow streaks or white emerging between the leaf veins.
Check Out - How Can you Open Yourself Up to Nature
Pests
If your plant has suddenly taken a turn for the worse, it could be infested with common houseplant pests like aphids or fungus gnats. You should be able to identify if pests are the issue, as they generally congregate in patches or groups, making them easy to spot. Additionally, you can tell when a plant is infested with pests because sticky honeydew patches will emerge on the plant itself, as well as grey or white “husks” which collect in the soil around the plant.
Some pests are more troublesome than others. As a first point of call, you can try wiping the plant's leaves down with diluted washing up liquid, neem oil or our naturally bug-repellant Aomori Hiba spay. If the issue still persists try rinsing your plant with water and repotting in new soil.
It's root bound
After many years in one pot, plants will have exhausted their soil's nutrients and may have filled every available space with their expanding roots. Some plants can happily be root bound for years, but others will struggle to keep themselves upright and be less able to suck up moisture from the soil. The good news is that it's really easy to check if your plant is root bound.
Number one, you'll probably see roots coming out of the holes in the bottom of its growing pot. Secondly, if you lift your plant gently out of its growing pot, you'll be able to tell immediately if its roots have swelled to the shape of the pot or not. If your plant is root bound, the best thing to do is re-pot it. The best time to repot your plants is in Spring when they are in their natural growing season, but if it's in reasonably good health you can probably get away with repotting at other stages too.
It's reached its full potential
Not all growth issues are related to pests and plant disease. Much like humans and other animals, houseplants can have an upper limit when it comes to growth. In fact, some houseplants are specially bred to be slow-growing so they can be used as decor and won't take over your living room. All that matters now is maintaining the houseplant and giving it an occasional pruning so it can replace older branches with new.
Examples of houseplants which grow slowly or have an upper limit of growth include the Fiddle Leaf Fig, Money Trees, Aloe Vera and the Bromeliad. Bonsai Trees are also bred to stay small - so if your Bonsai Tree is staying compact and miniature - you’re more likely to be doing something right than wrong!
Too much fussing!
Though plant disease or pests might be behind your plants’ stunted growth, one of the most common causes of a plant’s stunted growth is actually over-caring. We totally get it, we’ve all been there! It’s hard to get the balance right sometimes. The best thing you can do is follow the guidelines and let your plant be for a while. An inconsistent environment can be troublesome for plants, so once you’ve found yours a spot with the right temperature, amount of light and water it accordingly, leave it in its spot to do its thing. Trust that your plant wants to survive and will do so if it’s left to its own devices.
One of the frequent mistakes that over-fussers make is reinforcing a common misconception that all plants require frequent watering. Some species like Lily of the Valley are more high maintenance and will wilt within a day or two without moisture. However, many indoor plants only require watering once a week, and some require even less than this. Indoor palms, for example, can often go for long spells without water, and some even prefer this!
Feeling the soil in your plant pots every three days is a good rule of thumb to ensure you’re not overwatering. If the soil is bone dry, it’s time to grab your watering can. If the soil is already moist, then adding more water could result in rotting the plants’ roots, especially in winter when the temperature drops.
That’s a Wrap
We hope these guidelines have been helpful and will allow your plants to reach their full potential. If you're looking for an easy to care for plant, check out our new Low Maintenance Plants collection.
Check Out - Low Maintenance Plant with Wow Factor
