The plant dies out of nowhere (2024)

FAQs

The plant dies out of nowhere? ›

There are many reasons why otherwise healthy plants suddenly die. This could be the result of too little watering, too much watering, fungal disease or pests.

The most common mistake that well-meaning plant parents make is overwatering, which can cause root rot that will ultimately kill your plant. Root rot comes from a pathogen that thrives in a consistently moist environment; if soil is left soggy for too long, the once-dormant pathogen activates and attacks the roots.

There are many pests and diseases that attack plants and some can lead to plant death. Root rot for example, which can be caused by a soil-borne pathogen such as a fungus or may occur in poorly drained soil, can cause a plant to die very quickly.

If the stems are completely dead but the plant roots are still alive, don't trim the dead stems all the way down to the roots. Leave about five centimetres of the stem intact above the soil. When you manage to revive the plant, new growth will sprout from them.

The number one way indoor plants die is by overwatering. While you may love your plant so much and feel inclined to shower it (literally) with love and water, know that most plants need to dry out a bit between waterings in order to thrive.

To revive the plant, you can soak it in water and then adopt a predictable watering schedule that uses the same amount of water each time. Remove dead leaves: Improper care may cause most leaves on the plant to die, and it's usually best to remove leaves that have become entirely brown.

The telltale signs of shock are yellowing or brown wilted leaves that droop drastically. Often a stressed plant becomes very delicate and the leaves easily fall off, if touched or bumped. There are two kinds of shock to be aware of when relocating or repotting your plants: plant shock and transplant shock.

Also, soil that is saturated with a sugar solution can attract harmful micro-organisms that can affect the plant's health. There is no scientific evidence that feeding plants sugar water is conducive to plant health. On the contrary, it can harm your plants and even kill them.

Plants do not feel pain because they don't have a brain for any signals to be sent to. Imagine if a human didn't have a brain; they could get cut, but they wouldn't know and there wouldn't be anything to tell that they are in pain...so technically they would not be in pain. Same for plants.

Any dead or dying leaves can be pruned immediately. Leaves with slight damage can be trimmed back, especially if it's the leaf tip. If prefer to remove the whole leaf, that's fine too. Trimming back dying foliage will encourage new growth.

How do you fix a dying houseplant? ›

What you can do is cut back any dying leaves or stems. Leave at least a few leaves to absorb and process sunlight. Be sure the plant has good drainage out of the bottom of its container. When it springs back to life and you see new growth, then consider a general water-soluble fertilizer to help it along.

1: Too Much Water

Overwatering can seem impossible; however, it is one of the most common mistakes plant owners make. Only very few plant species can handle daily watering in a regular pot, and for that reason, you should never water your plants until they need it.

The problem with your soil resisting hydration is not uncommon. It usually begins with the soil being watered incompletely and then drying more than it should. After that it can become hydrophobic and actually repel water! The ingredient in the soil that is causing that problem is peat.

Trim the Damaged Leaves

In this case, your best bet is to give your plant a haircut. Trim your plant's leaves, removing all the dead or damaged foliage to help save your dying plant. This will give your plant more energy to focus on new growth because it's not trying to maintain dying leaves.