What people keep running into with plant care
Complaints tagged plant care, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
39 recurring problems · 518 people · 15 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 4Why are my shrubs dying on only one side?Shrubs often brown or die on a single side due to localized issues like sudden water stress or root damage. This can happen from being left dry for a few days or reacting poorly to heavy rain and waterlogged soil.
- 4Why is my new indoor plant losing its leaves?When a new houseplant starts dropping leaves and dying, adjusting light and water often isn't enough. If the plant continues to discolor and lose foliage, it may need repotting, but many struggle to find the right soil on a tight budget without resorting to unsuitable, heavy outdoor dirt.
- 3When should I cut back ornamental grasses?Ornamental grasses should generally be cut down to about two inches in early spring before new growth starts, rather than in fall or winter. Trimming too early strips away seasonal winter interest and removes shelter and habitat that beneficial insects and wildlife rely on through the winter.
- 3Why won't my orchid bloom again?Potted orchids frequently drop all their flowers and stems and never bloom again, even when other houseplants thrive in the exact same environment. This failure to rebloom leaves owners guessing about proper care, often wondering if they need to relocate the plants outdoors.
- 3How to keep outdoor herbs alive over winterBringing outdoor herbs inside to escape frost usually causes them to drop leaves and grow tall, thin stems as they stretch for sunlight. When these weakened plants are moved back outside in the spring, their fragile stems easily break and wither away.
- 3How to shape a newly potted plant into a lollipopTo create a lollipop shape, you must decide whether to remove the lower branches and leaves to let a single stem fill out. The initial pruning is difficult because it is unclear exactly how much to trim back from both the branches and the root system during the first session.
- 2How to prune a bush-like citrus tree into an upright tree shapeTraining a low, wide citrus bush into a tree requires cutting back and selecting specific branches over multiple seasons to encourage a straighter, upright structure. Without knowing which branches to remove or when to trim them, gardeners risk damaging the plant or failing to achieve the desired tree form.
- 2Why are my seedlings withering after repotting?Waiting for plants to mature causes their roots to twist together, making separation highly damaging. Shocking the roots by stripping away all the old dirt or watering already soaked soil also harms the plant. This root damage leaves the newly potted seedlings withered, drooping to the side, or dying from the top down.
- 2How to tell if a dying plant will come back next yearMany declining plants are just going dormant or suffering from seasonal stress rather than dying completely. Checking the stems and root systems reveals whether the plant is still alive underneath, saving you from throwing away something that will bounce back in the spring.
- 2Why are my bushes turning brown after watering?Even with regular watering and following landscaper advice, bushes can turn brown due to a mix of overwatering from heavy rain and extreme environmental stress. This sudden browning leaves property owners scrambling to fix the damage before receiving violation notices from their homeowners association.
- 2Why are my boxwood shrubs turning yellow and dying?Homeowners trying to save boxwoods during hot and dry weather often increase watering frequency, only to watch the foliage get progressively worse and develop yellow or brown patches. This leaves them guessing whether the shrubs are suffering from a reversible seasonal change, severe drought stress, or a disease like blight, and unsure whether trimming the damaged bits will help.
- 2Can't get rid of aphids on crepe myrtleStandard sprays like neem oil and mill stop SP often fail to eliminate aphids on crepe myrtles, leading to summer-long battles. Because physically spraying the bugs off daily isn't practical, the persistent infestation drives people to consider drastic measures like systemic drenches or cutting down the tree entirely.
- 2Why won't my hedge grow to the same height?Certain hedge plants stall out after a couple of years and fail to reach the height of the rest of the planting, leaving bare spots that persist despite aeration, composting, and weeks of waiting.
- 2Why does outdoor plastic tubing crack?The sun causes the exposed parts of the tubing to become very brittle. This extreme brittleness is what ultimately makes the plastic crack.
- 2Can I plant a vegetable that sprouted in my kitchen?Yes, you can experiment with planting sprouted onions or seeds found inside kitchen vegetables. However, beginners often struggle to keep these plants alive because they forget to water them or don't know if it is the right time of year to grow them.
- 2Should I transplant plants now or wait until spring?Online sources give mixed information about whether fall or spring is the best time to uproot and transplant. This conflicting advice makes it difficult to decide when it is safe to move plants from pots to the ground or rearrange a garden's layout.
- 2How to keep outdoor vegetable plants safe for the winterSome online sources suggest bringing plants indoors, which is impractical for large vegetables deeply rooted in the yard. Gardeners hate having to cut everything back, move them, or dig up the entire plant and roots. This confusion leaves them unsure of how to keep their plants outside and safe so they can grow again next season.
- 2How to fix a leaning plant when a stake doesn't workSmall plastic stakes often fail to hold up heavy plants, allowing them to continue leaning or fall over completely. This typically happens when the ground becomes too soft and the roots fail to anchor the plant. Without better support, the bottom leaves begin to suffer and you risk losing a plant you have worked hard to keep alive.
- 2How to care for new indoor plants without direct sunlightNewly bought plants often wilt and lose their green leaves shortly after coming home, even if they are watered immediately. The primary hurdle is a lack of direct window sunlight, which leaves owners guessing if simply opening the window provides enough light to keep their new gifts alive.
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