Problem Solving For Your Houseplant

Watching your houseplant grow and thrive is extremely rewarding.  Like any plants, indoor or outdoor, occasionally there are problems that occur and need to be resolved in order for a houseplant to retain its healthy existence.  There are warning signs for various plant problems.  The following information is from several different university extension web sites.

Cultural Problems

-Lower leaves turn yellow and drop when touched
            *Usually caused by overwatering.
            *May occur when a new plant is moved from greenhouse to a low-light, low-               humidity environment.
-Yellowing and dropping of leaves at various levels on a plant
            *overwatering
            *poor drainage
            *tight soil
            *chilling
            *gas fumes
-Tips or margins of leaves appear burned, brown, or both
            *soil is too dry for a short period of time
            *too much fertilizer
            *plant exposed to too low temperatures for a short period
            *frequent use of softened water
-New leaves of plant are small
            *soil too dry for long periods
            *poorly drained soil
            *tight soil mixture
-New leaves with long internodes
            *not enough light
            *temperature too high
-Leaves yellow or light green, weak growth
            *too much light
            *poor root system, possibly from poor drainage, overwatering, or tight soil
            *too little fertilizer
            *plant is root bound and needs to be transplanted to a larger pot

Pest Problems

Three of the most common pests that infest houseplants include aphids (plant lice), mealybugs (cottony), and spidermites.  All three of these pests have the potential to kill a houseplant and spread to other plants, but if spotted early and properly treated, pests are fairly easy to combat.  When a problem is first spotted, isolate the plant immediately so that neighboring plants are not infected, as well.  Signs of trouble are indicated with spots or speckles on the top or bottoms of the leaves.  When the plant is watered, that is a good time to inspect leaves on your plant to make sure there are no pests present.  Visit Delhi Flower and Garden Centers for more information on houseplant pests and insecticides.  If an insecticide is diluted and applied properly at the first sighting of a problem, the pests should be eliminated and controlled with minimum insecticide treatments.

For more information on houseplant problems and ways to treat houseplant problems, stop in at Delhi Flower and Garden Center and chat with a grower!