What’s wrong with my house plants? Expert’s opinion.

1. My house plant is showing ‘stunted growth’:

This may be a result of poor feeding or excessive watering. The probable remedy for this cause is to feed the plant with liquid manure & to stop watering for a few days. You may have to do re-potting of your plant in a bigger pot. Please note that some plants may get into ‘Resting period’ in the winter season, which is normal.

2. My house plant is wilting:

Wilting may happen due to lack of moisture in the compost or over-watering or bad drainage & rotting of roots. Shade loving plants wilt when they are kept in excessive sunlight. Remedial measures are to regulate watering, check drainage, & ensuring correct light exposure.

3. Flowers, buds & even leaves are dropping after turning yellow:

Bud formation takes place in the good light, and if the plant is not receiving good light, buds will fall. Flowers, buds & foliage, may also drop as a result of fluctuations in light & temperature, lack of humidity, excess or under-watering, gas fumes (pollution), & drought. Red spider mites may also cause the falling of leaves.

4. Leaves of my plant are turning yellow but not dropping:

Plants that prefer acidic soil may show such symptoms if there is an excess of lime in the soil. Please re-pot your plant in slightly acidic potting mixture.

5. Leaves of my plant are suddenly dropping:

If the soil is too wet when leaves drop, this must be due to rotting of roots as a result of excess watering. The affected plants should be moved to a warm place immediately & watering should be stopped for a couple of days & resumed after that only moderately.

6. Colourful, attractive leaves of my variegated ornamental plant are becoming green:

This is due to insufficient illumination.Ornamental foliage plantsrequire at least partial dosage of sunlight to maintain the attractive variegation & pigmentation of their leaves. Keep your plant in the bright sunny spot of your house.

7. There are brown spots on the leaves of my plant; even tips of foliage are turning brown.

This may happen due to fungal disease, overheating, drought conditions, too many fertilizers, & water drops remaining too long on foliage. Spraying offungicideswill help. Your plant should be watered either early morning or later in the evening.