Comments on: How come i keep killing house plants?

By: Jae

Jae — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:17:47 +0000

Take the plant back were you got it and tell them or show them, they should not be selling plants with bugs. With your plants dying maybe its the heat in your house, if you have gas keep a glass of water next to the plant or set it inside the pot just to get moisture in the air.

By: Loollea

Loollea — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:13:39 +0000

get a book about houseplants and read it to learn which plants do best inside and which you like
the two most important things are light and water, decide where you want to keep the plants, make note of their exposure (north, south, east or west) talk to your local garden shop and select the plants best for you

By: dances_with_unicorns1955

dances_with_unicorns1955 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:17:08 +0000

Lots of people kill plants with kindness; keeping the soil moist (rather than wet) is a good rule of thumb unless it’s something like bamboo. Don’t fertilize for the first 2 – 3 months, as most nurseries/suppliers pot their new plants in a soil/fertilizer mix. After that, I like to fertilize most plants each time I water with a quarter-strength soluble fertilizer. Light can be an issue for some plants. If you see leaves turning brown or getting VERY light green, they’re probably getting too much sun; if they “lean” toward the light, they probably need to be a bit closer. Very few plants can take direct sunlight, particularly from a west- or south- facing window. If you must use these windows, try putting a sheer curtain on the window to cut down on the intensity of the sun. Humidity is also a factor to be considered; if the tips of the leaves get brown, or if they wilt quickly, it may be too dry. To combat this (without using a humidifier), try setting the pot on a tray or saucer filled with pebbles, into which water has been poured so that the pebbles are just sticking out. As the water evaporates, the air immediately around the plant will be more humid. If you are having pest problems, a good drench will sometimes take care of things – most nurseries can point you at a good all-round product (Safer Soap is a good one).

These are all very general suggestions, obviously, but hopefully they’ll get you back on track with your plants. Good luck!

By: robuttox

robuttox — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:25:43 +0000

Get a spray bottle from the garden department and spray them with a watery mist.

By: prillville

prillville — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:39:30 +0000

You know plants were not made to grow inside, really. Nothing is native to indoors I have been a landscaper for 14 years and I have trouble with houseplants. I can only grow them if they are IN a window. And my availabilty of windows is on the north side. I water my plants once a week. That is I take them to the sink, fill them up with water and let them drain there. And I spritz them with water from a spray bottle. After they’ve drained I take them back to their saucer in the window. NEVER plant in those pots that have saucers attached! They are terrible. Mine are in about 6 inch to 8 inch pots. Larger pots will not need water as often as they don’t dry out so quickly.

Whatever bug you have, take the plant outside and spray it with a safer soapy insecticide thoroughly. Let it dry and bring it back.

Good luck

By: Catherine Sands

Catherine Sands — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:22:17 +0000

What kind of plant, you did not state here.
Maybe they are some kind of pest worms. Earthworms are brown and longish, so don’t kill those. I suggest you put granular insecticide and spray the leaves of other plants that have such a problem.
I am sorry your plant died. Soil condition could also be a cause of death. some plants need arid soil, damp or moist soil. Certain plants like poison ivy and dumbcane do not need sunlight much. The flowering plants do need plenty.

By: chococat

chococat — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:59:13 +0000

well, for tropical plants, it may depend on the climate of where you live. i don’t think that tropcial plants do well in a lot of climates.

By: ascendent2

ascendent2 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:31:20 +0000

No Green Thumb. Tropical plants like it warm and enjoy a fine mist with water at room temp. It sounds like the bugs that attacked your last plant was because there was mold in your dirt and the dirt did not get a chance to dry out thoroughly. The next time you buy a plant make sure you have the directions for care. Follow them to the T and you should be OK. Most need water once a week. Water them till it runs out the bottom then stop. As for food do not get on leaves just poor on dirt. Try again you’ll get it down sooner or later. Good Luck!!

By: ferial h

ferial h — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:16:19 +0000

I am taking a guess but maybe its cause of the soil

By: Sherri M

Sherri M — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:07:09 +0000

Tropic plants love humidity, you need to put a few rocks between bottom of the planter and between the water catch all plate, bigger than the plant vase! Add water down into that area, not to be sucked up by the roots.

If to close to the window now in the winter time, cold temperture may be killing it.
Find its accurate dirt ph level its supposed to be at. Find the best book at the local library or here online. Maybe at times you should of put a large enough bag over it with some air in the bag put in sunshine for an hour or so, for more humidity to build it up. Don’t over heat this way. Short time fix!

Bugs may have been in dirt all along, and layed the larvae that ate the roots. So now plants is dying. Put whole thing in garbage bag like Glad bag wrap it up, twist into a tie and toss it, so all bugs die and don’t breed, and infect other natural floral in your state of residents.

Stick to normal household plants, good for your area!