I recently saw an ad for a plant app that showed an image of a yellow plant leaf. The app’s official diagnosis, based on the one photo, was “sick plant”. Their solution? Add coffee grinds to the water when watering the plant. The next image was what appeared to be that same leaf (it wasn’t) now green and happy. Misleading clickbait ads like these drive me nuts.
Honestly, plant care is a minefield of advice, and sometimes even well-meaning tips can totally mess things up. It's tough to know what's actually legit. Forget those quick fixes and magic apps. Real plant care is about understanding your plants and their needs, not some random hack.
It’s important to think about the following things when trying to diagnose an ailing plant:
Environment:
Okay, so when we talk about a plant's "environment," we're really talking about its whole living situation. Think of it like this: where's it sitting? Is it by a sunny window, or tucked away in a dark corner? Is it getting blasted by the AC, or in a humid room? Even the kind of pot it's in can make a difference! Basically, everything around your plant influences how it grows. And don't forget, seasons change, so your plant's needs might too.
When plants are struggling, one of the first things we look at is the type of environment it’s in. Believe it or not, even two plants in the same room can have totally different experiences depending on their exact location. So, do a little detective work! Check out your plant's specific needs – every plant is different. With our care stickers and website, we make it easy to find info on light, water, humidity and origin of the plant. Knowing where your plant comes from helps you understand what growing conditions it needs to thrive.
Water:
Can you imagine caring for a frog the same way you care for a dog? Obviously you wouldn’t (even though they rhyme) because frogs and dogs require very different care. Well plant fam, guess what… so do our plants! Depending on their native origin as well as a variety of other factors, plants will have different needs which can fluctuate with the seasons, location change, repottings, etc. Break away from treating all plants the same and forgo rigid “watering day” schedules and measuring the amount of water you give your plant. It’s important to learn what each plant needs and water when their soil is telling you they need water based on those needs. Try to mimic your plants’ natural environment as best you can indoors. I know, we’re in Ohio, but do your best.
Light:
Just like water, different plants have different light needs. Many indoor plants will prefer bright to medium indirect light, even the ones labeled low light. That just simply means they can tolerate less, but they'll thrive with more. So, what does any of that even mean?
Talking about light is a little complicated but here is our simplified way of describing different types of light:
Direct: when your plant can see the sun. Keep in mind that morning sun is gentler than mid-day afternoon sun. Not all plants want or need direct sun. All it takes is one hot summer afternoon to burn a sensitive plant!
Bright indirect: when your plant can see the sky, but not the actual sun. It should also cast a strong shadow.
Medium indirect: a few feet directly out from a window, still seeing some sky, and casting a medium or strong shadow.
Low light: basically, anything beyond the medium indirect zone, where your plant can't see the sky, but still gets some ambient natural light and casts a shadow. Corners are almost always low light areas, even though they can be near a window.
Consider your windows – true north-facing windows won't get direct sun, while south-facing windows might get sun all day. And think about buildings, overhangs, and trees that might block the sky.
An important note about "low light" plants: they're tough, but they're not invincible. "Low light" doesn't mean a dark corner or a bathroom with no window. They still need some natural light to survive, and they'll do much better with more. If they're not getting enough, they'll get leggy, lose their color, and basically just struggle. Plants that aren’t getting enough light are also prone to root rot as the soil holds onto water longer.
Just know that the way that plants see light is drastically different than the way we see light. If you think it’s a dimly lit area, it’s definitely too low for your plant. A good trick is to turn off all of the lights in the room on a day where the sun isn’t behind clouds. Take a look at how much indirect light your plants are getting and maybe do some rearranging or opt for a grow light.
Diagnosing an ailing plant:
Remember the ad from earlier? The one with the yellow leaf they diagnosed as a "sick plant" with a magic solution of coffee grounds? That's not how it works. A yellow leaf could mean a million things! We need to play detective, not guess. One picture tells you nothing. To figure out what’s really going on, you've got to ask the right questions and not jump to conclusions!
Really think about it and ask yourself how it has been cared for: how often do you water? How much light is it getting? Is it just one leaf, or are there others? What do the roots look like? Is it sitting in water? Are there any pests? Has it been moved recently? These are the kinds of things we need to know! A yellow leaf doesn't automatically mean "overwatering" or "underwatering." It could just be an old leaf! Don't jump to conclusions and start changing everything at once, that'll just make things worse and make it harder to diagnose.
If you don't know the answers to those questions, that's okay! That's where research comes in. Don't just trust random tips you saw on TikTok, look for reliable sources like university extension websites or botanical gardens. And remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It's about learning, experimenting, and even making mistakes (that’s how you learn). So, ask questions, have fun, and enjoy the journey! Even the best plant parents started somewhere.
If you still aren’t sure what to do or think you might know the issue but need additional help, we’re here for you! Book a Plant Parenthood 101 class with us or schedule a 30-minute plant consultation and we’ll help you get to the root of the problem! Visit our website at www.flourishplantmkt.com/events to check out our list of upcoming workshops or www.flourishplantmkt.com/consult to book a consultation.
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