Gardener shares how to spot if houseplants are dying and how to save them

Gardener sharing tips/Houseplant

A gardener has shared how to spot if your houseplants are dying and how to save them

YouTube/Carla/GETTY
Lewis Henderson

By Lewis Henderson


Published: 09/02/2025

- 17:36

Updated: 10/02/2025

- 14:57

Checking the condition of the leaves is one way to see if your plant needs attention

Houseplants can often be forgotten about by owners who, without realising, are slowly letting their plants die.

A gardener has spoken on YouTube about how people can spot if their houseplants are dying and how to save them.


Carla, a gardener online said one way to recognise if your plant needs attention is by testing the weight of the pot.

She said: "When your pot is really light, it is a clear sign that it needs water. Usually, you will want to water them from the bottom with your plants."

Watering houseplant

The expert said to water your plants when the pot feels light

GETTY

Before watering, houseplants need to be tidied up and well-prepped, otherwise, gardeners will be feeding parts that are already dead.

Carla explained: "The first thing you want to do is clean up your plants and do some maintenance. Check if there are some dead leaves that you can take off.

"Not only from the plant but also in the soil, there could be dead parts in there which need clearing out."

If your plant's leaves are green and not yellow, that is an excellentsign. Gardeners can check if their leaves are coming off by giving them a slight pull. If none are falling, then the plant is healthy.

Carla said: "When your leaves start to curl, it is a clear sign that your plants need water. If the leaves are light and not firm, it is another clear sign."

Once all of the dead parts are out of the plants, people can start to feed them with water or whatever nutrients they choose.

It is recommended that it is better to underwater your plants rather than overwater, as that could damage them through root rot.

Carla advised: "When saving a dying plant, make sure you have very good soil, light and drainage."

Houseplant

The gardener said to place their houseplants where they will get exposure to light

GETTY

Once your plant has been watered and is in a healthy condition, it is important to place it in an area where it will get the lighting it needs.

Carla said: "Place the plants on a windowsill or where they will get good exposure to light."

Gardeners should make sure they keep a sharp eye on the leaves, how hydrated the plant is and its lighting so they can recognise when houseplants are dying and need urgent attention.

Houseplant owners have also been warned of a mistake they are making that they do not realise.

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