{"id":2266138,"date":"2024-06-12T15:33:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T19:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-is-my-indoor-plant-unhappy\/"},"modified":"2024-06-12T15:44:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T19:44:13","slug":"why-is-my-indoor-plant-unhappy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-is-my-indoor-plant-unhappy\/","title":{"rendered":"What&#8217;s Making My Houseplant Unhappy?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhy-is-my-indoor-plant-unhappy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2266138&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>This article discusses the care and troubleshooting of\u2062 indoor \u2062plants, emphasizing the need for a keen \u200bdiagnostic \u200bapproach \u2064akin to detective work to maintain their health. Indoor plants require specific\u200c conditions based on their type, \u200dincluding appropriate\u200c amounts of light, \u2063water, and nutrients. Identifying and addressing changes in a plant\u2019s \u200benvironment is crucial, as improper care can mimic or\u200d cause health issues. Overwatering can lead \u2064to root\u200b rot, whereas underwatering might \u200dcause wilting. Tips include examining plants for pests, adjusting\u200b watering\u2064 habits seasonally, and using \u2064suitable fertilizers to avoid salt buildup that can result in\u200b tip burn. If \u200dpest\u200b issues \u2063arise,\u2064 the use of pesticides\u200c registered \u2062for\u2062 indoor use may be necessary. The article is authored by Lori Imboden and Barslund Judd from the Michigan State University Extension,\u2064 and it \u200dalso underscores the importance of inspecting new\u2063 or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alice-stewart-1966-2024\/\" title=\"Alice Stewart (1966-2024)\">seasonal plants<\/a> before integrating them with others to prevent the spread of insects like mealybugs or pests like fungus gnats.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/lifestyle\/\">  Lifestyle &#038; Human Interest <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/msuextension\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/msuextension\/%20\"><span>Lori Imboden and Barslund Judd, Michigan State University Extension<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 12, 2024 at 9:51am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Indoor plants make great roommates. They brighten the mood in any room, keep quiet hours and don\u2019t leave dirty dishes in the sink. They cannot, however, tell us when something is wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Diagnosing plant problems can require a bit of detective work. Like a detective, you will need to gather information.<\/p>\n<p>Do you know what type of plant you have? Different plants have different light, water, and nutrient requirements. If you know the identity of your plant, you can provide the best possible growth conditions and learn what is a normal appearance. Some indoor plants change with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/alert-severe-weather-pattern-may-sparking-national-pickle-shortage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seasons<\/a> or have flower structures that appear alarming when they first begin to emerge.<\/p>\n<p>If you are confident that changes you observe are not normal, examine your plant care conditions. Overwatering a plant can be as harmful as underwatering. Research the moisture preference of your plant, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chris-evans-ryan-gosling-star-in-violent-the-gray-man-amidst-woke-hollywoods-demand-for-gun-control\/\" title=\"Chris Evans &#038; Ryan Gosling Star in Violent \u201cThe Gray Man\u201d Amidst Woke Hollywood\u2019s Demand for Gun Control\">water based<\/a> on the wetness of the potting media rather than the calendar.<\/p>\n<p>Excessively wet or waterlogged potting media can lead to root rot, wilting, and overall collapse of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/see-strange-new-plant-near-house-immediately-uproot-call-police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">plant<\/a>, which mimics symptoms of underwatering.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a helpful \u201cHouseplant Tip\u201d to make sure soil is hydrated without overwatering:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/C5lbWGHrl0M\/?utm_source=ig_embed&#038;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\"><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Do you struggle to keep plants alive?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Water needs may change with the season, even for an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/durable-goods-inflation-breaks-all-time-1970s-high-as-prices-jump-14-9\/\" title=\"Durable Goods Inflation Breaks All-Time 1970s High as Prices Jump 14.9%\">indoor plant<\/a>. Tip burn is a frequent problem that can be caused by inconsistent watering, salt build-up from excess fertilizer, salts in hard water, or fluoride.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3694083\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3694083\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3694083\">This image shows tip burn, which is a frequent problem for indoor plants. (Lori Imboden \/ MSU Extension)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Additionally, review recent changes to your plant care routine. Have you applied pesticides? Have you moved the plant or exposed it to temperature changes?<\/p>\n<p>A sudden increase or decrease in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/day-at-us-lake-turns-into-screams-as-vicious-12-foot-monster-switches-to-attack-mode\/\" title=\"US Lake Day Turns Terrifying as 12-Foot Monster Goes on the Offensive\">light conditions<\/a> can stress a plant. If you move a plant to conditions with increased light, slowly acclimate over several days, thereby reducing the likelihood of shock to high light conditions.<\/p>\n<p>If your investigation reveals that your indoor plant is in the optimal growing conditions and there have been no recent changes, you may consider the possibility of a pest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/insect-powder-can-make-sick-likely-already-lurking-favorite-foods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">insect<\/a> or disease influencing the decline of the plant\u2019s overall health.<\/p>\n<p>New plants, or plants that have been outdoors for the summer and moved indoors, can introduce insect pests. Inspect new plants or plants brought indoors for any insects or damage.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canr.msu.edu\/news\/mealybugs_a_common_pest_of_indoor_plants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mealybugs<\/a>, spider mites, aphids, and soft scale are small but visible upon careful inspection under or on top of leaves, stems, or growing points. Quarantine new indoor plants for at least two weeks and inspect again for insects or damage before adding them to your existing plant collection.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canr.msu.edu\/resources\/fungus-gnats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fungus gnats<\/a> are ubiquitous pests that lay eggs in wet potting media. Larvae chew on the plant roots, and the flying adults are household pests. Maintaining proper potting media moisture is key to preventing fungus gnats.<\/p>\n<p>Should your pest problem require the use of a pesticide, choose one registered for indoor use and always confirm the presence of the insect or disease you plan to treat. The pesticide label will indicate if it can be used on this particular plant and if it is effective for the insect pest.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3694084\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3694084\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3694084\">This is an image of a schefflera leaflet that is host to scale insects that have coated the plant in a sticky secretion known as honeydew. (Lori Imboden \/ MSU Extension)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/find-swarm-bees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">insect problem<\/a> is severe and threatens other plants in your collection, you may need to discard the infested plant.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that once you have investigated and solved your plant problem, the damage caused to a leaf will remain visible until that leaf has been shed.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C5JdpdRPCZR\/?utm_source=ig_embed&#038;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\"><\/blockquote>\n<p>If you need assistance with your investigation, you can upload pictures and questions to the\u00a0Michigan State University Extension <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canr.msu.edu\/outreach\/ask-an-expert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ask an Expert<\/a> resource\u00a0or call the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canr.msu.edu\/outreach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MSU Extension<\/a> toll-free Lawn and Garden Hotline at 1-888-678-3464.<\/p>\n<p><em>This article appeared originally on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canr.msu.edu\/outreach\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michigan State University Extension<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"author-info-45298\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/msuextension\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45298\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45298\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45298\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45298\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Michigan State University (MSU) Extension helps people improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge resources of MSU directly to individuals, communities and businesses. For more than 100 years, MSU Extension has helped grow Michigan\u2019s economy by equipping Michigan residents with the information that they need to do their jobs better, raise healthy and safe families, build their communities and empower our children to dream of a successful future.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Michigan State University (MSU) Extension helps people improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge resources of MSU directly to individuals, communities and businesses. For more than 100 years, MSU Extension has helped grow Michigan\u2019s economy by equipping Michigan residents with the information that they need to do their jobs better, raise healthy and safe families, build their communities and empower our children to dream of a successful future. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lifestyle &amp; Human Interest by Lori Imboden and Barslund Judd, Michigan State University Extension, June 12, 2024. Indoor plants are ideal companions, enhancing room ambiance and maintaining cleanliness. However, they can&#8217;t communicate their issues, making diagnosing plant problems challenging<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2266139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Indoor-plant-shedding-leaves.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2266138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Indoor-plant-shedding-leaves.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2266138"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266138\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2266139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2266138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2266138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2266138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}