my houseplants die often. what can I do to save them?

Question

I've watered ,repotted, given them sunlight, sometimes more, other times less.

Answer 1

put in some little nitrogen sticks

Answer 2

The thing that I generally see people doing is giving their house plants too much water. This drowns the roots, and leaves them no way to get air. For the great majority of houseplants, the soil should be moist, but NOT wet; likewise, most plants should not sit in water for more than an hour. Those of us who grow some plants that really do badly sitting in water like to say that such a plant doesn't like to have "set feet." (The well-meaning person above who advocated setting plants into a saucer full of water just gave you a GREAT recipe for killing most plants - VERY bad idea.) Succulents such as aloe, cacti, etc., need to get slightly dry between waterings.

Sunlight is ok, but for some plants it's too strong. If you see the tips of the leaves geting crinkly, that's probably part of your problem. Most plants do very will with bright but indirect sunlight, or plenty of artificial light.

Don't repot a plant unless you have reason to think it is root-bound; when you do re-pot, be sure to get a pot that's the next size up, so that you don't have to disturb the soil when you remove it from the original pot.

Fertilizer is important as well; if you are growing foliage plants, then you want a fertilizer with a high first number; if you're growing flowering plants, then a fertilizer with a high middle number will encourage blooming.

Warmth is important for most houseplants; just don't put them in a place where it will get HOT.

Good luck!

Answer 3

My dad has had a professional plant company for 25 years. He waters his plants once a week. ONLY once a week. They do fine.

Whatever the plant needs (sunlight, non sun light), he gives them that. Try miracle grow.

Here's a tip. Get one of those things (it's plastic, fits on the bottom of the pot... it's a bit bigger than the pot), and fill THAT up with water. The plant will suck up the water it needs.

If the soil feels hard or dry, water it. DO NOT over water the plant.

Answer 4

Different plants- are like different people. "One Size"- does NOT fit ALL !!! Each kind of plant has its OWN specific needs (how much water, sun, kind of soil, temperature- etc.). Check out what each kind of plant needs- and care for it- accordingly. If you treat plants MORE like people (people you LIKE- that is!), they'll treat YOU with the "gift" of doing Well- and even giving you flowers sometimes!!! Try it- you'll be surprised how well that works... Good luck! :)

Answer 5

don't overwater or underwater, don't roast in the sun, just some sun, depends on type for amount of sunlight

Answer 6

plants usally die because we water them too much

Answer 7

use soil with fertiliser. plants need lots of nutrients.

Answer 8

Give it up. Go plastic.