One of the
main concerns of beginners (and those who are not so beginners) in the world of plants is that they are not always sure what is happening with the plant. It's typical to hear someone say that their new plant was fine and suddenly woke up dead. The symptoms were there, they just didn't know how to interpret them. Keep reading, because we'll tell you how to tell if your plant is healthy.
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Every person who buys a new plant to spice up their spaces has a secret desire to become one of those individuals who have magical hands, who touch plants and make them grow, bloom and thrive. We all dream of having a small jungle at home, growing perfect and abundant. But the truth is that most of us end up with the idea that everything we touch perishes, that taking care of plants is very complicated and that talent is required. Nothing could be further from the truth: the only quality you need to become the plant fairy is to know how to observe.
When you see that a person is pale, dark circles, and slumped, you can tell almost immediately that they are sick. And if you hear her sneezing or coughing, you're sure to conclude that she has a cold. The same goes for plants: their exterior changes when they are being attacked by a pest, disease, or are missing something. You just need to know how to observe and look for the symptoms.
First, you need to know what your healthy plant looks like. What color are the leaves, how should they grow, what color are their flowers if they have them and when is their flowering time, among other characteristics and care recommendations. If you have bought your plants from Be Green, it will not be difficult to find this information, because we provide it to you on a card when we send it to your home. This will allow you to establish a criterion of normality, of what should be.
We ship plants to all locations, you can see more options here.
What you should check You
need to observe your plants every chance you get. You can look at them in the morning while drinking your coffee, while listening to an audio on your mobile... it seems very simple, but that superficial observation can help you detect possible problems in time. But what should you look for?
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Plants reflect their health status in their leaves, overall appearance, and roots. By the general appearance I mean if it looks upright, if it has bowed, if it is drooping, if the stems have thickened, if they have spots or other strange details, if they have grown and have new leaves and shoots or not.
Leaves:
If the young leaves on your plant turn yellow, it may be due to lack of sun, too much of the fertilizer, or because it's missing an important mineral. If the ones that have turned yellow are the oldest leaves and are as if they have fallen, then it may be due to excess water, lack of nitrogen or rotten roots due to overwatering.
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If the leaves are their normal color, but are droopy and a little wrinkled, your plant is sure to lack water. Water it and check it again in a few hours. When the leaves are very pale, it may need fertilizer or it may be time to transplant it because the pot is too small.
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If the leaves have fallen off and the stem is almost bare, and they haven't grown new or grow very slowly, it may be due to lack of watering. Anyway, check the underside of the leaves just in case you see anything strange like insects. When the leaves become misshapen and lose their colors, you should water less or check the drainage in the pot because it may be building up and affecting the plant's growth.
We ship plants to all locations, you can see more options here.
General appearance:
When you see that the stem has become very long and the plant has leaned at odd angles, it is because it is looking for a more direct light source. It's time to move the pot to a brighter spot. You can correct the plant's posture with a wand to hold it.
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If you see that the leaves and substrate are covered by a whitish layer, almost like white grit, you are in the presence of a fungus due to humidity. It can be caused by excess humidity and lack of sun, but it can also be a sign of powdery mildew. Don't worry, with a fungicide for plants you can easily eliminate it.
If you see that your plants are growing in odd shapes, with a thinner stem (it's something that looks very easy in succulents), check the plant very well for small white or yellowish dots or it has something that looks like cotton fiber, Because those are symptoms of mealybugs. There are home remedies, such as cleaning them with rubbing alcohol, that will help you get rid of them.
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Does your plant bloom? Check when it should do it and if it doesn't, it's because it doesn't have the right conditions. It's time to fertilize, replant, and assess if you're getting everything you need.
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Roots:
Lift the pot. If you see that the roots have started to peek out of the drainage holes, it's time to put it in a larger pot. The same is true if you can see the roots on the surface of the substrate. Take advantage of the time you repot to see the conditions of the roots. If they are too dark it means that they need better drainage or watering less, also check for fungus, insects or others. The best thing to do is to prevent it, using a broad-spectrum insecticide from time to time, suitable for the type of plant.
We ship plants to all locations, you can see more options here.
Taking care of your plants means paying a little attention to them. It is certain that in a very short time you will be able to detect any abnormalities with your plant almost immediately and you will be able to make the necessary changes to keep it alive.