4 More Reasons Why Your Houseplants Are Dying

Are you one of those people who can't seem to keep houseplants alive and happy? When one can't seem to properly grow green wonders, most amateur gardeners assume they have a "black thumb" or that they don't possess the hands to nourish plants. While that may be true in certain situations, it isn't always the case for everyone—sometimes, you just miss out on a step in properly taking care of your garden. To help you dodge any impending gardening disasters, watch out for these possible mistakes: 

1. You keep it in a spot that is a little too cold.

When you keep plants in a cool place, the air tends to get more dry and it results in low humidity. This causes heat stress in plants which leads leaves to develop brown streaks or yellowing leaves. Make sure to expose your planters to the sun for a few hours everyday. 

2. You're keeping it in the wrong spot at home. 

Indoor plants have different requirements for sunlight exposure. To help you keep your plants alive, here's a useful gardening hack: plants in the purple and orange color family prefer the outdoors while the very green ones will do better indoors.

3. You assume it is dead so you throw it out. 

Some plants may look a little dry but they are not actually dead. Most plants can grow after trauma or going dormant seasonally. If a potted wonder looks like it is dying, try giving it a little TLC—if it doesn't propagate in a few weeks, you can decide to lay it to rest. 

4. You think it is drying out but it only has bacterial leaf scorch. 

Browning leaf tips is a telltale sign that a plant has bacterial leaf scorch. Brought on by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, the disease is incurable and contagious—especially in tropical weather. Continued care usually combined with regular watering and fertilizing can help do the trick. If that doesn't work, pruning diseased branches as soon as you spot them always helps.