Indoor plants truly change the vibe and aesthetic of any home, bringing the lushness of nature indoors. However, sometimes our plants tend to grow a bit… funny, they start to look leggy with long stretched stems and minimal amounts of foliage, you may think to yourself, “what has caused this?” and we’re here to give you the answers.
What does it mean when a plant is leggy?
A leggy plant has long, flimsy stems with sparse foliage. Instead of growing beautifully and lush, they look as though they have been stretched out. This is a common issue for indoor plants and is often an indicator of improper care.
Not enough light
One of the biggest and primary reasons behind leggy growth is that there isn’t enough light for your plants. If a plant does not receive enough sunlight, it will begin to stretch towards the light source so that it can bring in more energy to photosynthesize.
A quick and easy solution for this can be getting a grow light for your plant or placing it in locations with appropriate light for their needs. Rotate them weekly to ensure all sides of the plant receive the same amount of light.
Trim those stems
Pruning is often neglected and overlooked, but when you don’t prune your plants, it can result in leggy growth. Regular trimming encourages bushier and healthier growth, and it can also produce branching.
Watering issues
As usual, watering is always a factor in most houseplant issues. Inconsistent watering can contribute to legginess. If you underwater your plants, they will stretch to try and find a water source. If you overwater, you can weaken the stems and elongate the growth.
Establish a watering routine that works on each plant; no plant is linear in how it likes to be watered. Use soil that drains well and pots with drainage holes so that you’re less likely to deal with waterlogging issues.
We hope our quick guide can help you recover your gorgeous plant back to its bushy prime or prevent it from happening to begin with!
