This browning can be due to overwatering, but also to fluoride in tap water, which causes a salt build-up in the compost. To prevent this problem all you have to do is learn what amount of light your houseplant needs to do well. I was unsure about the experiment because the plant had perished so rapidly but when the new plants grew, I found that they were robust, sturdy, and prolific.

Keep pests away Pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects can wreak havoc on your plants. I live in West New York, New Jersey, which is literally a 10-minute ferry ride or 20-minute bus ride away from New York City. Overwatering, poor light, pests are symptomatic of a bigger problem, which is usually a change in environments.To remove, cut off any affected areas and mist the plant to prevent future outbreaks – these bugs love warm, dry environments.

If you notice poor growth, variegated leaves turning green or no flowers on a flowering plant, move your houseplant to a lighter spot to encourage healthier growth. My mother is a brilliant gardener and she, at one point, collected tons of gardening books, all of which I’d read.If you do notice pests, you can use an insecticidal soap and there are products to also treat any larvae that may be living in the soil. If it’s a shady spot, choose the kinds of easy-to-grow species that thrive in these sorts of low-light growing conditions; examples include the nattily striped spider plant (Chlorophytum ‘Variegatum’); the cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior); trailing philodendron (Philodendrons scandens), the snake plant (Sanesevieria trifasciata); the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) and the statuesque Swiss cheese plant known as Monstera deliciosa, a houseplant so obliging and undemanding that it’s almost impossible to kill it.