House plants: Why are they dying?

Jane Wrigglesworth answers questions about some common problems.

Dying houseplants can be depressing, especially if you have no idea what you’re doing wrong.

Q: Why has my plant lost its leaves?

A: There is more than one reason that this might be happening.

Indoor plants can defoliate (or lose their leaves) as a result of a sudden change in temperature (being moved from a cold room to a heated room, for instance) or as a response to light (being moved from a shaded spot to a brightly lit spot).

If you want to change the position of an indoor plant, do so gradually. Bring plants into a slightly brighter (or shadier) position and leave for a few weeks, then move them again into an even brighter (or shadier) position for another few weeks, until you reach the new spot.

Leaf drop can also mean too much water, too little water, or too much fertiliser.

Q: The leaves on my house plant are splitting and yellowing?

A: This can be the result of too much fertiliser.

If leaves are starting to split, skip feeding, then resume feeding with a diluted amount.

A white crust on the potting mix is a sign of salt build-up.

To flush out the salts, place your plant in a sink and slowly pour tepid water into the pot.

Allow the water to drain out the bottom and repeat several times. But remember, the occasional yellowing of lower, old leaves is natural.