So your plants are falling over and you don’t know why? You want to fix this problem, but you are not sure where to start? Look no further, this article will explore the most common reasons that plants fall over and how you can fix this problem.
Most indoor plants fall over because of too much or too little water, insufficient space for root growth, poor lighting or insufficient support. Most outdoor plants fall over because of exposure to high winds, insufficient light or lack of support.
To Begin With – What Is The Problem For Your Indoor Plants?
The first step to sorting out the problem with your plants falling over is to work out what is wrong. Here are some questions to consider:
Is your houseplant drooping?
What about if it is leaning?
And is your houseplant toppling over?
Have you considered pests and disease on indoor plants?
Is your houseplant drooping?
There could be two problems that cause a drooping houseplant. Is it getting enough water, or is it getting too much water?
Not enough water
If it is not getting enough water then the leaves may be slightly limp or crispy, they might start to turn brown and droop. Put your finger on the soil, if it feels dry then the plant is not getting enough water. It should be moist, but not wet. It’s easy to forget when the last time you watered was. Young plants that are actively growing need regular watering to maintain their growth.
Another solution to the lack of water conundrum could be around humidity. Many indoor plants require higher levels of humidity than a typical house provides. Regular misting can help with humidity, as can a pebble tray filled with water that the plant sits on.
Too much water
If the problem is too much water you will also see drooping. It may be that you are overwatering, or it may be that the soil is too dense and the watering regime is correct but the pot is not draining adequately so the water is sitting in the soil. Test the soil moisture levels, you can use a moisture level tool, or simply use your finger to assess the moisture levels. If you feel wet soil 24 hours after watering then there is a drainage issue. Root rot can result if the roots are sitting in too much water all of the time. The solution is to repot the plant into a slightly bigger pot with good free draining potting compost which will provide a looser soil. And monitor your watering schedule to ensure that you are not overwatering.
Is your houseplant leaning?
The most common reason that houseplants are leaning is that they are not getting enough light. Or the plant’s leaves are not getting enough light on one side. A very simple solution is to rotate the pot by 90 degrees. This should encourage the plant to grow towards the light and start leaning the other way – which will make it grow straight. If this is the solution, remember to rotate your pot every few weeks throughout the growing season to even out the light levels.
You could consider relocating your plant to a new location with enough sunlight.
It is worth assessing whether the leaning is a problem. A slight lean may be ok, and not something to worry about. A bigger lean may be a sign that you need to take action.
Is your houseplant toppling over?
Houseplants that topple over are likely top heavy. There are two possible solutions to this problem.
If it is a tall, vine-like plant such as a monstera then it will need support. Moss poles are designed to act like trees that would provide support for the growing vine if it were in the wild. If you have a moss pole already but the plant has outgrown it, then add another one to make it taller and give support to the plant higher up. Bamboo canes can also be used tied up with jute string to provide structural support.
The second element to a toppling houseplant is that the plant’s roots are not strong enough to hold it in place, and the plant is in a pot that is too small. If the root system has insufficient space to develop the strength it needs to hold itself up then the result is a top heavy plant that is likely to fall over. The solution is to repot the plant into a slightly bigger pot. Some large heavy stones placed at the bottom of the pot will provide drainage as well as giving weight to hold the pot upright.
What about pests and disease?
The other element that might be making your house plant droop could be some sort of pest or plant disease. It may not be obvious that your pot plants are being attacked, you may need a magnifying glass to identify possible causes. Look closely at the main stems and the plant’s leaves for brown spots, spider mites or anything else that looks suspicious. Depending on what you find you will need to treat appropriately. This could mean improving air circulation, physical removal (removing the diseased leaves or stems or wiping off the pest), or using something like neem oil to break the reproductive cycle of the pests.
What about outdoor plants falling over?
Outdoor plants are exposed to outdoor conditions; strong winds and heavy rains which can be enough to make the plants fall over. Young plants and seedlings exposed to moderate or light winds are likely to fall over as they do not have the root structure developed to hold themselves upright.
One of the most common outdoor plants that falls over is the tomato plant. Like pepper plants, these plants grow heavy fruit and a lot of leaves. Their root structure is not always enough to support them, especially if they are grown in pots. The main reason this happens is that the plants do not have an adequate support structure in place as the fruits develop and the plant becomes top heavy. A good thing to do is to provide support to the small plants as they grow, so that they will be strong enough to withstand the bad weather when the high winds come.
How to keep tall plants from falling over
Tall plant species with heavy flower heads or long flower spikes are more likely to fall over especially if they are growing in pots. Repotting into bigger pots can stop them from falling over in the wind. Using heavy stones in the base of the pot is useful for providing drainage as well as adding ballast to the pot to make the structure more bottom heavy. You may need to consider a bigger pot to provide space for the additional stones.
In addition using bamboo canes or similar to encourage straight upward growth and to prevent the plant from leaning will help.
Pay attention to the effect of the wind. Are the plants being blown over by the wind? If this is the case then consider moving them.
Another solution is to plant the plants in the ground rather than having them in pots. When in the ground the roots have more space to grow both out and deep, which will provide more strength and stability to the plant.
Why are my seedlings falling over?
Seedlings often fall over because of insufficient light. They grow leggy and reach for the light which makes them all tall and heavy at the top with not enough root growth to support the weight. Then they fall over. The solution is to ensure that they have adequate light. A sunny windowsill is generally not enough light as the light only comes from one side. A greenhouse, polytunnel or hoop house are all great places to grow seedlings as they provide much more even light levels whilst protecting young plants from the wind.
Outdoor plants are robust but they need proper care to ensure that they are strong enough to survive the conditions. Be wary of providing enough light so that the plant does not need to lean to get extra light and consider carefully the impact of the wind. Even if the wind is light it can still buffet a plant and make it fall over.
This article has provided a number of effective solutions to the problem of both indoor potted plants and outdoor plants that are falling over. Always consider the growing conditions carefully and ensure that you are doing the best you can for your plants.
What sort of problems have you been having with your plants falling over? I would love to hear more in the comments below.