Growing houseplants tall and proud is one thing, growing them to be spindly is another. How to keep houseplants from getting leggy? Well, we’re about to tell you!
Luckily, there are a good few solutions to the problems of leggy houseplants. We have some great pointers here, so get reading and enjoy bushier, healthier plants!
What You'll Learn Today
How To Keep Indoor Plants From Getting Leggy
A leggy houseplant is a sad sight, isn’t it? Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent them growing like this in the first place.
- Allow plenty of sunlight. Plants will grow towards a light source, so ensuring that they have enough in the first place will help them no end.
- Ensure they have the right nutrients. A plant that is not well fed can end up with spindly growth – a little fertilizer once in a while can really help.
- Make sure the pot is big enough. The plant is able to to spread its roots out well if it is in a pot that is big enough for it to do so.
- Give it a prune. Sometimes, plants need a little encouragement to grow out bushy rather than in a more leggy fashion.
- Increase the humidity. Indoor plants often hail from tropical areas, so putting more moisture into the air can really help them.
- Take cuttings. If you have tried everything and your favorite plant is still spindly, you can try propagating it.
- Pinch out leaves. Removing the top part, or some side shoots, can help a plant to grow in the way you want it to.
What Causes Leggy Growth?
There are a few reasons for leggy growth, but the main one is inadequate light. Plants are always growing towards the available light!
If yours is looking spindly, try gradually moving it closer to the light source – don’t do this suddenly, as it can stress the plant.
If you don’t have enough natural light, you can try a grow lamp – this mimics the light spectrum that plants need to survive, and can really help.
Your plant may be putting too much effort into one stem – you can try pruning the top. This will help the plant to put its energies into the bushy side shoots.
Another advantage of this is that you can repot the top cutting, then you will end up with two of your favorite plant!
Your plant may be lacking in nutrients if it is growing long and spindly, rather than bushy and healthy.
Try adding some all-purpose liquid fertilizer, to see if this gives your plant the boos t that it needs.
A surprising cause for leggy growth is that your plant may have grown too fast. Although this may not seem like a problem, it can lead to the plant not being able to support itself.
Pruning is the best solution in this case, to allow your plant to slow down and concentrate on growth other than at the leggy areas.
How Do I Make My Houseplant Bushier?
Keeping your houseplants healthy and growing well is one thing – but ensuring that they grow to be bushy rather than leggy can be a little more tricky!
One of the best solutions is to prune your plants. Removing long, overgrown stems and leaves will encourage side shoots and more of a compact, thick plant.
Rotating the plant is another good idea – it may be that it is growing towards the light source in one direction only. Try turning it by 90 degrees every other day.
You can add some feed to ensure the overall health of the plant – if it is getting the right nutrients, chances are it will grow much better.
In extreme cases, removing the top may be the only way forward – you can replant this cutting, then you’ll have two healthy plants – everyone’s a winner!
This is a useful video, explaining how to fix your leggy houseplant:
Does Pruning Houseplants Encourage Growth?
In short, yes it does. Pruning can be a great solution that can take your leggy plant into a bushy beast!
- Ensure that you use clean, sharp secateurs or scissors, and wash them well in between each plant to avoid spreading disease.
- Remove any leaves and stems that are not doing well – if they are drooping or discolored, then they really should go.
- Take the shoots and leaves that are the leggiest; this will ensure that the plant puts its energies where they are needed.
- If you have an insect problem then pruning is essential, to remove any parts of the plant that have been damaged by creepy crawlies.
- When you prune, you can shape your plant into the structure that you want – this can encourage good, healthy growth.
- If possible, try to prune at the beginning of the growing season, to ensure that your plants are as little stressed as possible, and able to bounce back.
Here’s a useful article on how to best prune your leggy houseplants.
Can You Save Leggy Plants?
Plants that have turned into creeping vines can generally be saved and turned back into the bushy beauties that you are looking for.
The first step is to make sure that they are close to the light source that they are craving. Ensure that the plant gets light on all sides, by rotating it every other day.
Once they are in the right position, a little haircut won’t go amiss – remove the leggiest sections, so the plant can focus on the shoots and stems.
Adding some feed to the soil is another great step – giving your plants a boost of nutrients can really help them.
In many cases, you can repot the plant and sink it deeper into the new soil – this will support the stem and help it to support itself better.
Final Thoughts
If you have been wondering how to keep houseplants from getting leggy, hopefully you can now put these questions to rest.
Once you’ve figured out how, you can grow some truly beautiful, bushy houseplants that are bursting with health and much more jungle than weedlike!
