Pot Bound Houseplants
Sooner or later a healthy, growing houseplant is going to out grow its pot. When a plant gets too large for its pot, the roots circle around inside the pot and start to restrict themselves. If your plants seem to dry out more quickly than they used to, but are otherwise healthy, they are probably pot bound. There are simply too many roots in the pot and not enough soil is left to hold and distribute water.
This is an easy problem to fix. Re-pot your houseplant into a pot an inch or two larger. Don’t try to go too large, as too much soil means the roots will be sitting in damp conditions and the roots will begin to rot.
Controlling Humidity for Indoor Plants
Lack of humidity is a culprit in may indoor plant deaths, especially during the winter. The change in humidity from summer to winter is great enough, but if your houseplants vacationed outdoors for the summer, the transition is even greater.
If you did move your houseplants outside for the summer, be sure to bring them back in before the heat is turned on. Preferably bring them in while the windows are open, so the transition is eased a bit.
You may first notice a low humidity problem as browning leaf tips on your houseplants. As a plant dehydrates, it can start to look withered, puckered or simply drop its leaves.
To insure your houseplants get the humidity they need, first research how much your particular plants actually like. If your house tends to be dry, you can increase humidity around your houseplants by placing a tray of pebbles under the pots, filling the tray to just below the pot’s bottom.
Do not let your plants sit directly in the water or you will be creating a whole other problem. You can also provide some humidity by misting your indoor plants daily. If you have a great many houseplants, you may want to invest in a humidifier. It’s good for your skin and even your wood furniture too.