If you are into gardening, then the reason for you coming here is that you have a dead plant in your hand. It can happen irrespective of how much you care for the plants in your garden. Sometimes, some of the low-maintenance plants end up dead after you give them everything they need. Your heart also feels heavy when a plant dies, along with your ego. But what if we inform you that there is still hope?
Even a plant that appears dead can get its livelihood back if you treat it with utmost care. There are several reasons indoor plants can get dried up or look dead. The most common causes include overwatering, less watering, inadequate sunlight, and, last but not least, pests and bugs. You can get to the core reason for the issue and save your plant from drying up and eventually dying. We are here to help you to guide you in the right direction so that you can save plants and get them to their former glory back.
Basket grass, also known as Oplismenus hirtellus, is a popular houseplant prized for its trailing green foliage. But even the most experienced plant parents may find themselves dealing with a basket grass plant on the decline. Don’t give up hope! With the right troubleshooting and care, it’s often possible to nurse a dying basket grass plant back to health.
Diagnosing Common Problems
The first step is identifying what factors are causing your basket grass plant stress. Here are some of the most common culprits:
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Overwatering – Excess moisture can cause root rot and other fungal diseases. Check for soggy soil, yellowing leaves, and foul odors.
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Underwatering – Too little water causes leaves to shrivel and brown. Feel the soil to see if it’s dry 1-2 inches below the surface
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Poor lighting – Insufficient light makes plants leggy and pale Basket grass thrives in medium to bright indirect light.
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Pest infestations – Insects like spider mites cause stippling damage. Treat with insecticidal soap.
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Diseases – Bacterial or fungal issues can rapidly kill plants. Isolate sick plants to prevent spreading.
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Root bound – When potted plants become overly root-bound, they cannot take in nutrients and water. Check for dense, circling roots.
Reviving an Overwatered Plant
If you suspect overwatering, act quickly. Take these steps:
- Remove the plant from its pot and gently loosen compacted, wet soil from the roots.
-Trim off any black, mushy roots. Healthy roots should be firm and white.
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Repot the plant into fresh, well-draining soil in a pot with drainage holes.
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Allow the plant to dry out completely before watering again.
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When you do resume watering, only add enough to moisten the soil, not saturate it.
Treating an Underwatered Plant
Underwatered basket grass may still recover with careful revival methods:
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Slowly saturate the root ball by placing the potted plant in a sink or bucket of water for 30 minutes.
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Mist the leaves with water to prevent further wilting as the roots absorb moisture.
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Move the plant to a shadier spot out of direct light as it recovers. Intense sun will worsen wilting.
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Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer to stimulate new growth after watering thoroughly.
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Check soil frequently and water when the top few inches become dry. Don’t allow it to completely dry out.
Adjusting Light Conditions
If poor lighting is causing your basket grass plant grief, making the following adjustments can help it rebound:
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If the plant is too shaded, gradually move it to a brighter spot, increasing light exposure over 7-10 days.
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Add supplemental lighting with grow lights, positioning bulbs 12-15 inches above the foliage. Provide 14-16 hours of daily light.
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Increase ambient humidity and mist leaves often to prevent scorching when moving to brighter conditions.
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If sunlight is too intense, add a sheer curtain to diffuse the light or move the plant back to a properly bright indirect light location.
Controlling Pests
Spider mites, aphids, and other pests can weaken basket grass. Take these actions to fight an infestation:
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Hose down the plant to wash away insects and webbing. Repeat every few days.
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Apply insecticidal soap according to label instructions to suffocate pests. Repeat weekly until controlled.
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Remove badly infested leaves to eliminate pest shelters. Don’t go overboard pruning stressed plants.
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Introduce predatory insects like ladybugs or lacewings to eat pests without harming plants.
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Ensure proper growing conditions to avoid stressed plants which attract more pests.
Managing Root Bound Plants
If your basket grass has become root bound, reviving it requires giving the roots more space. Try these techniques:
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Carefully remove from the pot and gently loosen circled, tangled roots before repotting.
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Repot in a container 1-2 inches larger in diameter. A too-large pot retains excessive moisture.
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Choose a potting mix formulated for aeration and drainage. Add perlite if reusing old soil.
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After repotting, apply liquid fertilizer to stimulate new root and shoot growth.
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Prune back overlong trails to compensate for the lost root mass. This balances foliage with roots.
Providing General Plant Care
Beyond addressing specific issues, nurture ailing basket grass by meeting its basic needs:
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Water thoroughly only when the top inch of soil is dry. Don’t allow prolonged wilting or saturation.
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Mist leaves and provide ambient humidity through pebble trays. Basket grass thrives in 60-70% humidity.
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Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the active growing season from spring through fall.
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Prune lightly and often to remove dead stems and shape trailing vines. Don’t over-prune stressed plants.
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Ensure the temperature remains above 60°F. Cool drafts can shock basket grass. Move away from AC vents and doors.
With attentive troubleshooting and care, your basket grass still has hope for recovery. Identify problems promptly and take corrective action to help revive the plant. Consistent, proper care afterwards will maintain its health and full trailing beauty. Don’t give up too soon!
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Ensure That You Are Not Overwatering Your Plant
We all know that plants require water to survive. But too much water can also be harmful to the plant. Overwatering causes damp soil, which eventually leads to decaying roots. If you are overwatering your plant, then your plant will appear to be yellowish. If you find yourself in this scenario, then to save plants in this condition, keep that plant away from sunlight for some days till the soil dries out.
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Is Your Plant Severely Underwatered?
The easiest way to detect whether the plant is underwater is to check the topsoil in the pot. If you notice the topsoil is dry and has cracks in it, it is a result of the plant and soil receiving less water. To save plants and keep them healthy and cheerful, keep watering until the drainage holes are fully cleared.
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Bring Your Plant Where It Can Get the Right Amount of Sunlight
Receiving sunlight is another aspect that can affect a plants livelihood. As a plant parent, you need to ensure that your plant is receiving adequate sunlight. Not receiving proper sunlight will leave the plant leaves pale and the stem weak. Keep your indoor plants for a home where they can get direct sunlight.
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Adjust the Humidity Level
Plants from tropical regions require more humidity than you may not realize. You can check for the following signs in a plant to determine whether your plant is receiving less humidity. If your plant is craving humidity, it will show signs of wilting and appear brown. Then you can handle the situation by moving your plant from sunlight to a more humid place.
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Offer Additional Nutrition
Sometimes all your plant requires is a little extra nutrition. Common signs of malnutrition are discoloration of leaves and weak stems. To bring your plant back to life, you can use manure and fertilizer in the soil. Use organic fertilizer to provide much-needed nourishment to save plants.
The pot might become small for your plant. The roots of your plant might wind around each other, which makes it difficult for your plant to absorb water and nutrients. So, perform repotting occasionally and always use sturdy pots with a sound drainage system.
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Water Your Plants with Filtered Water
Water containing fluorides and chlorine can severely damage the plant, so if you are trying to revive dying plants, try watering them with filtered water.
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Change the Soil
The soil your plant grows in may need more nutrients and organic matter. While repotting, filling in nutrient-rich, fresh soil in the pot does wonders to save plants.
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Remove the Insects and Diseased Body Parts
If your plant shows signs of insect attack or infection caused by pests, use insecticides and pesticides to get rid of the pests and insects.
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Give Your Plants Some Much-Needed Time
Never give up too soon on your plant. After doing whatever you can to save a dying plant, give the plant some time to recover.
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Compost Your Plant
If, after trying everything, you still cannot save plants, then compost the remaining parts of the plant and use it as fertilizer for other plants in your garden. Use compost bins for this purpose.
Now that you know how to save plants perform all the steps mentioned above until you bring your plant back to life. You can get all the necessary products from Ugaoo. Buy all the products required from Ugaoo and save your indoor plants.
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How Can You Save Your Drying or Dead Plants?
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Check Whether the Plant is Truly Dead or Not
You should look for signs of life in your plant which appear to be dead. You may think your plant is dead when the leaves start to look brown and the stem turns dry. But inside, the branch will surely be greenish, and the remaining leaves will be strong. If you notice this in your plant, then keep going.
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Get Rid of Dead Foliage
First, cut all your plants dead parts to save plants. If your plant stem is also dead, but the root shows signs of life, then cut the stem and only leave 5 cm of stem above the ground.
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FAQ
What kills basket grass?
How do you maintain basket grass?
How to get your grass to grow back?
How do you revive a dying hanging basket?
This is especially common in small hanging baskets, with popular sizes of 10 and 12 inches. If your dying hanging basket is showing signs of being root bound, you should be able to revive it by planting it in a bigger basket with new soil to allow the roots the space to expand.
Can a hanging basket plant be replanted?
Once a hanging basket plant is root bound, no amount of watering or fertilizer will help it. Instead, to save it, it must be replanted. In fact, there are two simple and easy ways to give them a huge new life. The first is to replant into a large container and continue to keep them as hanging baskets.
What happens if a hanging basket Wilts?
When a plant wilts and slumps, damage begins to occurs to the cells within the stems and foliage. Damage that can keep the plant from absorbing nutrients later on. Proper watering is one of the biggest keys to hanging basket success. Try to water at the same time every day, preferably in the cooler, morning hours.
Should you throw out a hanging basket plant?
But even though your plants might be suffering, weak and turning pale – it’s certainly no reason to throw them out. Once a hanging basket plant is root bound, no amount of watering or fertilizer will help it. Instead, to save it, it must be replanted. In fact, there are two simple and easy ways to give them a huge new life.