Always failing at growing plants at home? The common reasons are here
The adverse effects of light intensity on plants
The adverse effects of too little light on plants
When plants grow for a long time under light intensity lower than what they need, new leaves become smaller, leaf color becomes lighter, internodes become longer, and the plant becomes tall and spindly, showing leggy growth. For example, golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and pothos need more than 400lx of light for normal growth, but when indoor light is dim, placing them there for a long time will cause leggy growth.
For variegated foliage plants, such as golden pothos, Dieffenbachia seguine 'Jenmani', croton (Codiaeum variegatum) and Dracaena fragrans, when they are placed under dimmer light for a slightly longer time, the leaf color gradually becomes lighter and yellow, and the variegation becomes blurred.
The adverse effects of too much light on plants
Some foliage plants are strongly shade-tolerant, and the light intensity they need for normal growth is very low. For example, plants of the genus Maranta need very low light; when the light is stronger, the leaves will fold or close, and if it is even stronger, the leaves may be scorched.
When placing foliage plants, the placement position should be decided according to the plant's degree of shade tolerance, avoiding placing them under overly strong direct light or in darker places. In addition, a regular rotation method can also be adopted to keep the leaves and plant shape looking attractive.
The effects of indoor temperature on plants
Plants from different places of origin need different optimum temperatures, and most foliage plants can grow normally above 15°C. Too high a temperature, such as above 35°C, or too low a temperature, such as below 10°C, will affect the normal growth and development of plants. If plants remain in this state for a long time, many diseases will occur. For example, when plants are in a semi-dormant state in winter, if the temperature stays below 10°C for a long time, then Philodendron bipinnatifidum, Philodendron 'Imperial Green', Dracaena fragrans and others will develop leaf spot disease.
The effects of humidity on plants
Foliage plants prefer a high-temperature, high-humidity environment. If the indoor temperature is not high, the humidity needed is also lower. Under normal circumstances, plants are in a semi-dormant state in winter, the air is relatively dry, and the plants can safely pass through the dormant period. In summer, the temperature is higher, the light is suitable, the plants grow faster, and the humidity requirement is correspondingly higher, at above 60%. If the room is dry, you can spray water on the leaves every day, or wipe the leaf surfaces with moisture, to increase humidity. If foliage plants remain in a dry environment for a long time, the leaf tips will dry out.
Other factors
When placing plants in winter, avoid radiators, and in summer stay away from electric fans and air conditioners, so as to avoid the harm that a poor environment brings to plants.