Most people kill their indoor plants by doing too much. They water every few days because they feel bad for the plant. They buy expensive fertilizers they do not need. Most houseplant deaths come from root rot. That is what happens when you keep a plant in soaking wet soil for too long. The roots cannot breathe and they rot. Then the leaves turn yellow and you think the plant needs more water, so you add more. It is a cycle that ends with a trash can full of dead greenery.

The trick is to treat some plants like they live in a wasteland. If you want to see how this works in nature, check out the desert cactus official site to see how these plants survive on almost nothing. Most indoor growers forget that many of their favorites are actually desert dwellers. They do not want a swamp in a ceramic pot. They want grit, air and long periods of dryness.

Understand your soil mix

Buying a bag of generic potting soil is usually a mistake for succulents and cacti. Generic soil holds onto water for way too long. It stays damp for weeks if you live in a humid area. You need stuff that drains fast. Mix your soil with perlite or pumice stones. These creates air pockets in the dirt. Air lets the roots breathe and helps water move through the pot quickly instead of sitting at the bottom.

The finger test for watering

Forget those schedules that tell you to water every Tuesday. Your house has different humidity levels than the person who wrote that guide. Stick your finger two inches into the soil before you touch the watering can. If it feels damp, leave it alone. If it feels bone dry, give it water’t until then

• Choose pots with drainage holes at the bottom
• Use terracotta pots to let moisture evaporate through walls
• Water only when the soil is completely dry
• Avoid putting fertilizer on thirsty plants
• Move plants closer to windows during winter months

Finding the right light

Low light does not mean no lightses

Many people put plants in corners where no sun reaches just because they like how it looks with the furnitures

Cacti and succulents need bright indirect light or direct sun depending on the type.

If your plant starts stretching and getting skinny, it is searching for light.

This growth is called etiolation.

Move it closer to a south facing window if you live in the north.

Dealing with pests

Mealybugs look like tiny bits of cotton on stems.

They suck nutrients from the plant and kill it slowly.

Cramming more chemicals on them usually makes things worseRubbing alcohol on a cotton swab kills most bugs instantly without ruining the plant tissues.

Managing temperature swings

Managing temperature swings