Why Your Houseplants Look Leggy (and How to Fix This Common Problem)
Have you noticed a plant that all of a sudden starts stretching out more, leaning more towards one side, and is dropping its lower leaves? That’s because the plant has leggy growth, a common problem with many houseplants, including leggy monstera. And the main reason for this is the plant isn’t receiving sufficient light.
Let’s talk more about leggy houseplants and how to fix it.
A close up photo of succulents
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What is a Leggy Plant?
A leggy plant is characterized by an elongated stem with sparse leaves, often concentrated at the top. This type of growth occurs when a plant stretches towards a light source due to insufficient light. Leggy plants can be easily identified by their stretched-out stems and sparse foliage, making them appear weak and fragile. While leggy growth can be a natural growth pattern for some plant species, it is usually a sign that the plant is not receiving enough light. Ensuring your plants get adequate light is crucial to prevent leggy growth and maintain their health.
A group of plants by a bright sunny window
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Why Do Plants Get Leggy Growth Due to Insufficient Light?
With leggy plant growth, you’ll start to notice more stem and just a few leaves. The plant might start to even look a little awkward, be it bending or leaning to one side, or even losing lower leaves as it continues to put out new growth. If you’re dealing with cacti, you’ll notice the new growth growing in skinner than before.
This is all because the plant is receiving insufficient light. Also known as phototropism, which is when a plant grows towards the direction of light in order to receive brighter light so it can have healthy growth. When plants aren’t receiving enough light, not only will they have leggy growth, they’ll also start to drop bottom leaves. Additionally, excessive application of plant food, particularly those high in nitrogen, can lead to rapid and leggy growth.
Sunlight helps plants with photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is when plants convert light energy into chemical energy, which fuels the plant with enough energy to do their day to day activities, like producing new growth, producing flowers and so on.
Therefore, less light equals leggy growth and, often times, sparse leaves.
Another reason a plant will have leggy growth, is from seasonal changes. In the winter time, when there’s naturally less sunlight, plants will have more leggy growth.
How to Fix Leggy Plants
Luckily, fixing a leggy plant is one of the easier plant problems to run into. Start by trimming a few stems to encourage healthier growth and rejuvenate the plant's overall appearance. With a few simple steps, you can get your leggy plants growing lush new growth in no time.
Increase Amount of Light
The first thing you'll need to do is increase the amount of light for your leggy houseplants. This can be by moving the plant closer to a window or introducing grow lights if needed. When the leggy houseplant is under ideal growing conditions, it'll start holding onto the lower leaves while pushing out new healthy growth.
Different succulents lined up on a windowsill
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Pruning leggy houseplants
Now that the light problem is solved, you’re left with a really leggy houseplant. For vining plants, proper pruning and ensuring they receive enough light are crucial to achieving a bushy appearance. The solution? Cut and propagate! Cutting the plant will give you a free, new plant and it’ll encourage the leggy plant to put out new growth. Once the cutting is full rooted, you can plant the cutting back with the original houseplant to make it look nice and full.
To take a proper cutting, use clean pruning shears and cut a few inches below a node. If the node has leaves attached, simply pull them off to expose the node. You can now take the cutting and place it in water or soil for a few weeks to give it time to establish it’s own root system.
Plant supplies propped on a wall
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If you choose to soil propagate, make sure you provide the cutting with enough humidity to give it the best chance of survival. And always provide your new propagations with enough bright light. Proper light is especially crucial to a fresh cutting.
Click here to read learn more about propagation.
Two leaf cuttings in a vase with water
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Preventing Leggy Growth in the Future
Preventing leggy growth in the future involves providing your plants with the right amount of light. Most houseplants thrive in bright, indirect light, which is essential for photosynthesis and healthy growth. Placing your plants near a sunny window or using grow lights can help them get the light they need. Additionally, rotating your plants regularly ensures even growth and prevents them from leaning towards one side. Monitoring your plants’ growth cycle and adjusting their environment accordingly is also important. For instance, during the winter months when daylight hours are shorter, you may need to supplement with additional light to prevent leggy growth.
You could also add support to your houseplants by adding a trellis to it. Adding support will help your plant feel more secure, helping it put out more and bigger growth.
Philodendron pedatum being supported by Anthrulla trellis by Treleaf
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoiding common mistakes can help you prevent leggy growth and promote healthy plant development. One major mistake is not providing enough light, which causes plants to stretch towards the nearest light source, resulting in leggy growth. Overwatering or underwatering can also stress plants, leading to leggy growth. Regular fertilization is essential, as nutrient-deficient plants are more prone to leggy growth. Be cautious with pruning; over-pruning can stress plants and cause more leggy growth. Lastly, not monitoring your plants’ growth cycle and failing to adjust their environment can lead to leggy growth. By avoiding these pitfalls, you can ensure your plants remain healthy and robust.
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