Leggy plants might sound exotic and even a bit sexy, but they’re often the result of being placed in a spot where the growing conditions are not ideal. More often than not, the condition is due to the lack of light. However, did you know that there are more factors at play? Let’s explore the causes, from the most common to the lesser known, and discover the solutions. The next time you encounter a leggy plant you’ll know exactly how to deal with it!
Causes of Leggy Plants and the Solutions
Indoor plants are often victims of this condition, although there are some outdoor plants that grow leggy as well. If you’re in the dark when it comes to addressing leggy plants, then we’ll help you get your plants healthier and bushier in no time!
What Do Leggy Plants Look Like?
Leggy plants are ones that have grown too much stem without enough leaves. This means they’re generally tall, but lack that full, healthy look of other plants. Leggy plants will typically have too few leaves for their size, and may be bending or leaning. In some extreme cases, they may even collapse under their own weight.
Cause: Inadequate Lighting
This is by far the most common reason why plants become leggy in the first place. Needing light to survive, the plant extends its stems and branches to reach for more light. As a result, the plant forms long stems and branches with fewer leaves than usual, giving them their characteristic leggy look.
The technical term for this condition is etiolation, and this happens because the plant needs light to produce chlorophyll, which is essential for photosynthesis. Without chlorophyll, the plant stretches itself toward the nearest light source, becoming leggy in the process of producing and conserving energy for its survival.
Solution: Provide Adequate Lighting
Whether the source is natural or artificial, plants will become less leggy when they are given the right amount of light. For instance, you might have a leggy plant placed in a dark corner, but it can also happen in bright areas that aren’t getting enough light. You have at least two options: place the plant in a higher light area or utilize grow lights.
Windows are great options, especially if they bring in bright, indirect light. Even if you don’t have any windows, you can always use grow lights, which are available in many garden centers and online stores. Just remember to rotate your plants regularly to ensure all sides receive equal amounts of light exposure!
Cause: Overcrowding Plants
When plants are placed too close together, they will compete for light, air, water, and nutrients. Competition for these important elements usually causes them to stretch out and become leggy. You might end up with tall plants with few leaves, and the plant may not last for long.
Solution: Space Plants Out
Plants need their own space to stand out, so give them enough room to breathe and grow. If you have grouped indoor plants, try giving them more space apart. You can even give each plant its own place, spreading your green decor out even more.
If you have many plants growing in one container, consider replanting them into individual pots. This way, you end up with more plants that you can grow to be healthier and bushier than ever before. Always keep in mind the ideal spacing for the plants you’re growing as it can vary quite a bit.
Cause: Improper Nutrients
Nutrients are important when it comes to having healthy plants. In this case, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing and lead to legginess. Usually, this happens due to excess nitrogen. On the flip side, the same thing can happen when a plant is not given enough nutrients.
Poor soil condition is often the primary reason, with overfeeding or underfeeding being the secondary one. You’ll notice the plant becoming lengthy and weak with small and sparse leaves under these conditions. Compacted soil or soil with poor drainage can also worsen the situation.
Solution: Correct Feeding
To keep your plants from becoming leggy, ensure that they are grown in soil that is well-draining and rich in nutrients. Use high-quality potting mixes, and add compost to your soil to improve the nutrient content. When using commercial fertilizers, make sure to follow the instructions and take care not to add too much.
This is especially important if you’re growing plants in containers. Plus, make sure that the containers have enough drainage holes so that the soil and the plant’s roots don’t sit in water.
Cause: Poor Pruning Habits
While pruning is often done to encourage bushier growth in plants, it can sometimes cause them to become leggy if done incorrectly or at the wrong time. In response to being pruned and losing their leaves, plants often stretch out in an attempt to reach more light. On the other hand, if you don’t prune indoor plants at all, many can become leggy as well.
Solution: Prune as Needed
You’ll need to follow a few guidelines for this. First, only prune plants that are healthy and have enough leaves to sustain themselves after being pruned. You should also avoid pruning plants that aren’t actively growing as this can place extra stress on the plant.
Finally, prune only the part that needs to be removed, aside from dead and decaying parts of the plant. Remember, over-pruning can also stress out the plant and encourage it to become leggy. A good rule of thumb is to never prune back more than ⅔ of a plant at once.
Cause: High Temperatures
Heat can cause plants to give off more water, making them dehydrated. In response to the lack of water in the cells, a plant will stretch out and become spindly. Plus, dehydration can make the plant produce fewer leaves to conserve energy.
This makes the stem stretch out even more as the plant tries to reach more sunlight in order to compensate for the reduced number and size of leaves. Left unresolved, the plant eventually ends up leggy, weak, and susceptible to pests and diseases.
Solution: Protect from the Heat
You can shelter your plant from the heat by providing it with shade from the harsh noon and afternoon sun. Also, you can use fans or misters to help cool the air and lower the temperature around the plant. If you live in an area where temperatures can soar during the summer, then it’s best to water your plants regularly as well.
Regular watering will prevent dehydration and stress in plants. Just make sure that you water your plants early in the morning so that they’re prepared to face the hot day ahead.
One thing to keep in mind is that the process of fixing a leggy plant can take a couple of weeks. During this time, it’s important to add support to your plant. Otherwise, it risks falling over due to its own weight.
Plant stakes are an easy way to support your plant. These can be attached with twine, and help keep it upright while it gains more strength. For larger plants, trellis or similar structures can add extra support. This can usually be removed once the issue has been fixed and the plant is no longer in danger of falling over.
Fixing Leggy Plants
With the causes and solutions to leggy plants in your stock gardening arsenal, you’re bound to have healthier and bushier plants in no time. Give them some love, some time, and some patience on your part, and you’ll be rewarded with flourishing foliage right inside your home!
Mimea yenye miguu mirefu yaweza kuonekana kuwa ya kigeni na hata yenye kuvutia kidogo, lakini mara nyingi ni matokeo ya kuwekwa mahali ambapo hali za kukua si bora. Mara nyingi, hali hiyo husababishwa na ukosefu wa nuru. Hata hivyo, je, ulijua kwamba kuna mambo mengine yanayohusika? Hebu tuchunguze visababishi, kuanzia visababishi vya kawaida hadi visivyojulikana sana, na tupate suluhisho. Wakati mwingine unapokutana na mmea wenye miguu mingi utajua hasa jinsi ya kukabiliana nayo! Mimea ya ndani mara nyingi huwa na ugonjwa huu, ingawa kuna mimea ya nje ambayo pia hukua na miguu mirefu. Kama wewe ni katika giza linapokuja suala la kushughulikia mimea leggy, basi sisi kukusaidia kupata mimea yako afya na bushier katika muda mfupi! Mimea yenye miguu mirefu huonekanaje? Mimea yenye miguu mirefu ni ile ambayo imekua na shina nyingi sana bila majani ya kutosha. Hii ina maana wao ni kwa ujumla mrefu, lakini kukosa kwamba kamili, afya kuangalia ya mimea mingine. Mimea yenye miguu mingi kwa kawaida huwa na majani machache sana kwa ukubwa wake, na huenda ikawa imepindika au kuegemea. Katika visa fulani vikali, huenda hata wakaanguka kwa sababu ya uzito wao wenyewe. Kwa sababu ya mwangaza usiofaa, hii ni sababu ya kawaida ya mimea kuwa na miguu mirefu. Kwa kuwa mimea hiyo inahitaji nuru ili iendelee kuishi, inaeneza shina na matawi yake ili kupata nuru zaidi. Matokeo ni kwamba mmea huo huwa na shina na matawi marefu yenye majani machache kuliko kawaida, na hivyo huwa na miguu mirefu. "Jina la kiufundi la hali hii ni ""etiolation"" na hii hutokea kwa sababu mmea unahitaji mwanga ili kuzalisha chlorophyll, ambayo ni muhimu kwa photosynthesis." Bila klorofili, mmea hujipinda kuelekea chanzo cha mwanga kilicho karibu zaidi, na kuwa na miguu mingi katika mchakato wa kutokeza na kuhifadhi nishati kwa ajili ya kuishi kwake. Kutoa mwanga wa kutosha: Iwe ni asili au bandia, mimea itakuwa chini ya miguu wakati wao ni kupewa kiasi cha haki cha mwanga. Kwa mfano, unaweza kuwa na mmea wenye miguu iliyowekwa katika kona yenye giza, lakini inaweza pia kutokea katika maeneo yenye mwangaza ambayo hayapata mwanga wa kutosha. Kuna njia mbili za kukuza: kuweka mmea katika eneo lenye mwanga wa juu au kutumia taa za kukuza. Madirisha ni chaguo zuri, hasa ikiwa huleta nuru nyangavu, isiyo ya moja kwa moja. Hata kama huna madirisha yoyote, unaweza daima kutumia kuongezeka taa, ambayo zinapatikana katika vituo vingi bustani na maduka ya mtandaoni. Kumbuka tu kuzungusha mimea yako kwa ukawaida ili kuhakikisha pande zote hupokea kiasi sawa cha mwangaza! Mimea inapowekwa karibu sana, inashindana ili kupata nuru, hewa, maji, na virutubisho. Kwa kawaida ushindani kwa ajili ya vitu hivyo muhimu huwafanya wainuke na kuwa na miguu mirefu. Mimea hiyo inaweza kuwa ndefu na yenye majani machache, na huenda isidumu kwa muda mrefu. "Kuna mimea ambayo inahitaji nafasi ya pekee ili kuonekana, kwa hiyo wape nafasi ya kutosha ya kupumua na kukua.""" Ikiwa mmegawanya mimea ya ndani, jaribu kuyaweka mbali zaidi. Unaweza hata kumpa kila mmea mahali pake mwenyewe, ukitangaza mapambo yako ya kijani kibichi hata zaidi. Ikiwa una mimea mingi inayokua katika chombo kimoja, fikiria kuipanda tena katika chungu kimoja. Kwa njia hii, unaweza kupata mimea zaidi ambayo unaweza kukuza kuwa na afya na bustani zaidi kuliko hapo awali. Daima kukumbuka nafasi bora kwa ajili ya mimea wewe ni kukua kama inaweza kutofautiana kidogo. Sababu: Vyakula visivyofaa Vyakula vyenye virutubisho ni muhimu wakati wa kuwa na mimea yenye afya. Katika hali hii, jambo zuri kupita kiasi laweza kuwa jambo baya na kusababisha kugonga miguu. Kwa kawaida, hilo hutukia kwa sababu ya nitrojeni nyingi kupita kiasi. Jambo jingine linaloweza kutokea ni kwamba mmea hauwezi kupata virutubisho vya kutosha. Mara nyingi hali mbaya ya udongo ndiyo sababu kuu, na kulisha kupita kiasi au kulisha chini ni sababu ya pili. Utaona mmea kuwa mrefu na dhaifu na majani madogo na sparse chini ya hali hizi. Udongo uliofungwa au udongo usio na maji mengi pia waweza kuharibu hali. Ili kuzuia mimea yako isiwe na miguu mikubwa, hakikisha kwamba imekua katika udongo wenye maji mengi na wenye virutubisho vingi. Tumia mchanganyiko wa udongo wa hali ya juu na kuongeza mbolea kwenye udongo wako ili kuboresha maudhui ya virutubisho. Wakati wa kutumia mbolea za kibiashara, hakikisha kufuata maagizo na kuwa mwangalifu usiongeze mengi sana. Hii ni muhimu hasa kama wewe ni kukua mimea katika vyombo. Kwa kuongezea, hakikisha kwamba vyombo vina mashimo ya kutosha ya kuondoa maji ili udongo na mizizi ya mmea usiketi majini. Kwa sababu ya tabia mbaya za kupanda, kupanda kwa kawaida hufanywa ili kukuza ukuaji wa mimea, lakini wakati mwingine inaweza kusababisha kuwa na miguu ikiwa haifanyiwi vizuri au wakati usiofaa. Mimea inapopunguzwa na kupoteza majani yake, mara nyingi hujipanua ili kupata nuru zaidi. Kwa upande mwingine, ikiwa huwezi kukata mimea ya ndani kabisa, mimea mingi yaweza kuwa na miguu mirefu pia. Suluhisho: Punguza kadiri inavyohitajiwa Unahitaji kufuata miongozo michache kwa ajili ya hili. Kwanza, kata tu mimea yenye afya na yenye majani ya kutosha ili iweze kujitegemeza baada ya kukatwa. Unapaswa pia kuepuka kupogoa mimea ambayo si kikamilifu kukua kama hii inaweza kuweka mkazo wa ziada juu ya mmea. Mwishowe, kata sehemu tu inayohitaji kuondolewa, mbali na sehemu za mmea zilizokufa na zinazooza. Kumbuka, kukata miti kupita kiasi kunaweza pia kumfanya mmea huo uwe na mkazo na kuutia moyo uwe na miguu mingi. Kanuni nzuri ni kwamba usipime zaidi ya nusu ya mmea kwa wakati mmoja. Sababu: Joto la juu Joto laweza kusababisha mimea kutoa maji zaidi, ikiifanya iwe na upungufu wa maji mwilini. Kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa maji katika chembe zake, mmea huinuka na kuwa mwembamba. Isitoshe, ukosefu wa maji mwilini waweza kufanya mmea huo utokeze majani machache ili kuhifadhi nishati. Hii hufanya shina la mmea kupanuka zaidi wakati mmea unajaribu kufikia mwangaza zaidi wa jua ili kulipia idadi iliyopunguzwa na ukubwa wa majani. Mti huo ukiacha ukikosa kutunzwa vizuri, hatimaye utakuwa na miguu mirefu, utakuwa dhaifu, na kuathiriwa na wadudu na magonjwa. Ili kuzuia joto, unaweza kuhifadhi mmea wako kutoka kwa jua kali la mchana na alasiri. Pia, unaweza kutumia mashabiki au misters kusaidia baridi hewa na kupunguza joto karibu na mmea. Ikiwa unaishi katika eneo ambako joto laweza kuongezeka sana wakati wa kiangazi, basi ni afadhali kunyunyizia mimea yako maji kwa ukawaida pia. Kumnywesha mimea kwa ukawaida kutazuia ukosefu wa maji mwilini na mkazo. Hakikisha tu kwamba unamwaga mimea yako mapema asubuhi ili iwe tayari kukabiliana na siku yenye joto inayokuja. Jambo moja la kukumbuka ni kwamba mchakato wa kurekebisha mmea wenye miguu mirefu waweza kuchukua majuma machache. Wakati huu, ni muhimu kuongeza msaada kwa mmea wako. La sivyo, huenda ikaanguka kwa sababu ya uzito wake mwenyewe. Vipande vya mimea ni njia rahisi ya kuunga mkono mmea wako. Hizi zaweza kushikamana kwa kamba, na kusaidia kuifanya iwe wima huku ikipata nguvu zaidi. Kwa mimea mikubwa zaidi, trellis au miundo kama hiyo yaweza kuongeza utegemezo wa ziada. Kwa kawaida hilo laweza kuondolewa baada ya tatizo hilo kutatuliwa na mmea huo usiwe tena katika hatari ya kuanguka. Kurekebisha Mimea Leggy Pamoja na sababu na ufumbuzi wa mimea leggy katika hifadhi yako ya bustani ya hifadhi, wewe ni amefungwa kuwa na mimea afya na bushier katika muda mfupi. Wape upendo, wakati, na subira, na utathawabishwa kwa majani yenye maua mengi ndani ya nyumba yako!