How To Revive a Dying Plant: 6 Steps To Bring A Plant Back To Life

A dying plant can look completely hopeless. The leaves are drooping, the color is faded, and it seems like nothing can help. But most species are much more resilient than they appear. So how to revive a dying plant before it dies completely? 

First of all you need to trim off dead parts and reconsider your watering. Also, you can use Botan to identify houseplants in seconds — it names the species and provides care instructions. Read on to learn the steps to revive your plant, identify the causes, and prevent problems in the future.

Reviving a Dying Plant Step by Step

Saving a dying plant is most effective when you take it step by step, so don't try to fix everything at once. Follow these six steps in order, and give it some time to recover between each stage.

1. Check if it's still alive

Start by checking to see if the plant can be saved. Scratch a small spot on the stem with your fingernail — a green spot underneath means it is still alive. Now bend a few stems. Bending stems are a good sign, while dry and snapping ones are likely dead.

2. Trim the dead parts

So, how to revive plants on the next stage? Dead leaves and stems drain energy from the plant, which is why pruning is one of the major tasks you must complete. Use clean scissors to trim away any brown, soft, or crusty parts, and leave only green or slightly soft ones.

3. Fix the watering

Bad watering habits cause more problems than almost anything else. Test the soil by sticking your finger 2 inches (5 cm) into the soil. Dry and dusty? It needs watering. Damp and smelly? You're overwatering. The water quality itself is also important, so make sure you have the best water for plants.

4. Check the roots and repot

Sometimes the real problem hides below the surface. Carefully remove the root ball from the pot and inspect it. Healthy roots look strong and pale, while black, soft, and smelly ones are a sign of rot. Remove damaged roots, then repot the plant in fresh soil with good drainage. 

5. Adjust the light

Lighting is one of the most common problems. Too little light causes plants to stretch and turn pale, while too much burns the leaves and turns them brown. Find a suitable spot for your pot, as most houseplants prefer bright, indirect sunlight near a window. Hardy species, such as the ZZ Plant, tolerate low light well while they recover. 

6. Feed it and wait

A stressed houseplant needs feeding, but not right away. Wait 2-4 weeks after rescuing before adding fertilizer. Then use a diluted, balanced fertilizer to gradually restore nutrients. New growth is slow, and some species take a month or more to develop.

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Why Is My Plant Dying: 5 Common Causes

“Why is my plant dying after all that care?” — you may ask. It's usually a matter of a few recurring problems, and most plants suffer from the same few causes. Here are the 5 most common reasons, and how to identify them.

1. Overwatering

Overwatering is the number one cause that leads to houseplant death. Roots sit in damp soil, are deprived of air, and begin to rot. Leaves often turn yellow and become soft to the touch. Allow the soil to dry before watering again, and make sure the pot has proper drainage holes.

Signs of overwatering:

• Yellow, soft, or crumbly leaves
• Soil that remains damp for several days
• Musty odor from the pot

2. Underwatering

A plant that becomes too dry suffers just as much. Leaves wilt, curl, and become dry at the edges. The soil also pulls away from the sides of the pot. Water the houseplant slowly and deeply, and continue to water until liquid begins to drain from the bottom. 

Signs of underwatering:

• Crispy, curling leaf edges
• Dry soil that shrinks in the pot
• Slow or stunted growth

3. Wrong Light

Lighting problems become apparent quickly. Too little sunlight causes plants to stretch and lose color, while too much can scorch and discolor the leaves. Find out what your houseplant prefers, then move it to a window with better light or add a grow light.

Signs of lighting problems:

• Long, stretched, elongated stems
• Pale or faded leaves
• Brown, scorched spots on leaves

4. Pests

Tiny bugs can cause surprisingly extensive damage. Spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs feed on leaves and plant sap. Look for webbing, sticky spots, or small white clumps. First, your task is to wipe down the houseplant, and then treat for pests by using insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Signs of pests:

• Fine webbing on leaves and stems
• Sticky coating on leaves
• Tiny moving dots or bits of white fluff

5. Poor Soil or Low Level Of Nutrients

Old soil gradually depletes nutrients, which causes the plant to grow weak and look pale, even if you're doing everything right. You may also notice yellowing between the veins of the leaves. Refresh the topsoil or repot the plant entirely, and a gentle fertilizer will give it a boost.

Signs of poor soil:

• Slow or stunted growth
• Yellowing between the veins of the leaves
• Water draining too quickly

What Are the Best Remedies for Dying Plants

Knowing how to bring a plant back to life depends entirely on what's wrong. There's no magic solution, so you simply need to choose the right remedy based on the cause. Root rot requires repotting, while a dry houseplant may only need a long, slow soak.

A hardy Aloe can quickly recover after addressing the underlying issues. The table below explains what each remedy is for and when to use it.

So when is it too late to revive a plant? Black, soft roots with no green stems usually mean it’s dead.

How To Prevent Plant Dying

The easiest plant to save is one that never gets sick. A few simple rules can help prevent plant dying:

• Check the soil before every watering
• Provide each plant with the light it truly needs
• Wipe the leaves occasionally to remove dust and pests
• Repot every one or two years in fresh soil
• Use a plant identifier app to learn what each plant really needs
• Inspect your plants once a week to spot early signs of problems