Can My Houseplant Go Into Shock?
Image description: A blue star fern in a terra cotta pot on top of an air vent on a tiled surface.
Plants can get stressed, just like us. Whether it happens overnight after being repotted in your cute new pot or over the course of several days after their environment drastically changes, they are great at communicating their stress with us. The telltale signs of shock are yellowing or brown wilted leaves that droop drastically. Often a stressed plant becomes very delicate and the leaves easily fall off, if touched or bumped. There are two kinds of shock to be aware of when relocating or repotting your plants: plant shock and transplant shock.
Transplant Shock occurs when a plant is uprooted or placed in a new pot and shows distressed symptoms afterwards.
Plant Shock is a more generalized term that happens when there is stress due to abrupt changes in environment like temperature changes, water stress, over fertilizing, or drastic changes in light.
Here at Wild Interiors, we choose plants that are very hardy and less likely to go into shock so they can go from our greenhouse to your home without stressing the plant. Although our plants are hardy, there are still chances of transplant or plant shock happening when moving around your plants at home.
How to Avoid Plant Shock
The biggest plant shock risk happens in the summer. The weather gets hot and our air conditioners turn on. The blast of cold air feels great to us, but our plants aren’t sure how to handle this drastic temperature change. A/C drafts can strip plants of their moisture and much needed nutrients. Don’t sweat it though -- there is no need to turn your home into a hot and humid jungle with no A/C!
Keep your plants away from the direct path of drafts and try increasing the humidity around them by misting with water regularly, running a humidifier, or placing them on a humidity tray. Check out this DIY project to learn how to create your own humidity tray. Your moisture loving plants will thank you.
In addition to combating the hot summer heat, the frigid cold winter can induce plant shock too. When shopping for new plant babies in the cooler months, be careful when bringing them home from the store and don’t leave them in your car where they could be damaged from the cold.
Just to be safe, follow these suggestions to avoid stressing out your plants:
When moving your plants to a new location, gradually introduce them to the new light levels and temperatures. Plants can be sensitive to the slightest changes in light, even moving them to a different spot in the same room. Try placing them in their new desired spot a few hours a day with a gradual increase in time over the course of two weeks.
Become familiar with and pay attention to signs of fertilizer and water stress. Too much fertilizer will cause the lower leaves to turn yellow, browning leaf tips may appear, and your plant may experience leaf drop. Too much water can cause leaves to yellow and wilt, while too little to drink can lead to wilted yellow and brown crispy leaves. Learn more about how to fertilize your indoor plants and how to determine why your plant may have yellowing leaves in these blogs.
Know when to repot. If your plant is outgrowing its current home or its roots have blocked the drainage holes, it is a good idea to transfer it into a pot that is 1-2” larger in diameter than the original. Take a look at these blogs to see when you should repot your plants and tips on how to recognize when a plant is root bound and ready for repotting.
When it is time for your plant to graduate to a larger pot, look out for transplant shock symptoms and add a little extra TLC to your plants after repotting them. Knowing how to choose the correct potting soil for your plants will greatly impact their overall health and happiness. Following these tips and being aware of common plant shock symptoms will help you prepare for your plant’s next big move.
Avoid Plant Shock with These Beginner Plants
If all of this talk about plant shock has you shocked and stressed, check out our recommendations for the best beginner plants to start off your collection. These plants are great for those who are new to the plant parent life and are known for being very forgiving low-maintenance plants. Once you have your heart set on a plant to start with, check out our three must-know tips for houseplant beginners. Before you know it, you will be living in a small jungle!
While plant and transplant shock is sometimes inevitable, it is important to learn and grow from each plant mishap. Even the most experienced horticulturists have had their share of plants go into shock. With these tips and precautions, you will be best prepared to reduce stress for your plants the next time you transfer them to a new home or location.
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