Why Your Houseplants Keep Dying (And How to Stop Killing Them)

In an urban space where there isn’t access to a garden or patio, how exactly does one maintain greenery inside their home? If you’re like me—notorious for killing all indoor plants in sight—then this piece might just help. Your space will light up with life once you get that green thumb back (or gain one for the first time). 

So, what does it actually take to keep your indoor plants alive? According to Chad Camacho, founder of Vancouver-based plant company Frondly Plants, the key to plant survival is choosing the right plant for the right spot. “When people buy plants, they’re buying first on appearance and not suitability for where they can keep it,” says Camacho. “It’s not your fault that it’s dying. You may not have [had] enough guidance when you were choosing the plant.”

OK, hearing this gives me a bit of faith. Maybe I can keep a houseplant alive. And maybe you can too.

Tip 1: Choose a plant based on where it will live in your home

Have empty floor space by your T.V. you’re hoping to fill? Turns out, that’s one of the most popular areas Camacho’s clients put their plants in. “A lot of our customers are buying for condos,” he says. “That corner, between the console and the wall, that’s usually where people are looking for a solution.”

Camacho recommends Dracaena plants for this area, as they are typically narrow and taller. The most popular plants in this plant family are the dragon tree, ZZ plant and snake plant, which are all “notoriously hard to kill,” he says.

For bookshelf decoration, Camacho suggests trailing plants like the sugar vine.

Tip 2: Let your plants breathe

While many plant owners focus on watering, Camacho says oxygen is just as important for plant health. “Everybody is really worried about watering. But in reality, plants need water, then they need to dry out. Almost completely,” he explains. This process of letting plant soil dry completely allows plants’ roots to breathe and avoids drowning them (literally).

Tip 3: Prevent gnats

If you’ve noticed small bugs flying around your houseplants, you’ve probably met fungus gnats. Camacho shares that the best way to avoid these pesky insects is to let the plants’ soil dry out. “Gnats really flourish in wet soil, so if your soil is drying out, they are less likely to lay eggs,” he says. “Slow down your watering. Spread the watering out more.”

Tip 4: Repot your plants

When is the right time to repot? Camacho says it’s when the soil no longer holds moisture. If water runs straight through and your plant dries out quickly, it’s time for new soil and a new pot. Camacho adds that the type of soil you use for repotting is also important. “The big box store soil is essentially made of peat moss and nutrients,” Camacho cautions. “There is not a lot happening in that soil, and it’s not healthy.”

Instead, look for soil made specifically for indoor plants, ideally with decomposable organic materials to support root health.

The bottom line is, with the right match of plant and placement—and a little patience—your indoor greenery (and mine) will thrive.