My house plants are suicidal?

Hello. Along the way of growing up I seem to have neglected to learn some basic life skills: all my house plants keep dying. I keep buying them! So far we've had a spider plant, thyme, basil and parsley, sunflowers, and another plant I can't remember the name of. I live in a 2nd floor flat so I don't have a plant box or a garden... they are indoor plants. They are all kept on the window sill (so have sunlight at least 10 hours a day) and are watered daily. The sunflowers I had were the worst. They have literally shriveled up and copped it in two weeks. HELP!

My house plants are suicidal?
if you water every day so wonder they die! and not all plants like direct sunlight - best to buy a book on houseplants as they all need different things
Reply:LOL if they're suicidal, you should get them some therapy and antidepressants! lol.
Reply:hi there! firstly the plants you are trying to grow are not inside plants. you can get away with the herbs if taken care of correctly. no once a day ware watering!!!!!!! only when needed! how to check is to first feel the soil--maybe even stick your finger down into it. then, pick up the pot. is it light? then it needs water.


some plants can get away with a little more water-- but what is happening is root rot! over care!!!! hope this helps! from one whom has green fingers and toes! vicki
Reply:Watering every day can be just as detrimental as not watering at all. Every species of plant is different, so read about each plant beforehand and see what they need. Some plants don't like direct sunlight either.





Pick up a houseplant book at your local library or talk with a garderner at the local nursery.





Good luck!
Reply:Try the Peace Lilly. Widely available. Likes the shade so dont put it in your window and has the most beautirul, highly scented flowers. Also the Dragon tree is a good architectural one. My kids grow cacti on their windowsills as they can be left and actively enjoy being neglected.


Remeber too much water will kill a plant far more quicly than underwatering, the compost should be damp not soaking and remeber to feed in the growing season.


On really bright days move your plants to a slightly less warm part of the room.
Reply:Keep them away from the knife draw, and if you see your coleus tying some rope around its petal you need to keep your eye on it!
Reply:many house plants originate from less temperate climates than ours and prefer a drier soil.





Water the plants, when the soil under the surface is no longer wet.





And as for the basil... I cannot keep this plant alive. the best success I had was leaving it unwatered in my cool hallway for a month. (total abandonment) It thrived. I then remembered it, brought it into my sunny kitchen watered it once and it keeled over... I give up, I'm buying my basil pre-cut from now on!





Good luck!
Reply:Try getting care tips when you buy, and also put one or two of the pots at different a location and see how they react. This way you would have an idea of what your problem real is.
Reply:Fake plastic plants they wont kill themselves just clean them once in a while case solved.
Reply:the answer is in your question, water, you are definately over watering, be logical, plants that are in a garden don't get watered every day, it doesn't rain every day (did i just say that?) also garden plants are not in a container so the water can drain away, indoor plants that are in containers hold the water. plants actually start to wilt when they need water, it is there way of slowing down and conserving moisture. as a loose rule of thumb, let the plants tell you when they need watering, let them start to droop a little before you water them, also only give a little water, the roots should never stand in water, in most cases this will only cause them to rot, so, just a little water and only when the plants need it, not when you think you should. take care and good luck.
Reply:Daily watering could be a problem. That's a lot of water, I'd bet you're drowning them.





Try going hydroponic, that way you can't drown them. Spiders and philodendron make fantastic water plants. Just get a nice large glass or ceramic pot, smooth interior. Put some pretty glass or natural stones in the bottom 1/3 of the container, for the roots to anchor in. Slip a bunch of philodendron vines and spider babies in water, or buy a whole plant and rinse all soil from the roots. Emerse them and watch it grow. Fertilize RARELY and SPARINGLY. You can get fertilizers intended for hydrophonics, which are ideal.





If you use an aquarium, you can grow a forest and light it with a canopy light or spot, to highlight areas of interest. You could incorporate drift wood, or even shells, but you'd have to monitor the PH and filter the water, to keep algae from growing as in most aquariums.





You can look up hydroponic houseplants for a list of species that do well in water.
Reply:I see your dilemma - too much water causes root rot - too much sun (regardless or water) will stress the leaves and dry them up - the sunny window is like a magnifying glass against the sun.


Do this.


Hang a 4' fixture with 2 flourescent bulbs - 1 warm and 1 cool - set all your plants under this light and they will grow without the stress of intense heat - put you finger in the soil, is it moist? don't water - if dry, then water enough to moisten the soil but not saturate.


You could also move the plants to a bright indirect light area to reduce the burnup watering 1-2 x's a week instead of daily.


I know you mean well with your plants, but it's really much simpler to change your pattern and try another tactic to raising happy healthy plants.


If your bright window has a sheer curtain or blinds, that will eliminate the intensity of the sun as well...reduce watering to the 1-2 x's a week.


Good luck - it wasn't suicide...it was assisted suicide.