All organisms including plants go through life-cycle. It can most certainly save time and effort, not to mention that resources tied to a plant that has reached its usefulness are better given to plants that are still useful. Here are some symptoms and tests that can help you declare your plant as dead or plant requires some tender care.
Table of Contents
1. Take a look at the Stems and/Or Leaves
Bend Test: Slightly curve a stem. If after trying to snap it in two and you find it does not snap and the inside is dry then the plant is still dead. If it moves and does not snap, it perhaps is alive.
Scratch Test: One method is to take a small piece of stem and rub it with your fingernail or sharpened fingernail. Basically, if the underground tissue in concern is green and moist, the plant is still alive. Brown and dry generally means that the plant is no longer living and therefore must be removed.
2. Inspect the Roots
Healthy Roots: Roots should be good and white like something that is strong, healthy and clean. If they are soft, slippery, or smelling like rot, then it can be concluded that the plant is no longer living.
Dormant Roots: Quite often roots look dried and plants may be dormant but such plants are very much alive. However, in such cases, it is possible to restore the plant when taking proper care of it.
3. Look for New Growth
Signs of Life: In the winter months or a cold season, one needs to look for new sprouts on the plant even if the plant seem dead all over. New growth is the sign that the plant is alive and it will grow back when taken proper care .
No New Growth: Hence, if it is some several weeks from the time that appropriate care was accorded the plant and there is no evidence of new growth yet, then the plant is dead.
4. Environmental Factors
Seasonal Dormancy: Some of the plants may fall dormant during some periods of the year. For instance, majority of perennials are plants that shed leaves during the winter but germinate again in spring. You should be well-informed with your plant’s growth cycle before you can proclaim it dead.
Stress Factors: There could be reasons to extreme weather conditions, lack of nutrients, or improper watering, these all make plant to be look like dead. Eradicating these problems might bring the plant1 back to life .
5. Disease and Pests
Infections: There are diseases which are fatal to plants include fungal infections, virus and pests. They should evaluate their grains for such features as black spots, mold, and insect effects. Otherwise there is a probability that the plant is heavily infested with bugs and it is advisable to be uprooted to minimize spread.
Treatment: In other cases curing it by finding the right medicine to give to the plant is enough to remedy the situation and get rid of the disease or pests. Use correct fungicides, insecticides or instead use natural products.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Plants
Indoor Plants
Most of the indoor plants are planted in pots or other containers and are meant to be cultivated in enclosed environment of your house. Here are some popular indoor plants: Here are some popular indoor plants:
Snake Plant: This species is recognized for the ability to clean the air and minimal need for watering.
Spider Plant: Durable and useful for increasing the quality of air in your home.
Aloe Vera: Also served an ornamental and practical purpose for its valued healimg properties.
Peace Lily: A pretty plant that has the ability to grow in areas that have low amount of light.
Outdoor Plants
Out doored plants are planted and they are can be subjected to natural environmental factors. Here are some popular outdoor plants: Here are some popular outdoor plants:
Geraniums: One of the most important types of plants that is useful planted in gardens because they are highly colorful.
Hostas: Reliable plants which are available in various shades of green.
Hydrangeas: Broad category of the flowers which are used in different occasions and comes in different colors.
Petunias: Flowering annuals; plants with brightly colored flowers that bloom in different structures and color patterns.
Dual-Purpose Plants
Some plants can thrive both indoors and outdoors, making them versatile additions to your plant collection:
Aloe Vera: May be grown indoors on horticultural windowsills or even outside farms and gardens.
Geraniums: This type of fertilizer is excellent for use in the hanging baskets that are placed indoors and the ground cover outdoors.
Snake Plant: Tough enough to be grown either in a house or in a garden.
Conclusion
The criteria for evaluating a plant and the process of deciding whether it is indeed dead involves a simple approach . If the stems, roots and looking for new growth are okay, then smart decision can be made. However, in some cases the result may take time before it is evident, so one should be patient always. If none of the above steps work, then the final option may be to cut your losses and let the diseased plants go and replace them with new plants in your garden.
