{"id":66859,"date":"2026-03-06T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/?p=66859"},"modified":"2026-03-06T02:10:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T07:10:31","slug":"is-your-plant-thriving-or-just-surviving-7-signs-that-tell-you-the-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/is-your-plant-thriving-or-just-surviving-7-signs-that-tell-you-the-truth\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Plant Thriving or Just Surviving? 7 Signs That Tell You the Truth"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-8::before{padding-top:56.25%; }img#mv-trellis-img-8{display:block;}<\/style><p>It happens to the best of us. You water faithfully, you rotate your plant toward the light, you talk to it on occasion, and yet something still feels off. The leaves are not quite right. The growth seems slow.<\/p>\n<p>You find yourself wondering: Is this plant actually thriving, or simply surviving? Knowing the difference is the first step to becoming a confident, intuitive plant parent.<\/p>\n<p>Healthy indoor plants do more than brighten a room. Research consistently shows that living with plants reduces stress, improves air quality, and lifts mood. But a struggling plant is a quiet distress signal; one that is easy to miss if you don&rsquo;t know what &lsquo;healthy&rsquo; actually looks like. Here are the seven signs your houseplants are genuinely flourishing.<\/p>\n<h2>1. New Growth Is Appearing Regularly<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_58785\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-58785\" class=\"size-full wp-image-58785\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up young women's hands check the leaf damage of the houseplant Monstera Deliciosa with care. Monstera lover at home. The concept of plant care.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-58785\" class=\"size-full wp-image-58785 eager-load\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201280%20720'%3E%3Crect%20width='1280'%20height='720'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"Close-up young women's hands check the leaf damage of the houseplant Monstera Deliciosa with care. Monstera lover at home. The concept of plant care.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_2202277705-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-58785\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The single most reliable sign of a healthy plant is consistent new growth. Look for unfurling leaves, new stems pushing upward, or in flowering varieties, buds forming at branch tips. In the growing season, spring and summer, you should see new leaves every few weeks on a thriving plant. Even in winter, there should be some evidence of slow, steady growth.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Healthy houseplants typically produce new leaves on a regular basis, especially during the spring and summer growing season,&rdquo; notes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthyhouseplants.com\/7-signs-of-healthy-houseplants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Healthy Houseplants<\/a>&rsquo; guide to identifying thriving indoor plants.<\/p>\n<h2>2. The Leaves Are Vibrant and Consistently Colored<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_65726\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-65726\" class=\"size-full wp-image-65726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275.jpg\" alt=\"Epipremnum Marble Queen,(Epipremnum pinnatum Njoy, Pothos NJoy, Epipremnum aureum) in white ceramic pot decoration in the living room. The concept of minimalism. Houseplant care concept.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-65726\" class=\"size-full wp-image-65726 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275.jpg\" alt=\"Epipremnum Marble Queen,(Epipremnum pinnatum Njoy, Pothos NJoy, Epipremnum aureum) in white ceramic pot decoration in the living room. The concept of minimalism. Houseplant care concept.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Shutterstock_2124102275.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-65726\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A healthy leaf should be the color it is meant to be: deeply green for most foliage plants, variegated precisely where the variety calls for it, or richly colored in purples and silvers for ornamental varieties. Yellowing edges, pale new growth, or brown patches are all early warnings. A plant with vibrant, consistent color is a plant whose light, water, and nutrients are all in good balance.<\/p>\n<p>One exception worth noting: if your plant puts out pale, small new leaves even in good light, it may be underfed. A gentle, balanced fertilizer during the growing season is often all that is needed to restore the deep, glossy color that signals genuine health.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Vibrant foliage is one of the clearest indicators of a well-nourished, properly watered plant,&rdquo; according to <a href=\"https:\/\/myplantin.com\/blog\/how-to-identify-a-healthy-plant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MyPlantIn<\/a>&rsquo;s complete checklist for identifying a healthy plant.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Stems Are Firm, and the Plant Holds Its Shape<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_55848\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-55848\" class=\"size-full wp-image-55848\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330.jpg\" alt=\"Chlorophytum comosum, Spider plant in white hanging pot basket, Air purifying plants for home, Indoor houseplant, Houseplants With Health Benefits concept\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-55848\" class=\"size-full wp-image-55848 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330.jpg\" alt=\"Chlorophytum comosum, Spider plant in white hanging pot basket, Air purifying plants for home, Indoor houseplant, Houseplants With Health Benefits concept\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Shutterstock_2028974330.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-3\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-55848\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A thriving plant stands up for itself. Stems should be firm and upright, and the plant should have a full, dense growth habit rather than a sparse, leggy one. Legginess, or long gaps between leaves on a stretched-out stem, is almost always a sign of insufficient light. The plant is reaching desperately toward whatever brightness it can find. Move it closer to a window and watch how the character of its new growth changes.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Signs of a healthy plant include a full, bushy growth habit, so avoid long, leggy plants and instead choose compact, sturdy ones,&rdquo; advises <a href=\"https:\/\/goodearthplants.com\/tips-for-buying-healthy-indoor-plant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Good Earth Plants<\/a>&rsquo; guide to buying and maintaining healthy indoor plants.<\/p>\n<h2>4. The Roots Are Firm, White, and Smell Like Soil<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_43886\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43886\" class=\"size-full wp-image-43886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713.jpg\" alt=\"Closeup of Female gardener hands pruning roots of white peace lily, spathiphyllum houseplant with scissors. Caring of home green plants indoors, spring waking up, home garden, gardening blog\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43886\" class=\"size-full wp-image-43886 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713.jpg\" alt=\"Closeup of Female gardener hands pruning roots of white peace lily, spathiphyllum houseplant with scissors. Caring of home green plants indoors, spring waking up, home garden, gardening blog\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2292946713.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-4\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-43886\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>You do not need to examine your plant&rsquo;s roots regularly, but when you do repot, or if you are concerned about a struggling plant, the roots will tell you everything. Healthy roots are firm, white or tan in color, and smell like fresh earth. Mushy, dark, or foul-smelling roots are the calling card of root rot, most often caused by overwatering or poorly drained soil.<\/p>\n<p>A visible sign of root health above the soil line: if you see roots beginning to emerge from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, your plant&rsquo;s root system is strong and expanding. It is also a sign that repotting into a slightly larger container may be due.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Healthy roots should be firm and white or tan colored; mushy or dark roots are a sign of root rot and should be addressed immediately,&rdquo; explains Mary Dyer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardeningknowhow.com\/garden-how-to\/shop\/choosing-healthy-plants.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gardening Know How<\/a>&rsquo;s guide to evaluating plant health.<\/p>\n<h2>5. The Leaves Are Clean and Free of Pests<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_49301\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-49301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-49301\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling woman caring for her houseplants, examining the vibrant leaves of an epipremnum aureum, commonly known as golden pothos or devil's ivy, in her sunny apartment\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-49301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-49301 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling woman caring for her houseplants, examining the vibrant leaves of an epipremnum aureum, commonly known as golden pothos or devil's ivy, in her sunny apartment\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shutterstock_2575880261.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-5\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-49301\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Turn over a leaf. If you see nothing: no specks that move, no webbing in the joints where stems meet, no sticky residue on the surface below, then your plant is pest-free, and that is something to feel good about. Pests like spider mites, fungus gnats, and mealybugs thrive on stressed plants. A genuinely healthy plant, well-watered and well-lit, is far more resistant to infestation.<\/p>\n<p>Make leaf inspection a monthly habit. Catching an early-stage pest problem, such as a few mealybugs in the new growth or the first fine webbing of spider mites, is infinitely easier than addressing a full infestation. A damp cloth wiped across the leaves removes dust and minor pests in one satisfying motion.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Look at the underside of the leaves and along the stems where bugs like to hide; sticky residue, webs, or tiny specks can signal pests even before you see anything crawling,&rdquo; advises <a href=\"https:\/\/ferrymorse.com\/blogs\/the-greenhouse\/houseplants-the-basics-to-growing-and-keeping-indoor-plants-healthy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ferry-Morse<\/a>&rsquo;s guide to keeping indoor plants healthy.<\/p>\n<h2>6. The Soil Dries Out at a Healthy Rate<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_44315\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44315\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137.jpg\" alt=\"Young woman is tending her plants at home, watering them with a yellow watering can. She is smiling and enjoying taking care of her houseplants\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44315\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44315 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137.jpg\" alt=\"Young woman is tending her plants at home, watering them with a yellow watering can. She is smiling and enjoying taking care of her houseplants\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Shutterstock_2501971137.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-6\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-44315\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Here is a sign that surprises new plant parents: healthy plants drink their water efficiently, which means the soil should not stay wet for weeks. If the top inch of soil is still soggy a week after watering a plant that prefers to dry out between drinks, something is off. The pot may be too large, the drainage may be insufficient, or the light may be too low for the plant to photosynthesize and use water effectively.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, soil that dries out within a day or two may signal a rootbound plant that has outgrown its container and can no longer hold adequate moisture. In both cases, the pace of soil drying is your most practical, hands-on guide to what your plant needs next.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Regular soil drying between waterings is a positive sign &mdash; it means your plant is actively absorbing water and the drainage is working as it should,&rdquo; notes <a href=\"https:\/\/bioadvanced.com\/tips-healthy-houseplants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BioAdvanced<\/a>&rsquo;s tips for healthy houseplants.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Flowering Plants Bloom on Cue<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_63504\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63504\" class=\"size-full wp-image-63504\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866.jpg\" alt=\"Pink flower and leaves of the phalaenopsis orchid in a flower pot on the windowsill in the house. Care of a houseplant. Home garden. Room interior decoration.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63504\" class=\"size-full wp-image-63504 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866.jpg\" alt=\"Pink flower and leaves of the phalaenopsis orchid in a flower pot on the windowsill in the house. Care of a houseplant. Home garden. Room interior decoration.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Shutterstock_2099381866.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-7\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-63504\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If your orchid reblooms each year, your peace lily sends up its elegant white spathes in spring, or your pothos trails a little longer each month with no signs of flagging, then these are all quiet confirmations that your plant is content. Flowering takes energy, and a plant will not invest in blooms unless its fundamental needs are being met.<\/p>\n<p>Non-flowering plants have their own equivalent signs of contentment: a monstera producing those dramatic fenestrations, a fern unfurling new fronds, a ZZ plant pushing up new glossy stems from its base. Every plant has its own language for saying it is happy. Learning yours is one of the quiet pleasures of indoor gardening.<\/p>\n<h2>Keep Your Plants Happy<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_62288\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-62288\" class=\"size-full wp-image-62288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236.jpg\" alt=\"Young woman taking care of houseplant indoors. Interior element\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-62288\" class=\"size-full wp-image-62288 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236.jpg\" alt=\"Young woman taking care of houseplant indoors. Interior element\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-728x410.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-960x540.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236-1080x608.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shutterstock_1485591236.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-8\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-62288\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: Shutterstock.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Healthy plants are not demanding; they are communicative. The seven signs above are simply a framework for learning to listen. Once you know what thriving looks like, a struggling plant becomes easier to read and easier to help. Give your plants what they need, pay attention to what they tell you, and they will reward you for years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It happens to the best of us. You water faithfully, you rotate your plant toward the light, you talk to it on occasion, and yet something still feels off. The leaves are not quite right. The growth seems slow. You find yourself wondering: Is this plant actually thriving, or simply surviving? Knowing the difference is &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":67219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"no","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"","disable-critical-css":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8086],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[8098],"class_list":["post-66859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-houseplants"],"authors":[{"term_id":8098,"user_id":42,"is_guest":0,"slug":"kelsey-mcdonough","display_name":"Kelsey McDonough","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kelsey-McDonough-1-scaled.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kelsey-McDonough-1-scaled.jpg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"mv":{"thumbnail_id":67219,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Shutterstock_2354792009-300x169.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66859"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66860,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66859\/revisions\/66860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66859"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardgardenlover.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=66859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}