What is leggy plant?

Leggy is a term that gets thrown around a lot about houseplants because it’s one of the most common problems you can run into with your indoor garden. So what exactly does legginess in plants mean? It’s when a plant looks like it’s all legs (or stems rather) with stretched out, spindly growth and sparse leaves.

How do I know if my plant is leggy?

If your houseplant is “leggy,” it simply means it has gotten a bit unkempt and scraggly, like a formerly stylish haircut that’s grown out unevenly and is riddled with split ends. Leggy houseplants are marked by flopping stems, uneven and sparse growth, and a general look of untidiness.

How do I make my plants less leggy?

We recommend moving your plant closer to a window, or if you live in a particularly dark space, add an artificial light source instead. The existing foliage that is elongated will not be able to grow strong again, so you can prune back any old growth so that new, healthy growth can develop.

What does pinching mean in gardening?

Pinching, otherwise known as tipping, is a pruning method generally used on young plants to encourage branching. Too, these terms can be used when referring to the removal of plant buds to discourage branching. Eventually, the plant will begin to allow new buds to open, causing the plant to become bushy.

Are leggy plants bad?

“They’re basically starving to death.” Leggy seedlings are not just slightly unsightly. Legginess is often an indication that your seedlings will fail to thrive once they are transplanted.

Why do houseplants get leggy?

Legginess in plants is often the result of perfect growing conditions which allows them to add on too much greenery before the plant has adequate dimension and strength in stems and roots. The result is a floppy, leggy plant growth. This results in overly tall, spindly plants.

Why are leggy plants bad?

In general, a leggy growth pattern on seedlings is not ideal. Rather than focusing their energy on developing thick, strong, sturdy stems, leggy seedlings become increasingly thin, fragile, and weak the taller they become. Their top-heavy nature makes them more vulnerable to flopping over, breaking, or other damage.

How do you pinch houseplants?

Pinch off the growing tips of houseplants that are already at their desired size in spring or early summer, once they have put on 3 to 6 inches of new growth. Remove the tip of each stem back to the topmost leaf or bud, by either pinching it off with your fingers or snipping it off with small pruning shears.

Why should you pinch plants?

The biggest reason for pinching plants is to force the plant into a more full form. By pinching back, you force the plant to grow twice as many stems, which results in a fuller plant. By pinching the plant, you are forcing the plant to focus on re-growing lost stems rather than growing height.

What causes leggy plants?

Legginess is caused by a lack of sunlight or by light that is either too weak or indirect to meet the plant’s needs. The stems grow thin because the plant is desperately reaching its leaves towards the light.

What causes legginess in plants?

Legginess in plants is often the result of perfect growing conditions which allows them to add on too much greenery before the plant has adequate dimension and strength in stems and roots. The result is a floppy, leggy plant growth.

What does it mean when a plant gets leggy?

Plants that become leggy or floppy tend to fall over, produce less flowers and create an untidy spindly appearance. There are a couple of reasons why plants are tall and leggy. Leggy plant growth may be the result of too much nitrogen or even low light situations.

How to keep indoor houseplants from getting legginess?

Indoor houseplants that are in dimmer lighting can be forced to bush with this treatment, and herbs respond very favorably to pinching. You can prevent legginess in plants by early season pruning. It enhances thicker growth and sturdier branches. Cultural care is a crucial to keeping plants compact and strong.

Why is my plant leggy or floppy?

Plants that become leggy or floppy tend to fall over, produce fewer flowers and create an untidy spindly appearance. There are a couple of reasons why plants are tall and leggy. Leggy plant growth may be the result of too much nitrogen or even low light situations. It is also just simply common to some species.