Leggy, sparse growth: causes & fixes

Seeing leggy, sparse growth on your houseplant? It is one of the most common indoor-plant complaints. Here is what usually causes it and how to put it right.

Most likely cause
Not enough light.
How to fix it
Move it to brighter indirect light and pinch back to encourage bushiness.

🪴Plants prone to this

Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Toxic to pets Easy
Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
Toxic to pets Easy
Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
Chinese Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides
Pet-safe Easy
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
Jade Plant
Crassula ovata
Toxic to pets Easy
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
Polka Dot Plant
Hypoestes phyllostachya
Pet-safe Easy
Wandering Dude (Tradescantia zebrina)
Wandering Dude
Tradescantia zebrina
Toxic to pets Easy
Echeveria (Echeveria elegans)
Echeveria
Echeveria elegans
Pet-safe Easy
Dwarf Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola)
Dwarf Umbrella Tree
Schefflera arboricola
Toxic to pets Easy
Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
Arrowhead Plant
Syngonium podophyllum
Toxic to pets Easy
Pink Princess Philodendron (Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess')
Pink Princess Philodendron
Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess'
Toxic to pets Moderate
Velvet Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum var. micans)
Velvet Leaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum var. micans
Toxic to pets Easy
Philodendron Brasil (Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil')
Philodendron Brasil
Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil'
Toxic to pets Easy
Blushing Philodendron (Philodendron erubescens)
Blushing Philodendron
Philodendron erubescens
Toxic to pets Easy
Neon Pothos (Epipremnum aureum 'Neon')
Neon Pothos
Epipremnum aureum 'Neon'
Toxic to pets Easy
Pink Syngonium (Syngonium podophyllum 'Neon Robusta')
Pink Syngonium
Syngonium podophyllum 'Neon Robusta'
Toxic to pets Easy
Bronze Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum 'Maria')
Bronze Arrowhead
Syngonium podophyllum 'Maria'
Toxic to pets Easy
String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
String of Hearts
Ceropegia woodii
Pet-safe Easy
String of Bananas (Curio radicans)
String of Bananas
Curio radicans
Toxic to pets Easy
Angel Wing Begonia (Begonia coccinea)
Angel Wing Begonia
Begonia coccinea
Toxic to pets Easy
Peperomia Hope (Peperomia 'Hope')
Peperomia Hope
Peperomia 'Hope'
Pet-safe Easy
Happy Bean Peperomia (Peperomia ferreyrae)
Happy Bean Peperomia
Peperomia ferreyrae
Pet-safe Easy
Beetle Peperomia (Peperomia angulata)
Beetle Peperomia
Peperomia angulata
Pet-safe Easy
Black Prince Echeveria (Echeveria 'Black Prince')
Black Prince Echeveria
Echeveria 'Black Prince'
Pet-safe Easy
String of Buttons (Crassula perforata)
String of Buttons
Crassula perforata
Toxic to pets Easy
Blue Chalk Sticks (Curio repens)
Blue Chalk Sticks
Curio repens
Toxic to pets Easy
Fairy Castle Cactus (Acanthocereus tetragonus)
Fairy Castle Cactus
Acanthocereus tetragonus
Pet-safe Easy
Peanut Cactus (Echinopsis chamaecereus)
Peanut Cactus
Echinopsis chamaecereus
Pet-safe Easy
San Pedro Cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi)
San Pedro Cactus
Echinopsis pachanoi
Toxic to pets Easy
Crucifix Orchid (Epidendrum radicans)
Crucifix Orchid
Epidendrum radicans
Pet-safe Easy
Dwarf Rotala (Rotala rotundifolia)
Dwarf Rotala
Rotala rotundifolia
Pet-safe Easy
Dwarf Hygrophila (Hygrophila polysperma)
Dwarf Hygrophila
Hygrophila polysperma
Pet-safe Easy
Lemon Bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana)
Lemon Bacopa
Bacopa caroliniana
Pet-safe Easy
Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei 'Monte Carlo')
Monte Carlo
Micranthemum tweediei 'Monte Carlo'
Pet-safe Moderate
Pearlweed (Hemianthus micranthemoides)
Pearlweed
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Pet-safe Easy
Carolina Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)
Carolina Fanwort
Cabomba caroliniana
Pet-safe Moderate
Brazilian Waterweed (Egeria densa)
Brazilian Waterweed
Egeria densa
Pet-safe Easy
Queen's Tears (Billbergia nutans)
Queen's Tears
Billbergia nutans
Pet-safe Easy
Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
Toxic to pets Easy
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
Pet-safe Easy
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Oregano
Origanum vulgare
Toxic to pets Easy
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
Pet-safe Moderate
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Sage
Salvia officinalis
Pet-safe Easy
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Dill
Anethum graveolens
Pet-safe Easy
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Pet-safe Easy
Moon Valley Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata 'Moon Valley')
Moon Valley Friendship Plant
Pilea involucrata 'Moon Valley'
Pet-safe Moderate
Baby Tears Pilea (Pilea depressa)
Baby Tears Pilea
Pilea depressa
Pet-safe Easy
Aluminum Plant (Pilea cadierei)
Aluminum Plant
Pilea cadierei
Pet-safe Easy
Tradescantia Nanouk (Tradescantia 'Nanouk')
Tradescantia Nanouk
Tradescantia 'Nanouk'
Toxic to pets Easy
Small-leaf Spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis)
Small-leaf Spiderwort
Tradescantia fluminensis
Toxic to pets Easy
Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)
Coleus
Coleus scutellarioides
Toxic to pets Easy
Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus gregarius)
Goldfish Plant
Nematanthus gregarius
Pet-safe Moderate
Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans)
Lipstick Plant
Aeschynanthus radicans
Pet-safe Moderate

🩺Other common problems

🩺Yellowing leaves🩺Brown, crispy tips🩺Drooping or wilting🩺Soft, mushy base (root rot)🩺Pests (mites, mealybugs)🩺Dropping leaves🩺Curling leaves🩺Will not flower🩺Brown spots on leaves🩺Pale or faded leaves
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