Plant SOS: How to Tell if Your Houseplant is Still Alive

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Is your houseplant looking a little sad? This guide helps you determine if your plant is still alive and offers tips for revival. Don't give up hope just yet!

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If you aren’t sure whether your plants are dead or alive, there are a few easy ways you can tell.

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Snap a Branch Take a branch that’s roughly the size of a pen and break it. If the plant is dead, the wood inside will be dead and dry. If it’s still alive, you’ll see signs of life with moist wood or green inside.o winter elements.

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Scratch a Branch Scratching a branch is my preferred method, and one that I use on both indoor and outdoor plants if I’m questioning whether a plant is alive or not. Simply scratch some of the bark off a woody stem. If there is green beneath the bark, it is alive.

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If that stem looks dead and dry, the plant may or may not have survived. Further investigation is required. Check other parts of the plant near the roots to see if its all dead or just a portion of it.

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Inspect the Roots If I’m not sure whether a plant is alive or not, I inspect the roots of the plant. This involves removing the plant from its container or digging it up and physically checking the roots.

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Ask yourself - Do they look healthy or are they dry and shriveled up?

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Follow along to learn more about how to keep your houseplants alive in winter.

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