We all have that one plant we just cannot seem to grow. Doesn’t it make you a little bananas when everyone else makes it look effortless? For me, that plant was Sweet Pea. I killed it year after year because I didn’t understand what it actually needed.You can read more about that here.
Once I finally figured Sweet Pea out, it turned out not to be “hard” at all—I just had to make a few small tweaks. I’ve found that’s true for most plants: they aren’t impossible, you just need to know what to adjust.
At the end of this article, I’ve listed the Four Horsemen I always check first. If none of those four fix the problem, then it’s time for a deeper dive.
To help with that, I’ve put together a four-page guide you can use to build a complete plant profile. It walks you through everything from growing conditions to quirks, and even includes questions to help you dial in the best harvest timing.
You’ll be guided through the different aspects of each plant’s needs and preferences. With the internet at your side and this guide in your hands, you’ll learn so much about your “problem plants.” With a little bit of digging (pun absolutely intended), you’ll start to feel more confident in your own research.
And if, along the way, you realize there’s a detail I forgot to include, please reach out so I can add it for future readers. 🌱
Here's a link to the Google document! This will ask you to make a copy, but then you can download or add to your Google Drive. If you prefer to work with a pdf, here's a link to that instead.
Before jumping into theguide, I always start with these items:
Light
Plants run on light the way we run on coffee. If yours is looking leggy, pale, or like it’s reaching for the window, it’s probably not getting enough. Try scooting it to a brighter spot, or add a grow light if your space is a little cave-like.
Water
If there’s one thing we’re all good at, it’s loving our plants a little too much with the watering can. Yellowing leaves, mushy stems, or sudden leaf drop often mean too much water, not too little. Let the top layer of soil dry out before you water again, and tweak your schedule based on how quickly your mix dries in your conditions.
Pests
Tiny bugs, speckled leaves, sticky residue, or webbing are all red flags. Flip leaves over and look closely at stems—pests love to hide in the nooks and crannies. Catching them early makes them a nuisance, not a nightmare.
Soil
Soil isn’t just “dirt”—it’s home. The wrong mix can hold too much water, starve roots of oxygen, and invite root rot. Look up what your specific plant prefers (free-draining, moisture-retentive, acidic, etc.) and then ask:
Does my current soil and setup actually match what this plant wants?
Small changes here—more drainage, different mix, or a pot with better holes—can fix a surprising number of problems.
Plant Profile.docx by Rebecca Everhart
I hope this helps inspire you to overcome some obstacles and give that trouble plant another try. I know you can do it!