Does your house plant look like it’s been through three breakups, a heatwave, and the tax season? The leaves are sad, the soil’s drier than a gas station sandwich, and you’re wondering if plant therapy is a thing. Dying plants aren’t a rare occurrence, numbers show that plant parents kill at least seven of the plants they bring home.
If plants come to die in your house, it ends with you. You don’t need to start planning a funeral. A video by @Creative_explained gives a step-by-step guide on how to go on a plant rescue mission. If you’re still rooting for your plant and praying for revival, this is what you need to do:
1. Remove the Evidence of Neglect and Unpot
Start by cutting off the dead or yellowing leaves. If it looks crunchy, sad, or like it’s auditioning for a Halloween decoration, it’s out. Then gently remove the plant from its pot. Do not yank it—rather tilt the pot, tap the bottom, slide it out like you’re helping a tired friend off the couch.
If the roots are circling the pot like they’re trying to escape, that’s another sign it was overdue for a move.
2. Loosen the Soil
Use your fingers to gently loosen the soil around the roots. You should not hit it like you’re fluffing a pillow. Next, give it a shake to knock off the old dirt. Some roots will hang on, some will let go. That’s part of the process.
Inspect the roots. Healthy ones should be pale and firm. If you see any that are dark, mushy, or smell off, snip them. You want a fresh start, not a moldy mess. While you’re down there, take note of how dry or compacted the soil was—it might explain your plant’s slow fade.
3. Make a New Soil Mix
You will not help the plant much if you plunge it back into the old soil. In the short video, it is recommended to whip up a plant-saving blend that will give it new life.
You will need:
- Fresh potting soil
- 2 tablespoons of oats
- 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt
Measure everything with a light hand—too much of a good thing can still overwhelm a weak plant. Mix it all up until it feels like rich, crumbly earth again—not clumpy, not dusty.
4. Repot with Confidence
Scoop half the mix into a planter with drainage holes. You don’t want your plant swimming for its life. Center the plant in the pot, hold it, and fill in the rest of the space with the rest of the mix.
Press the soil in with your fingers, firm enough to hold it in place but loose enough that water can still flow through and roots can easily spread. Wipe off any soil stuck to the leaves so the plant can breathe freely.
5. Water with Banana Tea
Make banana tea by soaking banana peels in water overnight, then pour that into the soil. It’s full of potassium and works like a plant energy drink. Let the water settle in slowly—don’t flood it like you’re putting out a fire. Give the plant a moment to adjust.
Skip the pep talk, but do give it a solid spot on a table or shelf where it won’t get bumped or blasted with hot sun. It’s made it this far. You’re both adulting and doing great.
The Magic in the Ingredients
Banana peels, oats, and Epsom salt might sound like breakfast made by your toddler, but they’re loaded with the nutrients your plant has been begging for. Oats release nitrogen slowly into the soil, while Epsom salt delivers magnesium to boost chlorophyll and photosynthesis.
Potassium-rich banana tea supports healthy roots and new growth. And most important: plants bounce back best when stress is low—so repot carefully, water thoughtfully, and keep it in a calm, well-lit spot.
