When a plant topples over, the situation might be upsetting. Knowing what to do is essential to the plant’s life because this condition could alter depending on whether the plant is grounded, suspended, or on a shelf.
There are several things you may do to guarantee a plant survives when it topples. This can entail repotting with a potting mix rich in nutrients and sparingly watering the plant. The trick is to lessen the stress on the plant. Stakes, moss poles, and cages will be used to support the plant in order to prevent fall damage.
Find the following in this article:
- What would occur if the plant dropped from a height?
- What takes place if a floor plant collapses
- What you can do in both scenarios to save the life of the plant
My plants stay healthy even after repotting thanks to the Miracle-Gro Potting Mix I get from Amazon. Clicking here will take you there.
Table of Contents
Plants on Height Falling Over with Solutions
There are several things that can happen to a plant when it falls from a height.
Plant survival may be impacted by:
- positioned plant’s height
- the plant’s position when it fell
- Type of soil the plant is in
- The size of the fallen plant
| The Predicament | The Effect |
|---|---|
| The height at which the plant was seated | Impact increases with height. |
| the spot where it landed | Damage to the plant or the pot is possible. |
| the pot’s soil’s composition | Looser dirt will be simpler to remove from the pot. |
| The size of the fallen plant | Larger plants are more likely to survive. |
The Plant Came out of the Pot
The main cause of the entire plant and soil structure exiting the pot in this instance is the dryness of the soil.
If the dirt in the pot is too loose, the plant may easily escape from it. It will be easier to drain and aerate looser soil. This is quite normal for succulents, which need a soil that is loose and well-draining.
The soil shrinks and pulls away from the pot’s sides when it is compacted, which is another cause of loose soil. Since the pot cannot support the entire amount of the earth, removal is simple.
Read our in-depth article on the causes of soil pulling away from the pot to learn more about soil compaction.
The Solution: Repot the plant in fresh or modified potting soil.
The Pot was Broken with the Plant
The majority of plant pots might not be able to withstand a fall of any height. Pots made of ceramic, glass, and terracotta are the most susceptible to breaking if they fall from a height.
The amount of damage the pot may receive can also be decreased by the height at which it dropped. The sort of floor directly below may also play a role. The majority of pots can shatter upon impact on porcelain or tiled flooring.
The likelihood that the plant’s pot will survive a fall is significantly higher if it is made of plastic.
The Plant was Damaged from the Fall
Depending on the height at which it fell and the angle at which it landed, the plant may sustain damage. There is a good likelihood that the plant would have suffered harm if it absorbs the entire force of the fall on its own.
In this situation, you should
- Put the plant in the pot upright.
- Get rid of any fallen leaves (if any)
- Water sparingly and let rest
This would enable the plant to recover from any damage caused by the fall. You simply have to wait it out and give the plant the appropriate care until it heals.
If the stem was broken as a result of the fall, I advise reading my articles on how to fix bent plant stems and leaves as well as what to do if a leaf is torn.
What Can Cause a Standing Plant To Fall Over?
Your plant may topple over due to wind, sunlight, and tap water.
1. Lack of Sufficient Sunlight:
A seed must turn its leaves toward the sun after it has begun to emerge from the earth and show signs of germination.
Some plant species need strong, direct sunlight to thrive and stay healthy. To ensure that the leaves receive the most sunlight possible, the stems of the plants will direct the leaves toward the sun.
However, if you are growing your plants indoors under insufficiently intense artificial lights, they will grow sideways and eventually topple over altogether.
In order to prevent your plants from falling over, make sure they receive adequate sunshine if you are growing them in a container. Always leaning toward the sun, plants do.
The roots of plants growing in pots are still developing and sprout just below the surface of the soil. It is simple for plants in a pot to develop robust, compact seedlings when there is enough light.
Use fluorescent bulbs only, please. For plants, you can use artificial light, like T5 lighting.
It works best for seedlings, but spending that much money on only a few plants is not required. Since plants don’t emit heat, artificial lighting can be placed close to them.
2. Watering From Top:
Plants that have been watered before may also topple over. Water from the top of the plant primarily affects plants with small roots. Water small plants from the bottom at all times.
When plants in your greenhouse tip over, you can address the issue by adding extra dirt around the roots.
Give them something to bend against if that doesn’t help to solve the issue. A popsicle stick can be used to support a small plant.
The bottom watering technique, which works effectively and avoids overwatering, is something you can try.
3. The Plant has Become Leggy:
Leggy or floppy plants have a propensity to topple over, produce fewer flowers, and have an untidy lanky appearance.
A leggy plant will also frequently have stems that are too long, making it difficult for the plant to maintain its own weight as it grows. The effect is that the plant leans and topples.
Tomato plants and monsteras are two examples of lanky plants. These plants are often leggy because of poor illumination, which forces the plant to expand in search of light or produces too much light for the plants to flourish in.
Long lighting periods from porch and street lights can cause tomato plants in the garden to become leggy and topple over. Read our in-depth articles to learn more about how street and porch lighting affects plants.
How To Prevent a Standing Plant from Falling Over?
Even healthy plants require support as they get taller. To stop your potted plants from toppling over, you can employ a variety of techniques.
Let’s talk about some of the best techniques to stop your favorite plants from toppling over.
Moss Poles:
The moss poles are the first thing that can firmly hold your plants as they get taller.
Moss poles will both keep your plants upright and give your garden some color.
You can easily choose a moss pole that meets your needs because they come in a range of sizes and styles.
Moss poles can provide your plants with a stable base as well as a humid habitat.
To ensure that your moss poles can consistently deliver humidity to your plants, you must continue to hydrate them.
See the useful guide on maintaining the moisture in a moss pole.
Plants like climbing plants that have flimsy shoots and bulky leaves respond well to moss poles. You may learn how to support your plants with moss poles with our moss pole guide.
If you want a moss pole that is both affordable and effective. Clicking here will take you there!
Stakes:
The use of stakes is another method you can employ to stop your potted plants from toppling over.
Stakes can be pressed into the ground from a pointed end close to the plants. Stakes can be constructed of wood or metal.
A few inches should separate the stake from the stem. To make it robust, embed it in the ground for 3 to 6 inches.
To secure the plants to the stakes and provide them a place to develop upward without toppling over, you can use a piece of wire or cloth.
Make sure you don’t tighten it up too much. Since the stem is still developing, keeping it flexible is best so as not to harm the plant. Stakes are easily accessible at a nearby garden center.
Here are some painted stakes designed to enhance the attractiveness of your plant rather than detract from it. It’s located here.
Cages:
Cages can also be used to prevent plants from toppling over. To protect the plants from that, you might place cages outside of the plants.
Additionally, cages can shield your plants from animals and the harm they may do. They serve as an excellent barrier for young, newly planted plants that are attempting to grow.
These cages are the best I’ve discovered; they function well both inside and outside.
How Long Can a Plant Remain on its Side?
As it develops perpendicularly in response to phototropism, the plant stem will bend. The plant will presumably have a Z-like form.
The root will begin to develop downward as the stem grows upward.
They are both growing phenomena. The lower side of the shoot and the top side of the root both grow more quickly.
Cell expansion also happens below the tip, which may cause the stem to turn if your plant is not extremely thick, woody, or old.
These growth phenomena are mediated by the plant hormone auxin, and the auxin levels in the shoot are higher on the lower side.
Because the tip cells of the root contain tiny, heavy granules known as statoliths, the tip of the root may sense the direction of gravity.
The direction of shoot growth is heavily influenced by both gravity and sunlight. Furthermore, even if water is discovered against gravity, roots can still develop in the direction of moisture.
Consider Repotting in The Larger and Heavier Container:
Repot your plants into a fresh container as soon as you observe them toppling over. If a plant’s root does not have enough room to securely grow in, it may also topple over.
Your plant will be able to grow stronger and healthier after being repotted in fresh containers.
Make sure you have new potting soil in your hands and a pot that is bigger than the old one before you repot the plant.
Steps to Safely Repot The Plant Into New Container:
To properly repot the plant into the bigger, heavier container, follow these steps:
- Acquire potting soil. Keep in mind whether you are repotting an outdoor plant or an interior container plant.
- Remove the plant from its previous container and, while being careful not to damage the roots, use a spoon or chopstick to knock out as much of the previous soil as you can from the roots. Since this will be dirty, if at all possible, complete it outside.
- It can be dispersed outside in your garden. Pull out any roots that are wrinkly and constricted and come off when you do so. You would be better off getting rid of these old, rotten roots.
- Place the plant in a pot that is 2 inches bigger than the container it was in. Get a new pot with an inch of space around the root ball if the roots were filling the old one. Use a pot that has a bottom drain hole that is open.
- The top of the root ball of your plant should rest slightly below the rim of the new pot. To get a sense of the proper height, hold it over the rim of the empty pot. Start adding dirt with a spoon while you are holding it in place.
- Use your spoon to fill in the spaces between the roots and the plant’s center as the soil begins to cover the roots.
- Fill in every gap so that all of the roots come into contact with the soil. To remove air pockets from the soil, you can gently tamp it down with a spoon, but avoid packing it. There must be airflow for the roots.
- Water the plant sparingly. For about a week, keep the plant out of the direct sun. Wait until the earth has dried before watering it again.
NOTE: To avoid transplant shock, let the plant rest for a day or two before relocating it.
The Takeaway:
In order to preserve your plant from tumbling over, think about purchasing a moss pole or stakes to act as support.
Never water young plants from the top since this can stress the stems and leaves and cause them to topple over.
Give your plants ample bright sunlight to ensure appropriate development and growth.
See companion article: How to ensure your plant survives after being dropped.
FAQ
What is it called when plants fall over?
Deciduous plants, which include trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials, are those that shed all of their leaves for a portion of the year in botany and horticulture. Abscission is the term for this action.
What is senescence and abscission?
Definition. Abscission is the term used to describe the organic separation of sections of a plant, usually ripe fruit and dead leaves. Senescence describes the steady decline of functioning traits with aging.
Why are my plants not standing up straight?
First, moving seedlings outside will present challenges if they are too tall. They can’t withstand weather conditions like wind and heavy rain as well because they are thin and floppy. Second, weak seedlings have a difficult time developing into powerful plants.
Why are my plant stems falling over?
The plant may experience a variety of problems, like the stalks toppling over or becoming yellow, depending on whether it is fertilized too much or not enough. It’s generally not a good idea to use fertilizer spikes because they might be powerful enough to burn your plant’s roots.
Why are my plants leaning over?
Uneven access to light is one of the most frequent causes of plant leaning or lopsidedness. The two primary causes of plants becoming unbalanced or leaning toward the light, according to Patch’s plant doctors Richard Cheshire and Richard Hull, are when they are either overly heavy or have loose roots.