How to bring a dying plant back to life

*This is a collaborative post.

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as putting your blood, sweat, and tears (figuratively speaking) into taking care of a plant, only to watch it wilt away before your very eyes. But if your plant looks a little worse for wear, don’t despair—there’s hope yet! With a little TLC, you can revive even the most neglected plants. Here’s what you need to do:

Assess the Damage

The first step is to take a close look at your plant and determine what, exactly, is wrong with it. Is it wilting? Are the leaves turning brown? Is it not growing at all? Once you pinpoint the problem, you can start working on a solution.

Give It Some Water

One of the most common reasons why plants die is not getting enough water. If your plant is wilting or its leaves are turning brown, give it a good watering and see if that does the trick. Be sure to check the soil before watering; if it’s already moist, there’s no need to add more water. Over-watering can be as harmful as not watering, so be sure to err on the side of caution.

Give It Some Sunlight

Just like people, plants need sunlight to live. If your plant isn’t getting enough sun, move it to a sunny spot and see if that makes a difference. Conversely, if your plant is getting too much sun—say, if its leaves are turning yellow or brown—move it to a shadier spot. Too much or too little sun can lead to plant death, so find that happy medium!

Fertilize It

If you want your plant to thrive, you must fertilize it regularly. The type of fertilizer you use will depend on your plant; consult your local nursery or gardening centre for recommendations. However, fertilizing will help your plant get the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy.

Prune It

Pruning is essential to keep any plant healthy—not just dying ones. Pruning helps encourage new growth by removing dead or dying leaves and stems. It also helps increase air circulation and prevents pests and diseases from taking hold. To prune correctly, cut just above where a leaf meets a stem; this will help ensure that new growth emerges from the cut area.

Add a Few Drops of Vodka

If you’re struggling to revive your plant, consider giving it a little vodka. (Yes, you read that correctly!) Adding a few drops of vodka to the soil has been known to help stressed-out plants recover. It works by inhibiting the production of ethylene, a hormone that causes plants to wilt. This will slow the plant’s aging process, giving it a chance to recover. With a bit of time and effort, you should be able to revive even the most neglected plants. Just remember to be patient—plants are. A few drops of high-quality, smooth vodka will be a good choice for your plant.

You can bring even the most neglected plants back to life with time and effort. Just remember to be patient—plants can’t be revived overnight. But, with some TLC, you should be able to get your plant healthy and thriving in no time.