Leggy or Stretched Growth
Long stems with sparse leaves, reaching for the light.
Symptoms
- ✓Long gaps between leaves along the stem
- ✓New growth is small and pale
- ✓Plant leaning towards a window
- ✓Fewer flowers or splits on new leaves
Causes
- Insufficient light
- Too much nitrogen fertiliser
- Plant not being rotated
- Naturally trailing habit left untrimmed
Treatment
- 01Move the plant to a brighter, indirect spot — ideally within a couple of metres of a window.
- 02Rotate the pot a quarter turn every week.
- 03Prune leggy stems back to a healthy node; the plant will branch and thicken up.
- 04Root the cuttings and pop them back into the same pot for a fuller look.
Prevention
- Match the plant to the light you actually have.
- Use a grow light in dark rooms during winter.
- Prune regularly for shape.
- Feed sparingly — more light beats more fertiliser.
FAQ
Should I cut a leggy plant back hard?+
Yes — most trailing and vining plants recover beautifully from a hard prune, then grow back bushier.
Can leggy plants recover without pruning?+
Only if you dramatically increase their light. Otherwise pruning is the fastest fix.
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