Indoor Plant Getting Leggy? Here's How to ID It and Fix It.
If your houseplant is growing long, sparse stems with lots of space between leaves, it’s not trying to be dramatic—it’s etiolated. This is its desperate reach for more light. But the fix depends on what the plant is.
Step 1: Identify Your Plant. A "leggy" Succulent (like an Echeveria) needs much more direct sun. A "leggy" Pothos or Philodendron might just need a brighter indirect spot. You can’t fix the problem until you know the species.
Step 2: Provide the Right Light. Once you know your plant, research its specific light needs. A south-facing window might save a succulent but scorch a fern.
Step 3: Prune and Propagate. For many vining plants (Pothos, Philodendron), you can cut the long stem below a leaf node and root the cutting in water to create a fuller parent plant.
The crucial first step is identification. A leggy growth pattern is a symptom; the plant's ID tells you the cure. Use the AI Plant Finder to quickly figure out what you have. Then, you can give it the perfect spot to become compact and happy again.