Environment
Insufficient light
Without enough light, plants stretch toward the nearest light source, producing thin, pale, widely spaced growth instead of compact, sturdy stems.
How to confirm it
- Check how many hours of direct light the plant actually receives where it currently sits.
- Compare stem spacing and color to a healthy plant of the same age and species.
- Note whether the problem started after a change in location, season, or nearby shade.
Next Steps
Fixes connected to this cause
Add supplemental light
A basic grow light positioned close to the plant fixes legginess more reliably than moving a tray to a slightly brighter windowsill.