Playing Dead "My plant has lost all of its leaves... Does that mean it's dead?" A question our Plant Doctors hear all too often! But just because a plant has lost its leaves or is showing other signs of stress, that does not mean it's dead or dying. Plants are incredibly resilient and even a plant with no leaves might still be alive (or just dormant!). Here are two ways to really know if your plant is dead: The scratch test. Using a blade or your fingernail, scratch a piece of the stem, branch or trunk of your plant. What do you see? If it's green or white, your plant is still alive. If it's brown, your plant is dead. The snap test. Take a stem or branch from your plant and gently bend it. Is it pliable? This means there's still hope! If it breaks immediately without bending, then most likely your plant is no longer alive. Don't give up too soon. If you have a sad looking plant, perform each test to see if it's salvageable. If it passes the test, place it in a bright spot and give it the TLC it deserves. Your plant may eventually surprise you!
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