Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Assess how many hours of light the plant gets daily.
- Check if the plant is in a dark corner.
- Look at the distance between the leaves on the stem.
Likely causes
Insufficient Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long with large gaps between the leaves.
What to do: Move the plant to a brighter location with more indirect light. If you are growing it indoors, a spot near a sunny window is ideal.
Lack of Pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is long and trailing but looks thin at the base.
What to do: Trim the long stems back by one third to encourage fuller, bushier growth. Regular pruning keeps the plant looking tidy and dense.
Find out what's wrong with your creeping jenny
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
Legginess is not a health emergency, but it does affect how your plant looks. It is normal for older stems to lose some leaves near the base.
Stopping it coming back
Give your plant bright, indirect light and trim it back every few months to keep it compact.
Creeping Jenny: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your creeping jenny and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I replant the cuttings?
- Yes, Creeping Jenny roots very easily in water or moist soil. You can use your trimmings to fill in a thin pot.
- Will the stems fill in again?
- Once a stem is leggy, it will not grow leaves in the bare spots. It is better to prune it back so new, leafy growth can emerge.
More problems with Creeping Jenny
Back to the Creeping Jenny guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.