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Check these first
- Observe the amount of direct sun the plant receives daily.
- Check for nearby plants that might be blocking the light.
- Examine the stems for signs of stretching.
Likely causes
Insufficient Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are stretching out and leaning toward the nearest light source with large gaps between the leaves.
What to do: Move your plant to a spot that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. If you are growing it indoors, place it directly in a south facing window.
Crowding
PossibleHow to tell: The stems are thin and weak because they are competing for space and light with neighboring plants.
What to do: Thin out your planting area to ensure each plant has enough room for air to circulate. Space individual plants about 18 to 24 inches apart to prevent them from shading each other.
Find out what's wrong with your wand loosestrife
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
It is time to worry if the stems become so weak they can no longer stand upright on their own. Some minor leaning is normal as the plant tracks the sun throughout the day.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your wand loosestrife in a location with full, unobstructed sun to maintain a compact and sturdy structure.
Wand loosestrife: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your wand loosestrife 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.
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Questions people ask
- Can I prune back leggy stems?
- Yes, you can trim back the long, straggly stems to encourage the plant to bush out. Use clean, sharp shears to cut just above a leaf node.
- Will my plant recover if I move it to more sun?
- The existing leggy growth will not shrink back, but new growth will be much tighter and stronger. You can prune away the old, stretched stems once the plant starts producing healthy new foliage.
More problems with Wand loosestrife
Back to the Wand loosestrife 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.