Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Assess the amount of direct sun the plant receives daily.
- Check if the plant is leaning toward a light source.
- Look for signs of new growth that are spaced far apart.
Likely causes
Insufficient light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long and thin with large gaps between the leaves. The plant may also lean heavily toward the nearest window.
What to do: Move your plant to a spot that receives full sun or very bright indirect light. If you are growing it indoors, place it directly in front of a south or west facing window.
Lack of pruning
Most likelyHow to tell: The plant is tall and sparse but otherwise healthy. It has not been trimmed in a long time.
What to do: Prune back the long, straggly stems by one third to encourage bushier growth. Do this in late spring after the main flush of new growth has hardened off.
Find out what's wrong with your kohuhu
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 not a medical emergency, but it will not fix itself without more light or a trim. If the plant is extremely sparse, it may take a full season to fill back out.
Stopping it coming back
Provide consistent bright light and perform light pruning once a year to maintain a dense shape.
Kohuhu: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your kohuhu 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
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Questions people ask
- Will my leggy stems fill in with leaves?
- No, leaves will not grow back on the bare parts of old stems. You must prune those stems back to encourage new, leafy growth from lower down.
- Can I put my Kohuhu in full sun?
- Yes, this plant thrives in full sun. In fact, it is the best way to prevent it from becoming leggy.
More problems with Kohuhu
- Why are there bumps on my Kohuhu leaves?
- What are these spots on my Kohuhu leaves?
- Why are my Kohuhu leaves curling up?
- Why is my Kohuhu losing its leaves?
- Why are my Kohuhu leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Pittosporum tenuifolium leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Pittosporum tenuifolium drooping?
- How do I know if my Pittosporum has root rot?
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.