Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Observe the light intensity in the plant's current spot.
- Check if the plant is leaning toward a window.
- Measure the distance between the leaf nodes.
Likely causes
Insufficient Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long and thin with large gaps between the leaves as the plant reaches for a light source.
What to do: Move the plant to a location with more bright, indirect light. If you are growing it indoors, consider placing it closer to a south or east facing window.
Lack of Pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant looks sparse and tall without a bushy shape even though it is getting enough light.
What to do: Trim back the long stems by one third to encourage fuller, bushier growth. Do this in early spring to prepare the plant for the growing season.
Find out what's wrong with your american germander
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 rarely fatal but it does make the plant look untidy. It is normal for the plant to stretch slightly during the darker winter months.
Stopping it coming back
Rotate your pot every week to ensure even light exposure on all sides.
American germander: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your american germander 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 propagate the stems I prune?
- Yes, you can take stem cuttings and root them in water or moist soil to grow new plants.
- Will the stems fill back in?
- Pruning will encourage new growth from the nodes, which helps the plant look fuller over time.
More problems with American germander
- Why are there spots on my American germander leaves?
- Why is my American germander drooping?
- Why does my American germander have root rot?
- Why are my American germander leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my American germander's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my American germander dropping leaves?
- Why won't my American germander bloom?
- What are these bugs on my American germander?
- Why are my American germander leaves curling?
Back to the American germander 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.