At my peak, the number of plants in my collection reached the mid-90s. Even though my love for them remains as strong as ever, over the past few months, I’ve begun parting ways with some. Now, I’ve reduced the count to the low 80s. (Yes, I’m aware—80 is still an enormous number.)
After nearly a decade of constantly expanding my plant collection, I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that I went too far. I’m not discarding plants that are in perfect condition—just the ones that are clearly struggling, suffering, or overrun with pests that I’ve stopped attempting to save.
To prevent yourself from experiencing complete houseplant burnout, watch out for these five unmistakable signs that you’ve gone way overboard with your plant collection. Save yourself before you reach the point of resenting them.
Your Plants Are Unexpectedly Dying After Years of Thriving
If your plants were flourishing for years but have recently started declining, don’t be too quick to blame them. The issue might actually be you. Between work, household responsibilities, and maintaining relationships, plant care can easily slip to the bottom of your priorities. If it stays there for too long, your plants will inevitably suffer—so don’t ignore this warning sign.
You’ve Completely Run Out of Space to Keep Any More Plants
I’m not exaggerating—there isn’t a single free surface left in my home. Nineteen plants are hanging from my ceiling (including two pothos on a two-tier macramé hanger), and over a dozen more are mounted on the walls in planters. I own a dedicated plant bookshelf, two wall-mounted plant shelves, and a plant cart.
I refuse to sacrifice my countertops, kitchen table, or desk to make room for more plants. And let’s be honest—you can’t just shove a plant into a dark corner and convince yourself it’ll survive as a low-light variety.
You’re Dealing With Constant Pest Infestations
This was the biggest red flag that I’d gone too far. For the first eight years of owning plants, I had zero pest problems (aside from the occasional fungus gnats, but everyone deals with those). Then, my luck ran out. Now, I’m battling three different infestations at once: mealybugs, spider mites, and thrips.
When you own a large number of plants, they’re often placed close together—making it easy for pests to jump from one plant to another. If one plant gets infested, it’s only a matter of time before the next one does too.
Some of these infestations took months to fight. I finally got rid of spider mites on a calathea, only for it to get thrips four months later. But lately, I’ve started accepting defeat—letting some plants go to protect the others from further infestation.
Taking Care of Your Plants Feels Like an Exhausting Chore
With so many plants, maintenance has turned into a legitimate household task. I spend more time on annual repotting than I do filing my own taxes. Even after five hours of repotting, pruning, and propagating, I’ve only managed to tend to about 15 plants. There’s one plant in a clear pot with roots spiraling inside, growing out the top and bottom—and despite knowing it needs repotting, I still haven’t gotten around to it.
If your propagation cuttings have roots long enough to wrap around one of your pots, you’re avoiding responsibility. Don’t even think about getting more plants when you’re neglecting the ones you already have.
You’ve Officially Earned the Title of ‘The Plant Person’
If every guest who walks into your home immediately comments on your jungle-like collection, you’ve probably gone overboard. I can’t even be on a FaceTime call without someone staring past me at my walls and saying, “Wow, do you actually care for all those plants yourself?”
Once, a friend introduced me by saying, “This is Jenny—she’s really good with plants.” Don’t get me