| Can Plants Die of Old Age? Living things have an expiration date, and plants are no exception. Even if they're given undivided attention and cultivated in the perfect environment, they will eventually wither and die from natural causes. But it takes plants much longer to reach that point than animals. Unlike your pet goldfish, your monstera doesn't stop growing once it reaches a certain age. Houseplants instead go through “indeterminate growth,” meaning they will continue to grow and mature under the ideal conditions. Depending on the species, this could last decades-or centuries, in some cases. The oldest potted plant on Earth is a prickly cycad planted in 1775. Plants in the wild can live even longer, like Methuselah, the 4850-year-old bristlecone pine tree in California. Even the most lovingly cared-for plants will start to deteriorate with time. After thriving for years, their cells will fail to regenerate, leading to poor water retention, wilting leaves, and eventually death. But few plants live long enough to reach this stage. The vast majority die from causes like improper care, pests, and disease. Keep those plants growing and check out these titles |
