Question 1

Lower leaves turning evenly yellow

Accepted Answer

Too much or too little water, a pot that's too large, too little light, cold, a sudden temperature drop, or drafts. Check soil moisture and the roots, adjust watering, and move the plant to a brighter, draft-free spot.

Question 2

Yellowing and leaf drop after moving the plant

Accepted Answer

A sudden change in light or temperature, or drafts from doors, windows, or vents. Give it time, make changes gradually, and keep it out of air currents.

Question 3

Yellow leaves on a plant that hasn't been fed in a long time

Accepted Answer

Nutrient deficiency. Fertilize during active growth at the rate on the label.

Question 4

Yellow between green veins

Accepted Answer

Iron, magnesium, or manganese is unavailable to the plant, often because of lime in hard water. Typical of acid-loving plants. Water with softer water such as rainwater, and use a suitable mix for acid-loving plants.

Question 5

Brown leaf tips or edges

Accepted Answer

More often underwatering than overwatering, dry air, or poor ventilation. Review your watering and raise the humidity.

Question 6

Brown tips and edges plus a white crust on the soil

Accepted Answer

Excess fertilizer and salt buildup. Flush the soil, cut back on fertilizer, and replace the mix if needed.

Question 7

Browning in the middle of the leaf

Accepted Answer

Overwatering. Water less and check the roots and drainage.

Question 8

Whole leaves turning brown and dropping, top wilting

Accepted Answer

Underwatering and excess heat. Water thoroughly and move the plant somewhere cooler or shadier.

Question 9

Sudden collapse of the whole plant

Accepted Answer

An abrupt change in conditions, most often overwatering. Roots with root rot are brown to black, soft, and their outer layer slips off easily. Unpot the plant, check the roots, and remove rotten parts.

Question 10

Dark spots with yellow margins

Accepted Answer

Fungal leaf spot. Remove affected leaves, keep the foliage dry, and use an approved fungicide per the label if needed.

Question 11

White or straw-colored spots or rings

Accepted Answer

Cold water on the leaves, watering with cold water, or aerosol damage. Water with room-temperature water and don't spray aerosols near plants.

Question 12

Silvery patches with tiny black dots, distorted new leaves

Accepted Answer

Thrips: the black dots are their droppings. Hold white paper under a leaf and tap it. Thrips fall off as tiny moving specks.

Question 13

Fine pale speckling on leaves, maybe webbing underneath or between stems

Accepted Answer

Spider mites, tiny arachnids about 1 mm long. Check leaf undersides along the veins and the shoot tips, where webbing shows up first.

Question 14

White cottony wax in leaf joints, sticky leaves or a black film

Accepted Answer

Mealybugs. They excrete sticky honeydew, on which black sooty mold grows. Check leaf joints, leaf undersides, and other sheltered spots where mealybugs hide.

Question 15

Tiny dark flies around the pot and running over the soil

Accepted Answer

Fungus gnats. Their larvae live in the top layer of moist soil. Let the soil surface dry between waterings; that's where treatment starts.

Question 16

Variegated leaves fading, all-green shoots appearing

Accepted Answer

Too little light, waterlogging, or variegation reversion. Give more light and better drainage, and prune out the green shoots.

What's wrong with my houseplant? Symptom checker

Yellowing

Browning and wilting

Spots and speckles

Something on the plant

Growth and variegation