Plant problems & diagnosis
Something looking off? Find the cause and the fix for 120+ common houseplant problems — from yellowing leaves and brown tips to pests, root rot and disease. Or snap a photo and let Leaf Scan diagnose it for you.
Disease
Bacterial Leaf Spot: Water-Soaked, Greasy-Looking Patches That Turn BrownTranslucent, greasy-looking patches on leaves that turn yellow, then brown or black, often with a yellow halo and angular edges bounded by leaf veins.
Bacterial Soft Rot: Wet, Slimy, Foul-Smelling Collapse in HouseplantsWater-soaked, mushy, foul-smelling tissue collapse in stems, leaf bases, or bulbs — spreading fast and distinct from fungal rot.
Crown Gall: Rough, Warty Growths on Stems and Roots That Aren't NormalHard, warty, tumor-like growths at the soil line, stem base, or roots caused by Agrobacterium bacteria — not callus, edema, or aerial roots.
Crown Rot in Houseplants: Causes, Signs, and How to Save Your PlantThe base of your plant's stem turns soft, dark, and mushy right at soil level — a sign of crown rot that can kill a plant within days.
Dormancy Gone Wrong: Rot and Weak Growth After Dark StorageStored bulbs, corms, or rhizomes showing soft spots, mold, or pale etiolated shoots before planting — assess viability and rescue what you can.
Gray Mold (Botrytis) on Houseplants: Fuzzy Gray Patches That Spread FastFuzzy gray or brown patches on leaves, stems, or flowers that spread quickly in cool, damp conditions — likely Botrytis cinerea (gray mold).
How to Identify and Fix Root RotRoot rot is caused by overwatering and poor drainage, which suffocate the roots and let fungus take hold. Caught early, most plants can be saved by trimming rot and repotting dry.
How to Identify and Treat Leaf Spot DiseaseLeaf spot disease shows up as brown, black, or tan spots, often ringed with a yellow halo, that grow and merge over time. It is usually caused by fungi or bacteria spread by water splashing on the foliage.
How to Treat Powdery Mildew on HouseplantsPowdery mildew appears as white, flour-like patches on leaves, stems, and buds. It thrives in warm, humid, poorly ventilated rooms and can spread between plants within days.
Mosaic Virus on Houseplants: Mottled, Distorted Leaves That Won't Get BetterIrregular yellow-green mottling, leaf distortion, and stunted growth that don't improve with better care — classic signs of mosaic virus infection.
Pythium and Water Molds: The Root Rot That Strikes Even Well-Drained PotsRoots turn brown and mushy, outer layers slough off, and leaves wilt or yellow — even in fast-draining soil. Often mistaken for underwatering.
Sooty Mold on Houseplants: That Black Dusty Coating on Your LeavesA black, powdery or crusty coating on leaves and stems that wipes off easily — a sign of pest activity, not a direct fungal infection of plant tissue.
Stem Rot in HouseplantsStems turn soft, brown, or black at or near the soil line, often with a foul smell. Affected tissue collapses and the plant wilts despite moist soil.
What Are the Brown Spots on My Plant’s Leaves?Brown spots on leaves can come from fungal or bacterial leaf spot disease, but also from sunburn, overwatering, or minerals. Here is how to identify the cause and stop the spots from spreading.
Why Are Mushrooms Growing in My Houseplant?Small yellow or tan mushrooms popping up in your potting soil are a harmless fungus feeding on organic matter, not your plant. Their appearance means the soil is staying consistently warm and damp.
Why Is My Plant's Stem Soft and Mushy?Soft, mushy, or blackened stems signal stem rot, a fungal or bacterial decay almost always driven by overwatering and excess moisture. It is urgent, because rot spreads fast and can collapse a plant within days.
Why Is There White Mold on My Plant's Soil?A fuzzy or powdery white layer on the soil surface is usually a harmless saprophytic mold feeding on decaying organic matter. It signals that the soil is staying too wet with too little airflow.
Environmental
Bud Abortion: Why Your Plant's Flower Buds Are Dying Before They OpenFormed flower buds shrivel, turn brown, or drop before opening — often due to temperature swings, ethylene gas, drought stress, or sudden light changes.
Cold Draft Damage: Why Your Houseplant's Leaves Are Turning Yellow or Brown at the EdgesLeaves yellowing, browning at edges, or dropping after placement near a drafty window, vent, or door — classic signs of cold draft stress.
Corky Scabs on Succulent Leaves: What That Rough, Rusty Scarring Actually MeansRough, corky, or rusty-brown scabs on succulent and cactus leaves — learn to tell apart oedema, mite damage, and abrasion, and when to act.
Dry, Shriveled Aerial Roots: What They Mean and When to WorryAerial roots on monsteras, hoyas, orchids, and philodendrons turning brown, brittle, or shriveled — here's what's normal and what needs fixing.
How to Identify and Treat Cold Damage on PlantsCold damage shows up as sudden limp, dark, or translucent leaves after exposure to chilly air, drafts, or frost. Move the plant to warmth, remove dead tissue, and let it recover slowly before doing anything more.
Humidity Stress in Houseplants: Brown Edges, Curling, and Crispy LeavesLeaf edges browning, tips crisping, or leaves curling inward due to air that is too dry for the plant's needs.
Leaf Curling from Low Humidity: Why Dry Air Makes Houseplants Curl Their LeavesLeaves curling inward or rolling along their edges, often with slight crispness, caused by excessively dry indoor air pulling moisture from leaf tissue.
Leaf Drop After Moving Your PlantPlant suddenly drops multiple leaves after being moved, repotted, or brought home. Leaves may yellow briefly first or fall while still green.
Leaf Rolling in Aroids: When Monstera, Philodendron, and Pothos Tube Their LeavesMonstera, philodendron, or pothos leaves curling lengthwise into a tube or trough along the midrib — a reversible stress response to drought, heat, or low humidity.
Leaf Scorch from Low Humidity: Crispy Edges, Browning Tips, and Papery PatchesLeaf edges and tips turn brown and papery, whole leaves may curl or feel crispy — often caused by air that's too dry for tropical houseplants.
Leaves Curling Inward — Heat Stress in HouseplantsLeaves rolling or cupping inward, often with crispy edges or a dull surface, caused by excessive heat or hot dry air near vents and windows.
Leaves Dropping After RepottingPlant sheds healthy-looking leaves shortly after being moved to a new pot. Stems may look fine but leaves yellow and fall quickly.
Leaves Turning Yellow After Winter: Why It Happens and How to Help Your Plant RecoverHouseplant leaves turning yellow in late winter or early spring after months of low light, dry air, and reduced watering indoors.
Palm Frond Tip Dieback: Why Your Palm's Leaf Tips Are Turning Brown and Dying BackPalm frond tips turn brown and crispy, then the browning creeps inward along the leaf blade — a classic sign of environmental stress in indoor palms.
Root Circling and Girdling: When Roots Start Strangling Your PlantRoots wrapping around the root ball or stem base can slowly strangle water and nutrient flow, causing decline that looks like watering or nutrition problems.
Spray Damage on Houseplant Leaves: Spots, Bleaching, and Burn from Topical TreatmentsBleached spots, scorched edges, or distorted leaves appearing after applying pesticides, neem oil, soap spray, or leaf-shine products to your houseplant.
Stem and Tip Dieback from Low HumidityStem tips and growing points dry out, shrivel, and die back progressively — most common in humidity-loving tropical houseplants during dry winters.
Tap Water Damage: Yellowing, Browning & Crispy Tips from Chlorine and FluorideLeaf tips and edges turn brown or yellow, or pale spots appear — caused by chlorine, fluoride, or dissolved salts in tap water.
Transplant Shock: Why Your Plant Wilts After RepottingWilting, drooping, or leaf drop in the days after repotting is transplant shock, a temporary stress as roots recover from being disturbed. With steady care, most plants bounce back within a couple of weeks.
What Is Edema (Blisters) on Plant Leaves?Edema appears as small water-soaked blisters or corky bumps on leaves, usually on the undersides, caused by roots taking up water faster than the leaves can release it. It is a physiological problem, not a disease or pest.
Why Are My Plant's Leaves Curling?Curling leaves are a stress signal, most often from underwatering, heat, low humidity, or pests. Reading which way the leaves curl helps pinpoint whether it's thirst, light, or insects.
Why Are My Plant's Leaves Going Crispy?Crispy, brittle leaves mean the plant is losing moisture faster than it can replace it, usually from dry air, underwatering, or too much sun. The fix is steadier water and a gentler environment.
Why Are My Plant's Leaves Turning Black?Leaves turning black, rather than yellow or brown, usually mean serious tissue death from root rot, cold damage, sunburn scorch, or a fungal infection. It signals an urgent problem that needs immediate diagnosis.
Why Are the Edges of My Plant's Leaves Browning?Brown, crispy margins running along the outer edge of a leaf usually point to low humidity, inconsistent watering, or a buildup of salts and minerals. Steady moisture and cleaner water resolve most cases.
Why Do My Plant's Leaves Have Brown Tips?Brown leaf tips usually mean low humidity, inconsistent watering, or a buildup of salts from tap water and fertilizer. They're cosmetic but a useful early warning to adjust the plant's care.
Why Has My Plant Stopped Growing?Slow or stalled growth is usually a seasonal dormancy or an environmental shortfall in light, warmth, or nutrients rather than a disease. Here is how to tell which and get your plant moving again.
Why Is My Plant Dropping Leaves?Leaf drop is often a stress reaction to sudden change, like a move, draft, or watering swing. Some shedding is normal, but rapid drop signals an environmental problem worth correcting fast.
Why Is My Plant Not Putting Out New Growth?A plant that is alive but never produces new leaves is usually held back by low light, dormancy, root problems, or lack of nutrients. Here is how to identify the block and restart growth.
Yellowing & Leaf Drop from Ethylene Gas ExposureHouseplant leaves turning yellow and dropping suddenly near gas appliances, ripening fruit, or after a move — ethylene gas may be the culprit.
Light
Etiolated Stems: Why Your Plant Is Growing Tall, Weak, and SpindlyStems grow unusually long and thin between leaves, with wide gaps between nodes, producing a stretched, weak, pale appearance.
Leaf Scorch: Why Your Plant Has SunburnSunburn shows up as bleached, brown, or crispy patches on the leaves most exposed to direct sun. Here is how to recognize leaf scorch and prevent further damage.
Leaf Yellowing from Too Much Direct SunLeaves turning yellow or washed-out from intense direct sunlight — often bleached, papery, or scorched at the edges too.
Leaves Yellowing and Wilting in Low LightLeaves turn pale yellow and go limp despite regular watering — often a sign the plant isn't getting enough light to sustain itself.
Light Bleaching: When Too-Bright Light Fades and Whitens Your Plant's LeavesPale, washed-out, or white patches on leaves closest to a grow light — caused by excess photon intensity overwhelming chlorophyll, not heat or nutrient deficiency.
Why Are My Plant’s Leaves Pale or Washed Out?Pale, washed-out, or light green leaves usually mean too little light, though nutrient deficiency and overwatering can also cause it. Here is how to find the cause and restore rich color.
Why Is My Plant Leaning and Stretching Toward the Window?A plant that leans, bends, or stretches toward the window is reaching for more light, a behavior called phototropism. Here is why it happens and how to keep your plant growing straight.
Why Is My Plant Leggy and Stretched Out?Leggy growth means long, bare stems with wide gaps between leaves, almost always caused by too little light. Here is how to diagnose the cause and bring back compact, bushy growth.
Why Is My Plant Losing Its Variegation?Variegated plants lose their white, cream, or pink markings and revert to plain green mainly due to too little light. Here is why it happens and how to restore the contrast.
Nutrient
Boron Deficiency: Why Your Plant's Growing Tips Are Dying and New Leaves Are DeformedGrowing tips dying back, new leaves thick, brittle, or fused, and apical meristems collapsing — classic signs of boron deficiency in houseplants.
Copper Deficiency: Why Your Plant's New Shoots Are Wilting, Dying Back, or Failing to DevelopYoung shoot tips wilt, curl, or die back despite moist soil, sometimes with bluish-green leaves or stunted, distorted new growth — classic signs of copper deficiency.
How to Fix Fertilizer Burn on PlantsFertilizer burn appears as brown, crispy leaf tips and margins, often with a white crust on the soil, caused by too much fertilizer drawing moisture out of the roots. It usually follows over-feeding or feeding dry soil.
Interveinal Chlorosis: Yellow Leaves with Green VeinsLeaves turn yellow between the veins while the veins themselves stay green — a classic sign of iron or manganese deficiency in houseplants.
Leaf Yellowing & Dark, Glossy Growth from Too Much Fertilizer (Nitrogen Toxicity)Leaves turning yellow, becoming unnaturally dark green, or showing scorched tips after frequent fertilizing — signs your plant is getting too much nitrogen.
Leaf Yellowing Between the Veins (Interveinal Chlorosis)Leaves turn yellow between the veins while the veins themselves stay green — a classic sign of interveinal chlorosis caused by nutrient deficiency.
Magnesium Deficiency: Why Older Leaves Are Yellowing Between the VeinsInterveinal yellowing starting on older, lower leaves that moves upward — a classic sign of magnesium deficiency in houseplants.
Manganese Deficiency: Why Your Newest Leaves Look Pale with a Fine Green Vein NetworkNew and middle-aged leaves turn pale yellow while a fine network of green veins stays visible — a classic sign of manganese deficiency in houseplants.
New Leaves Coming In Yellow: Why Young Growth Looks Pale or Washed OutNewest leaves emerge yellow or very pale while older leaves stay green — a classic sign of iron or manganese deficiency caused by high soil pH or root stress.
Nitrogen Deficiency: Why Your Plant's Oldest Leaves Are Fading to Pale YellowOldest, lowest leaves turning uniformly pale yellow while newer growth stays green — a classic sign the plant is scavenging nitrogen from mature tissue.
Phosphorus Deficiency: Why Your Plant's Leaves Are Turning Purple or ReddishPurple or reddish discoloration on leaf undersides and older foliage, often with slow growth and dull color — classic signs of phosphorus deficiency in houseplants.
Plant Nutrient Deficiencies: Signs and FixesNutrient deficiencies show up as patterned yellowing, pale new growth, or discolored leaf margins despite proper watering and light. The pattern and which leaves are affected reveal which nutrient is lacking.
Potassium Deficiency: Why Your Plant's Leaf Edges Are Scorching and CurlingCrispy, scorched leaf margins with inward curling on older leaves signal potassium deficiency — a correctable macronutrient shortage distinct from salt burn or low humidity.
Salt and Mineral Buildup in Houseplant SoilA white or yellowish crust on the soil or pot rim, paired with browning leaf tips and edges, signals salt and mineral buildup from fertilizer and tap water. Flushing the soil clears it out.
Sulfur Deficiency: Why Your Plant's Newest Leaves Are Uniformly Pale YellowNewest leaves emerge uniformly pale yellow without distinct green veins — a classic sulfur deficiency sign rarely seen in plants fed complete fertilizers.
Tipburn: Brown, Scorched New Leaves and Growing TipsNew leaves emerge with brown, scorched, or papery edges and tips — even when watering seems fine. Often a sign of calcium delivery failure.
Zinc Deficiency: Why Your Plant's New Leaves Are Small, Distorted, or MottledNew leaves emerging unusually small, puckered, or mottled with shortened stem internodes — classic signs of zinc deficiency in houseplants.
Other
Fasciation: Why Your Plant's Stem Is Flattened, Ribboned, or CrestedA stem, flower stalk, or growing tip looks flattened, wide, ribboned, or crested instead of round — this is fasciation, a structural growth abnormality.
Leaves Turning Yellow After RepottingPlant leaves turn yellow within days or weeks of being repotted — a stress response as roots adjust to their new environment.
Lichen on Houseplant Stems: What That Gray-Green Crust Actually IsCrusty gray-green, silvery, or pale patches on woody houseplant stems or bark — likely lichen, a harmless but telling colonizer of slow-growing plants.
Oldest Leaves Turning Yellow: Natural Aging vs. Real ProblemsLower or innermost leaves slowly turn yellow one or two at a time while new growth stays healthy — a normal part of a plant's life cycle.
Pale New Growth: Is It Etiolation, Variegation Loss, or Something Else?New leaves emerging pale, washed-out, or nearly white? Learn to tell apart etiolation, fading variegation, sulfur deficiency, and manganese deficiency.
Root-Bound Plants: Signs Your Plant Has Outgrown Its PotRoots circling the pot, escaping drainage holes, or pushing up through the soil surface — your plant has run out of room to grow.
Why Is My Plant Dropping Its Buds?Buds that swell and then fall off before opening are almost always reacting to stress: a sudden change in light, temperature, or watering. Stabilize the plant's environment and the next set of buds will hold.
Why Won't My Plant Bloom?A healthy-looking plant that refuses to bloom is almost always short on light, stuck on the wrong feeding, or missing a seasonal trigger like cool nights or a dry rest. Fixing the cue usually brings the flowers back.
Pests
Broad Mites and False Spider Mites: Tiny Pests Behind Twisted, Glossy, or Stunted New GrowthNew leaves emerge twisted, cupped, hardened, or stunted with no webbing present — a classic sign of broad mites or false spider mites feeding on tender growing tips.
Caterpillar Damage on Houseplants: Ragged Holes, Chewed Edges, and FrassRagged holes, scalloped or notched leaf edges, and tiny dark pellets on leaves signal caterpillar feeding on your houseplant.
Cicada Root Damage: When Outdoor Soil Residents Attack Potted Plant RootsOutdoor potted plants wilting or stalling in late spring? Cicada nymphs feeding on roots underground may be the surprising, timing-specific culprit.
Fungus Gnat Larvae Root DamageTiny flies around soil, seedlings or young plants wilting and yellowing despite correct care — fungus gnat larvae may be destroying roots underground.
Galls on Houseplant Leaves: Those Strange Bumps, Pits, and Pouches That Grow Right Out of the LeafWeird bumps, blisters, pouches, or felty patches growing out of your plant's leaves? These abnormal tissue growths are likely eriophyid mite galls.
How to Get Rid of Aphids on HouseplantsAphids are small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and flower buds, sucking sap. They cause curled, distorted leaves and sticky honeydew.
How to Get Rid of Fungus GnatsFungus gnats are tiny black flies that hover around the soil surface of overwatered houseplants. Their larvae feed on roots and organic matter in the top inch of soil.
How to Get Rid of MealybugsMealybugs are soft, white, cottony insects that cluster in leaf joints and along stems. They suck sap, weaken the plant, and leave behind sticky honeydew.
How to Get Rid of WhitefliesWhiteflies are tiny white moth-like insects that flutter up in a cloud when a plant is disturbed. They suck sap from leaf undersides and excrete sticky honeydew.
How to Identify and Get Rid of Spider MitesSpider mites are nearly microscopic pests that cause fine yellow stippling on leaves and spin delicate webbing between stems. They thrive in hot, dry indoor air.
How to Identify and Get Rid of ThripsThrips are slender, tiny insects that rasp leaf surfaces, leaving silvery streaks, pale stippling, and black fecal specks. They distort new growth as they feed.
How to Identify and Treat Scale InsectsScale insects look like small brown or tan bumps stuck to stems and leaves. They suck sap, cause yellowing, and produce sticky honeydew as they feed.
Leafhopper Damage: Pale Stippling, Distorted Growth, and the Pest You Never See ComingTiny white or pale speckles (stippling) on leaves, curled tips, and yellowing edges caused by leafhoppers draining plant sap.
Leafminer Damage: Those Pale, Winding Trails Drawn Through Your LeavesPale, winding tunnels or irregular blotch patches drawn through leaf tissue — the hallmark of leafminer larvae feeding inside the leaf.
Root Knot Nematodes: Swollen, Knotted Roots Behind Mysterious DeclineFirm, immovable galls on roots paired with wilting, yellowing, and stunted growth that don't improve with watering or feeding.
Root Mealybugs: The Hidden Infestation You Can't See Until Real Damage Is DonePlant wilts, yellows, or stalls despite correct watering and light — tiny white insects colonizing roots are draining it from below.
Shore Flies: The Stocky, Dark Flies That Are Not Fungus GnatsSmall black flies with spotted wings hovering near houseplant soil — stockier and faster than fungus gnats, leaving dark specks on leaves and thriving wherever algae grows on wet surfaces.
Spider Mite Webbing: What That Fine Web on Your Plant Actually MeansFine, silky webbing on houseplant leaves or stems usually signals spider mites — learn to identify it, stage the infestation, and distinguish it from harmless webs.
Springtails in Houseplant Soil: Harmless Decomposers or a Sign of Trouble?Tiny white or grey bugs jumping out of your houseplant soil when disturbed? They're likely springtails — mostly harmless decomposers, not a plant threat.
Thrips Damage: Silver Streaks, Scarring, and Distorted Growth on Houseplant LeavesSilvery streaks, bronze patches, papery scarring, or distorted new leaves on your houseplant are the hallmarks of thrips feeding damage.
Vine Weevil Root Damage: Why Your Plant Is Suddenly Wilting and Declining for No Obvious ReasonUnexplained wilting, collapse, or decline in a well-watered plant may signal vine weevil grubs silently destroying roots beneath the soil surface.
Whitefly Honeydew: Why Your Leaves Feel Sticky and Look Shiny or StreakedSticky, shiny residue on houseplant leaves is often honeydew excreted by whiteflies — and it can invite black sooty mold that blocks photosynthesis.
Why Are My Plant's Leaves Sticky?Sticky residue on leaves and nearby surfaces is honeydew, a sugary waste excreted by sap-sucking pests. It signals an active insect infestation that needs treatment.
Why Does My Plant Have Holes in Its Leaves?Ragged holes and chewed edges in houseplant leaves usually mean a chewing pest like caterpillars, beetles, slugs, or snails is feeding, often at night. Find and remove the culprit, then protect new growth.
Why Scale and Sooty Mold Keep Coming Back TogetherSticky leaves, black coating, and scale bumps that return after treatment — learn how honeydew links scale insects and sooty mold in a self-reinforcing cycle.
Woolly Aphids: The Fuzzy White Colonies That Look Like Mold but Bite Like BugsWhite, cottony tufts on stems that look like mold or mealybugs but are actually woolly aphid colonies feeding on your plant's sap.
Watering
Compacted Soil: Why Your Potting Mix Is Suffocating Your PlantSoil that pulls away from the pot edges, repels water, or dries into a hard brick — leaving roots starved of air and moisture.
Corky Bumps on Stems and Petioles: When Your Plant's Vascular System Gets WaterloggedRaised, wart-like or corky growths on stems and petioles caused by oedema — not pests, not disease, but burst plant cells from overwatering.
Hard Water Deposits on Leaves: That White Crusty Residue and What to Do About ItWhite, chalky or crusty spots on leaf surfaces caused by mineral salts left behind when hard tap water evaporates after misting or overhead watering.
Leaves Yellowing Because of Compacted, Hydrophobic SoilYellowing leaves despite regular watering — water runs straight through the pot and the root zone stays bone dry due to compacted, hydrophobic soil.
Signs of Overwatering and How to Fix ItOverwatering suffocates roots in soggy soil, causing yellowing, soft leaves, and eventually root rot. The fix is to let the soil dry, improve drainage, and water by feel instead of a schedule.
Soil Staying Wet Too LongPotting mix stays soggy for days after watering, smells musty, and the plant shows yellowing, drooping, or stunted growth.
Sour or Rotten Smell from Soil: What Anaerobic Conditions Are Doing to Your Plant's RootsA swampy, sour, rotten-egg, or sulfur-like odor rising from potting mix signals oxygen-depleted soil that is silently destroying roots before any leaf symptoms appear.
Stem Collapse: Why Your Plant Is Suddenly Falling OverStems suddenly go limp, bend at the base, or collapse entirely — even when the soil feels moist and the plant looked fine yesterday.
Underwatered Plants: Signs and How to Revive ThemUnderwatering shows up as dry, crispy leaves, drooping, and soil that pulls away from the pot. Most plants bounce back quickly once you rehydrate the root ball and water more consistently.
Why Are My Plant's Leaves Drooping?Drooping leaves usually point to a watering issue: either too dry or too wet. Check the soil first, since over and underwatering cause the same sad, sagging look from opposite causes.
Why Are My Plant's Leaves Turning Yellow?Yellowing leaves (chlorosis) are most often caused by overwatering, but light, nutrients and natural aging can all play a role. Here's how to find the real cause and fix it.
Why Is My Plant Wilting?Wilting means the plant can't keep its leaves turgid, almost always because of a watering or root problem. Check the soil and roots first to tell thirst apart from rot.
Yellowing Leaves from Being Root-BoundOlder leaves turning yellow while roots circle the pot or escape drainage holes — a classic sign your plant has outgrown its container.
Yellowing, Mushy, or Collapsing Leaves on SucculentsSucculent leaves turning yellow, feel soft and mushy, or collapse at the base — classic signs of overwatering and waterlogged roots.