Causes and Solutions for Brown Spots on Leaves
Brown Spots on Leaves: Have you discovered that the leaves of your houseplants have dark stains on them? You might have seen some unpleasant brown stains or areas and be curious as to what could be causing them. Brown spots on the leaves of houseplants can be caused by a variety of different factors, the vast majority of which can be avoided or even remedied. In this article, I’ll go over the most prevalent causes of brown spots on leaves, as well as the solutions you can use to get rid of them.
What is the cause of brown spots on the leaves of my houseplants?
There are six main issues that might lead to brown spots appearing on the leaves of houseplants. They are as follows:
- Overexposure to light; burning
- a lack of humidity
- Pests
- Diseases that cause leaf spots
- Watering problems
- Fertilizer difficulties
Let’s take a look at each potential cause one at a time in order to assist you figure out what the issue is and how to fix your plant.
Overexposure to the Sun; Burning
Plants that are kept as houseplants are often tropical in origin and got their start growing in the shady understory of forests. Because of this, they are ideally suited for the lower light levels that are typically seen inside of homes. Your plants can suffer damage if they are exposed to an excessive amount of light, regardless of whether the light is natural or artificial.
Houseplants can show signs of being burned or scorched in the form of brownish, burnt areas on the leaves, brown tips on the leaves, or even pale, yellowed foliage. These symptoms can be caused by too much heat. In more serious cases, you may have a mix of all three of these symptoms. If you notice these signs on your plant, you should first investigate where the plant is situated in respect to the light source it is receiving.
Is the plant placed in front of a window where it can receive sunlight directly, or does it have another type of direct light source? Burning can occur on the leaves of a plant if it is kept too close to either direct sunlight or artificial light, as seen by the browning of the leaf tips and spots on the leaves.
To lessen the intensity of the light that is hitting the plant, try relocating it further away from the window. Alternately, you can shift the plant so that it is no longer exposed to direct sunlight and instead only receives brilliant indirect light. This type of lighting is superior for the majority of houseplants.
Burning can also take place when there is a change in the amount of light that is present over the seasons. Because of the increased light intensity, a plant that spent the winter thriving in a south-facing window may need to be relocated during the summer. Either it should be moved further away from the window or it should be moved to a new position.
If there are only a few leaves that are impacted, you are okay to prune these off. If the plant has been severely injured, it is better to wait until some healthy new growth has occurred before attempting to prune the damaged leaves. If the tips are the only part that are burnt, you can remove them with a pair of scissors that are both clean and sharp. When doing so, you should make an effort to imitate the natural shape of the plant’s leaves.
The damage caused by the scorch cannot be reversed, but if you act quickly, the plant should be able to grow new leaves that are robust, and you may then remove the damaged leaves to make the plant appear to be in good condition again.
Low Relative Humidity
If the leaf tips of your plant begin to get a crispy brown color, you may need to investigate the humidity levels in your home and, in particular, the environment around your plant. You might also see the leaves falling off of trees and the flower buds falling off of flowers. If this is the case, and the problem is not caused by an excess of light, then the issue may be caused by a lack of humidity.
If the humidity levels are too low, certain plants, such as calanthes, will rapidly develop brown spots or the tips of their leaves. Because cooler air can hold less humidity and central heating can dry out the air, it is usual for the humidity in homes to become substantially lower during the colder winter months. This is because cooler air feels dryer than warmer air does.
If you are having trouble maintaining the health and appearance of your houseplants, investing in a digital hygrometer is a smart move that you should make. You’ll be able to determine at a glance how humid your home is using this, and you’ll also have the ability to modify the humidity levels as necessary.
If the humidity in your home is too low for your plant, you can increase the humidity around the plant by placing it on a pebble tray and placing the tray inside of a larger container. A dish should be loaded with pebbles, and then water should be poured over them in such a way that it almost but not quite reaches the top of the pebbles. Place the plant container on top of the stones, being sure that it does not touch the water below it. In this way, the humidity that is immediately surrounding your plant will be raised.
You may also increase the humidity surrounding your plants by placing them in close proximity to one another, and you can learn more about this and other approaches in the post that I wrote about humidity for houseplants.
When the plant is on its way to recovery, you can use scissors that are sharp and have been cleaned thoroughly to cut off only the brown tips. It is recommended that you take off any leaves that are brown for more than two thirds of their surface area.
Spider mites are a frequent pest that can be found on houseplants and can be identified by the presence of tiny brown speckles on the leaves of the plant. You may also notice mottled leaves and fine webbing on the underside of the leaves, both of which are signs that spider mites are present.
To get rid of spider mites quickly and cheaply, just wash them off with water at room temperature. This is the simplest and least expensive method. At least once each week, give affected plants a thorough washing and make sure to remove any visible webs.
Maintaining a high level of humidity around your plant in the time between washes will prevent spider mites from spreading throughout the plant. If frequently cleaning the plant to manage the spider mites does not work, you can find more ways for getting rid of spider mites in my post that I wrote about the subject.
Other insects that feed on sap can also leave brown stains on the leaves of houseplants. Other common pests responsible for this problem are mealybugs, aphids, thrips, and scale. All of these insects get their nourishment by sucking sap from the leaves and stems of your houseplants. This causes the surrounding region to get damaged in a localised area and causes brown or yellow spots on the foliage.
It is always a good idea to check your houseplants on a regular basis for any sign of pests, and you should immediately place your plant in quarantine if you suspect that it may have an infestation. You may learn everything you need to know about the identification, treatment, and prevention of common houseplant pests by reading the article that I wrote about these pests.
Diseases Caused by Leaf Spots
1. Rust
Rust will typically manifest itself on the leaves of your plant as a cluster of brown spots as well as brown rings that form underneath the leaves. The brown dots that appear on the leaves are actually clusters of spores that have been left behind by the fungus that flourishes in damp situations. It is simple to make a diagnosis because the spots can be partially removed by rubbing them with a towel. To determine whether or not you have a rust problem, simply wipe a spot and see whether or not the colour transfers to the material.
In order to treat rust, you must first remove the diseased leaves from the plant, place them in a plastic bag, and throw the bag away. The next step is to apply a fungicide that contains sulphur to the plant.
2. Leaf Spot Caused by Bacteria
There is a good chance that you have a problem with bacterial leaf spot if the leaves of your plant have brown areas that look sunken and moist. Plants that are overwatered, or that are kept in environments that are overly humid or have poor ventilation are more likely to suffer from bacterial leaf spots.
Spots on leaves caused by bacteria can be a major issue. A mild infection might be cured by removing the infected leaves and stems, but a more extensive sickness will likely kill your plant regardless of what you do. Be cautious to keep your plant in a separate container to avoid the disease from spreading to any of your other houseplants.
3. Anthracnose
Anthracnose refers to a group of fungal infections that can affect both the leaves and the stems of a plant and generate lesions that are black and sunken. You can recognize it by the many, small, irregular, yellow or brown dots on the leaves that gradually grow larger over time. These spots can be found in clusters.
It is not generally lethal for houseplants; nonetheless, it can rapidly spread and cause your plants to look terrible. The treatment is to isolate any plants that have been infected, remove any foliage that has been infected, and then treat the plant with a fungicide that contains copper.
3. Rot Of The Roots And The Stem
It’s possible that you have a problem with root rot and stem rot if the stem and roots of your plant have turned a dark brown or black color and feel mushy and soft. Mold is often brought on by overwatering as well as soil that does not drain well. Remove any infected roots and replant the plant into new soil as soon as possible. Be sure that your container has plenty of openings for water to escape, and after watering your plant, you should always empty the catch tray. If you follow these instructions, there is a chance that you can save the plant.
4. Fungal Leaf Spots
A problem with fungal leaf spots could be indicated by the presence of little brown patches with yellow edges. First, remove and dispose of the diseased leaves, and then apply neem oil to the plant in accordance with the guidelines provided on the bottle. If the neem oil does not stop the virus from spreading further, you might have to remove the entire plant from your garden.
5. Watering Problems
It’s possible that your plant is suffering from underwatering if the tips of its leaves are dark or if the leaves themselves are browning and falling off. Check to see whether there is any moisture left in the soil. If this is the case, you can have a problem with underwatering.
First thing’s first, make sure your plant gets a good, long sip of water. As soon as the water in the container has been absorbed entirely, the drip tray should be emptied to prevent the soil around your plant from becoming waterlogged. Within a few hours, your plant should begin to show signs of improvement.
Be sure that you are familiar with the plant’s specific requirements for watering in order to stop the problem from occurring again. Some plants require a soil that is damp but not soaked, while others require that the soil be allowed to totally dry out in the spaces in between watering’s.
Even houseplants kept indoors will fall dormant throughout the winter, much as plants kept outside, and this means they will need far less water. However, once spring arrives and there are more hours of daylight available, your plants’ thirst will increase and they will want more water. Sometimes the changing of the seasons is what causes watering problems because of the shift in the amount of water that is required.
6. Fertilizer Problems
It’s possible that your plants have accumulated an excessive amount of fertilizer salts if the leaf tips on some of them are brown. In the event that this is the situation, the first thing you will need to do is eliminate any crusty build-up that has occurred on the surface of the soil. After that, you will need to give the soil a good flush in order to remove all of the excess salts. This is something you might want to do at your sink in order to stop water from splashing all over the place.
The water should be allowed to percolate through the soil for a few minutes. Once you have finished thoroughly rinsing the soil, allow all of the extra water to drain away from the soil. Do not apply any more water until the top layer of the soil has become completely dry. It is possible that you will need to entirely repot the plant into fresh soil if the accumulation of salts is considerable. It is recommended that you cleanse the soil around your plant once a month to avoid salts from building up in the soil.
When it comes to fertilizing your houseplants, err on the side of caution to avoid any complications related to fertilizer. The majority of houseplants actually require much less fertilizer than you may expect. Find out what kind of fertilizer is best for your plant, and then apply it with care.
How to Determine the Cause of Brown Spots on Houseplant Leaves
It may not always be easy to pinpoint the precise nature of the issue that your plant is experiencing. If you have completed all of the steps but are still unable to determine what is causing the brown spots on your plants, spend some time observing the plant and reading up on the requirements for its care to ensure that you are giving it with the appropriate environment.
I suggest that you carry out the following steps till you figure out what the issue is:
- Take off any leaves or other plant material that are damaged.
- To prevent the spread of the issue, always ensure that your gardening tools are well cleaned and sanitised between uses.
- You should only water the plant if the soil around it becomes dry; the foliage should not be wet.
Closely observing your plant is the best way to figure out what’s wrong with it. Take into account all aspects of plant care, as well as the environment the plant is growing in.
Prevention is the best treatment for a plant that is already sick. It is crucial to understand what your houseplant needs and provide it with those requirements in order to prevent brown stains on the leaves of the plant. To maintain your plant’s health and happiness, it is imperative that you provide it with the ideal quantity of sunlight, water, humidity, and fertilizer.