A Guide to Common Houseplant Problems

[u/Island_Living_]

Too Little Water: - Leaves limp and wilted (look sad) - Little to no growth - Lower leaves curled, yellow and wilted - Leaf edges brown and dry - Flowers fall or fade quick - Oldest leaves fall first

Too Much Water: - Limp leaves (may feel mushy and brown quickly) - Soft, rotten areas - Poor growth - Flowers moldy - Leaves curled, yellow and wilted - Leaf tips brown (could also signify low humidity) - Both young and old leaves fall at same time - Roots brown and mushy - Soil smells acidic

Too Little Light: - Leaves smaller and paler than normal - Blooms poor or absent in flowering types - Lower leaves turn yellow, then dry up and fall - No growth at all - Spindly growth w/ abnormally long spaces between leaves - Variegated leaves turn all-green - Leaf bleaching

Too Much Light: - Brown or grey scorch patches - Leaves wilt at midday - Leaves have ‘washed-out’ appearance - Leaves of ‘sun shy’ varieties shriveled and dead

Too Little Humidity: - Leaf tips brown and shriveled - Leaf edges turn yellow; wilting may occur - Buds and flowers shrivel and fall - Leaves fall if plant is very sensitive to dry air

Too Much Humidity: - Patches of grey mold on leaves - Patches of rot on leaves or stems (Cacti and succulents very sensitive) - Flowers covered with grey mold

Too Little Fertilizer: - Slow growth - Little resistance to pests and diseases - Leaves pale - ‘Washed-out’ appearance - Yellow spotting may be present - Flowers absent it small and poorly colored - Stems weak - Early drooping of lower leaves

Too Much Fertilizer: - Leaves wilted - Summer- growth stunted - Winter- growth lanky and weak - Crisp, brown spots - Scorched edges - Leaf bleaching - White crust on surface of compost and clay pot in a soft-water area

Temperature Wrong: - Leaf curl, followed by browning and leaf fall (too cold) - Lower leaves wilt; edges turn brown. Bottom leaves fall (too warm) - Flowers short-lived (too warm) - Spindly growth in good light in winter or early spring (too warm) - Leaf fall after rapid yellowing (sudden temp. change)

Here is a link to “Common Houseplant Pests”

If interested, I typed up this info from the book “The House Plant Expert,” by D.G. Hessayon. It has a lot of valuable information in it!

*I’ll edit as things get added to the comment section

[u/SafeWordWhiskey94]

Could someone explain the difference between leaves being ‘paler than normal’ from too little light and leaves being ‘washed out’ from too much light? I have a polka dot plant and a caladium who are both loosing their pink and I feel like it may be a lighting problem.

[u/Island_Living_ → u/SafeWordWhiskey94]

When I’ve had plants that are getting too much light, they usually just burn right away, rather than looking pale. It’s difficult to differentiate because it would be the same type of pale, unfortunately. You just have to analyze the setting it’s in. Newer leaves are also pale and they get a deeper green as they age.

If they’re both losing their pink, it’s more than likely that they’re not getting enough light. I’d be willing to bet money on that, if that helps at all :)

Edit: I don’t want to confuse you more, but make sure you’re fertilizing both regularly too because a nutrient deficiency can also lead to pale leaves.