Plant BuddhaTroubleshooting
Why are my plant's leaves turning yellow (or brown)?
Yellow and brown leaves are a plant's way of saying something has shifted. A single old leaf now and then is normal. A pattern is worth a look.
Yellow leaves
- Lower leaves yellow and drop, soil is soggy: overwatering is the usual cause.
- Pale, washed-out new growth: may need more light or a bit of food.
- One old leaf now and then: normal aging.
- Yellowing after a move: plants often drop a few leaves while adjusting to new light.
Brown leaves
- Crispy brown tips: dry air, irregular watering, or minerals building up from tap water.
- Brown edges with yellow halos: often watering, either too dry or too wet.
- Dry, tan patches facing the window: sunburn. Move the plant back or add a sheer curtain.
- Dark, soft or spreading spots: may be a fungal or bacterial problem, sometimes linked to wet leaves and poor airflow. Remove affected leaves and keep foliage dry.
What to do
- Check the soil moisture first. It solves most mysteries.
- Look at the light the plant is actually getting.
- Check the undersides of leaves for tiny pests.
- Trim damaged leaves with clean scissors. It won't heal the leaf, but it tidies the plant.
- Change one thing at a time, then give it a couple of weeks.
Patience helps. Damaged leaves won't turn green again. Judge your plant by its new growth.