11 Causes of Brown Leaves on Houseplants, Solutions and Prevention Measures
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Whether it is brown tips, spots, or entire leaves turning crispy, this is a sign that your plant is crying for help. The good news is that brown leaves don’t always mean your plant is dying. By understanding the root cause and making a few adjustments, you can bring your plant back to life.
Brown leaves are caused by cultural faults like underwatering, overwatering, exposure to direct sunlight, low humidity, nutrient deficiency, diseases and pests among others.
In this guide, we’ll break down the common reasons for brown leaves, how to fix them, and how to prevent the problem in the future.
11 Reasons for Brown Leaves in Indoor Plants
1. Underwatering
Underwatering implies that there is too little moisture in the soil for the plant to take up to the leaves. Therefore, the plant cannot take up nutrients and water to the leaves. If your plant is not receiving enough moisture, its leaves turn brown and crispy from the edges and eventually die.
How to Fix It
- Check the soil moisture regularly. If it feels dry, water your plants thoroughly until water drains through the drainage holes.
- While you cut down watering in the cold season, do not allow the soil to dry out completely for prolonged periods of times.
- It is important to note that moisture loving plants like Calathea and Ferns, are extra sensitive to dry soil. Therefore, keep their watering schedule consistent.
2. Overwatering
Overwatering will lead to soggy soil (excess water in the soil in the rootzone). When roots sit in water for too long, they suffocate and begin to rot, making it impossible for the plant to take up nutrients properly. As such the leaves begin to die; they turn yellow, brown, soft and mushy, and drop.
How to Fix It
- Allow the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch before watering again. Do not water on a schedule.
- Pot your plants in a well-draining potting mix that does not hold excessive amounts of water.
- Ensure that your pot has drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting soggy (too wet).
3. Water Quality
If you consistently water your plants with too cold water, it may cause root shock . This causes the plant to respond with reduced growth and eventual death. The leaves begin to turn yellow, then brown and finally drop.
In addition, ensure that the water is free of chlorine and other dissolved chemicals as most houseplants are sensitive to these chemicals which cause brown leaf tips and edges.
How to fix it
- Water your plants with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking the roots.
- Use water that is free of chlorine-free and other dissolved chemical like rain water or distilled water.
4. Soil Quality
Poor quality soil does not drain easily and easily becomes compacted or soggy. These will negatively impact the plant growth in various ways and can lead to yellowing, browning and dropping leaves.
How to fix it
- Pot and repot your indoor plants in good quality soil. The best potting soil for houseplants should be loose, well-drained and rich in organic matter.
5. Improper Feeding
Overfeeding will cause the roots to die due to fertilizer burn. When the roots die, they cannot take up water to the leaves. Without adequate water, the leaves get dehydrated, they wilt, turn brown and die.
On the other hand, underfeeding implies that the plant is not getting enough nutrients need for growth and energy. Inadequate nutrients in the actively growing tips causes nutrients to be withdrawn from the older lower leaves which turn yellow, brown and drop.
How to Fix It
- To encourage healthy, lush growth, feed your plant with a balanced liquid fertilizer and follow the instructions on the label.
- Reduce or stop feeding your plant in the cold months as growth is minimal at this time.
- Flush out accumulated chemicals (salts) from the soil regularly by running a stream of water through the soil. Allow the stream of water to run for some time and repeat the process several times.
6. Low Humidity
Most houseplants grows best in average to above average (50-80%) room humidity. Too little humidity (below 45%) will cause the leaves to develop brown, crispy leaf tips and edges and curling leaf edges.
How to fix it
- You may group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to elevate humidity.
- You may also grow the moisture-loving plants in a well-lit bathroom and other humid areas in the home or inside a terrarium where a high humidity is consisent.
7. Exposure to Hot Direct Sunlight
Exposing your plant to excessively hot direct sunlight can scorch leaves, resulting in brown, crispy patches on the leaves. The leaves appear bleached or faded before turning brown.
How to Fix It
- Position the plant to an area with filtered or indirect sunlight.
- Use sheer curtains to diffuse harsh sunlight.
- Avoid placing plants too close to a brightly-lit window.
8. Wrong Temperatures
Indoor plants are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Extremely hot temperatures will cause dehydration resulting in wilting and brown leaf edges. Too cold temperatures will lead to leaf curl, followed by browning and leaf fall.
How to Fix It
- Keep your plants away from cold and hot drafts emanating from drafty windows and doors, direct heat sources, air conditioners, radiators among others.
- Maintain stable indoor temperatures within the range of 18-250C.
9. Root-rot Disease
If the soil holds too much water for too long, the roots can’t breathe. This leads to root-rot, which is characterized by wliting and yellowing leaves and is rapidly followed by browning of leaves and death of the plant.
How to Fix It
- If you note the above signs, remove the plant from its pot, trim rotten roots, and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution. Repot the plant in fresh soil.
- Use plant pots that have proper drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting soggy (waterlogged).
- Add perlite or sand into your soil to improve aeration and avoid poor drainage.
10. Pests and Diseases
Pests such as scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids, suck the plant sap, leading to dehydration, yellow and brown leaves. Fungal infections like leaf spot and leaf rust will cause brown spots, marks and blotches on the leaves.
How to Fix It
- Regularly inspect your plants for pests and diseases. Isolate any infested plant to discourage spread to the rest of the plants.
- Use Insecticidal soap or Neem oil to get rid of the pests and diseases. Ensure you cover the plant entirely.
- Remove and burn the infected leaves to prevent the spread of diseases.
11. Age of the leaves
As the plant matures, the older leaves turn yellow, then brown and drop off. So, do not be alarmed, if you note one or two leaves are affected as this is a natural process.
How to fix it
- Regularly inspect your plant and get rid of any yellow leaves to keep the plant neat and tidy.
Preventing Brown Leaves on Houseplants
- Water Wisely: Check the soil before watering and water based on your plant’s needs, not on a fixed schedule. Use room temperature chemical-free water.
- Maintain Humidity: Group plants together, use a humidifier or a wet pebble tray for moisture-loving plants.
- Provide Indirect Light: Position your plants according to their lighting needs and do not expose them to hot direct sunlight.
- Feed carefully: Feed your plants with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season but minimize feeding in the cold season. Regularly flush out excess chemicals from the soil.
- Use the Right Soil: Choose well-draining, nutrient-rich potting mix that is specific to your plant type.
- Check for Pests: Inspect plants regularly for signs of infestation and take timely control measures.
Conclusion
Getting brown leaves on your houseplants can be frustrating, but it is not a death sentence. Most of the time, fixing small mistakes will bring your plant back to life. Plants communicate through their leaves; so next time you see brown tips or spots, do not panic. Just troubleshoot the issue, make adjustments, and your plant will reward you with fresh, green growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can brown leaves turn green again?
No, once a leaf begins to brown, it won’t turn green again. However, fixing the underlying cultural issue will prevent more leaves from turning brown.
2. Should you cut off brown leaves in indoor plants?
Yes, removing brown leaves encourages the plant to redirect its energy to healthy growth.
3. Do brown leaves on a plant mean too much water?
Yes, brown leaves on a plant are an indication of overwatering. Do not water on a schedule. Always feel the soil before watering. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings.
4. Why are my indoor plant leaves turning brown and crispy?
Brown and crsipy leaves are caused by too low humidity. Set the plant on a wet pebble tray or use a humidifier to increase humidity.
5. How do I know if my plant needs more humidity?
If leaves are yellowing with brown tips and edges, your plant needs more humidity. You may group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.
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