Brown spots on pothos leaves not only rip off their beauty but also hinder their ability to filter the indoor air!
Pothos are usually easy to care for and don’t ask for much. However, if you start noticing brown spots marring its lush leaves, it’s important to figure out why. This quick guide is packed with all the essential information you’d love to know!
Causes And Solutions Of Brown Spots On Pothos Leaves
1. Improper Sunlight
Pothos are jungle climbers that do best under the dappled light of tree canopies. Considering its capacity to withstand negligence, we often tend to leave it attended by a sunny window or any bright patch where direct sunlight leads to photobleaching—where the intense light destroys chlorophyll, causing brown, sunburned spots.
On the flip side, not enough light can weaken the plant, making it susceptible to diseases that also cause brown spots.
How To Identify?
You will notice dry, papery brown spots, mostly appearing on the side of the leaves facing the light source. A stunted new growth might also be seen, as the plant prioritizes damage control over putting out new leaves.
How To Fix This Problem?
Position your plant in east or north-facing windows where the light is gentler. If your windows face south or west, pull it back a few feet away from the window or use a sheer curtain to soften the sunlight. It’s all about mimicking that natural, filtered jungle light they love.
2. Imbalanced Watering Habits
Both overwatering and underwatering can be the culprit here. Overwatering causes root rot, depriving the plant of oxygen and nutrients, while underwatering doesn’t provide enough moisture for the plant’s vital functions. In both scenarios, the plant can’t properly distribute nutrients to its leaves, leading to cell death and brown spots.
How To Identify?
When the plant is overwatered, it shows up in the older, lower leaves that are close to the compromised root system and, thus, are more affected by the lack of nutrients. Also, the leaves turn soft with mushy brown spots.
Whereas, the first signs of an underwater plant are yellow leaves. And, when the water shortage continues, they become dry and crispy to the touch. These brown, brittle spots typically form because the leaf tissue dies due to dehydration.
How To Fix This Problem?
The solution lies in striking the right balance. Stick a finger into the soil and analyze its condition before watering. Press in your knuckles to see if the medium is dry to the touch. If it is, give it a good shower until the water drains out from the bottom. This will allow the roots to soak in enough moisture without hosting any fungal issues
3. Poor Soil Condition
Pothos prefer a loose, well-draining soil that mimics their native roots of the tropics. Compacted or old, nutrient-depleted soil doesn’t allow roots to breathe, leaving them suffocated and starving, manifesting as brown spots and unhealthy growth.
How To Identify?
Brown spots may appear scattered across the leaves, with unusual patterns of discoloration. Plus, you might notice stunted growth even in the warmer months.
How To Fix This Problem?
Repot your plant in a well-draining potting mix specifically formulated for aroids or indoor plants. In fact, you can also go with some other options like perlite or orchid bark, which promote good drainage and aeration.
4. Stagnant Water on Leaves
When water sits on pothos leaves for too long, it can create perfect conditions for fungal infections or bacterial growth, which often show up as brown spots. The chances intensify even more when the wet leaves are in contact with each other for long.
These plants are originally from humid, airy jungles where their leaves dry quickly. In cooler, less airy spaces like our homes, water tends to linger longer on the leaves, leading to such issues.
How to Identify?
Watch out for brown spots that are circular or irregularly shaped, and feel slightly softer than the healthy parts of the leaf. These spots often form after you’ve misted or watered your plant from above, and they might have a yellow ring around them, which suggests an infection is underway.
How to Fix This Problem?
To keep those spots at bay, it’s best to water your plant right at the soil level instead of splashing water over the leaves. This way, you avoid getting the leaves too wet. Also, make sure your room has good airflow so that any accidental spillage would dry up easily.
5. Below Par Humidity
Pothos come from humid rainforests, so they’re used to a lot of moisture in the air. In our homes, especially in winter when heaters are on, the air can get pretty dry. This dryness can stress out your pothos because it messes with their ability to sweat out excess water through their leaves, resulting in crispy, brown edges.
How To Identify?
The edges of the leaves might look dry and feel papery or crispy when you touch them. In extreme cases, entire leaves might dry out and turn completely brown.
How To Fix This Problem?
You can ease your plant by filling a pebble tray with water or grouping it with other plants, naturally creating a mini-humid microclimate. You can also run a humidifier near your pothos, ideally set between 50 and 60% humidity.
6. Temperature Fluctuation
These plants prefer a steady temperature range of 65°F and 85°F (18°C to 29°C), which can be altered to a few degrees up or down. However, if the temperature around them jumps up and down way too much, especially below 60°F or beyond 90°F, it can really stress them out, affecting their internal functions and leading to brown spots on leaves and stems.
How To Identify?
Look for brown spots popping up randomly on the leaves and stems, often accompanied by wilting or drooping of the plant.
How To Fix This Problem?
Try to keep the room temperature consistent within the said range. Avoid placing the plant near drafts, like open windows or under air conditioning vents, and keep it away from direct heat sources like radiators in winter.
7. Incorrect Supply Of Nutrients
Pothos aren’t heavy feeders, so too much fertilizer can upset the soil’s salt balance, which ‘burns’ the roots and messes up how the plant takes up nutrients. On the other hand, not fertilizing at all can starve the plant, leading to stunted growth and brown spots.
How To Identify?
Lack of nutrients develops yellow leaves, followed by the small, brown spots that appear scattered or clustered on the leaves. Overfertilization can cause burnt tips on the leaves, along with brown spots with a crinkled or blistered appearance.
How To Fix This Problem?
During the warmer months, feed it with a balanced, diluted fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. Also, flush the soil by running lots of water through it to wash out excess salts. For nutrient deficiencies, follow the fertilizing routine religiously.
8. Common Plant Diseases
Phytophthora root rot is a common fungal disease that can affect hardy plants like pothos, particularly when the soil remains too wet for too long. This fungus targets the roots, impairing their ability to absorb essential nutrients and water. As a result, the health of the plant declines, and telltale brown spots appear on the leaves, indicating nutrient stress
How To Identify?
When you see large, rapidly spreading irregular brown spots that may appear water-soaked at first, it’s surely due to fungal or bacterial byplay. If you suspect root rot, gently remove your pothos from the pot and inspect the roots. Healthy roots are white or cream-colored, while roots infected with Phytophthora will be brown or black and may feel mushy.
How To Fix This Problem?
When the infection is severe, discarding the plant is a good idea. But if the case is mild, try to save it by removing all diseased roots and repotting it into fresh, well-draining soil. Be more cautious when watering in the future.
9. Natural Aging
No houseplant lives forever. Just like us, pothos also has a natural lifespan. As new growth emerges, older leaves eventually reach the end of their rope and die off. This is a natural process that you shouldn’t worry about.
How To Identify?
Leaves undergoing senescence appear yellow first and then turn brown. These brown spots will usually appear on older leaves located towards the bottom of the plant, which eventually dry out and fall off.
How To Fix This Problem?
There’s no need to fix what isn’t broken. Simply trim off the dead leaves to keep your plant looking neat and tidy. Regular pruning also stimulates new growth, helping your plant stay lush.
