So…you bought a new plant. You give it all your love along with loads of water and sunshine. Within a week, you notice the leaves turning brown or even starting to fall off. What went wrong exactly?

1. Sunburn

Sunlight may be beneficial to your plants but having intense sunlight may cause tissue damage to the foliage of your plants. This damage may appear as withered brown spots on its leaves. These brown spots are usually dry and brittle and will appear on leaves that are closest to the light source (Eg. a window). Once a plant is sunburnt, the leaves will not be able to heal and it is best to cut or trim away the damaged leaves. Understanding your plant’s light requirement is the best way to prevent leaf scorch. Check out our plant light guide here: https://bit.ly/plant-lighting 

2. Over or Under Watering

Overwatering happens when the plant’s medium/soil does not dry out enough in between watering sessions. This will result in the plant’s roots sitting in water for an extended period of time. The excess water can eventually suffocate its roots, causing them to rot. Signs of an overwatered plant include brownish-black leaves, yellowing leaves, stunted growth, wilting of new shoots, and stems becoming soggy at its base (stem rot). Browning and crispy leaves can also be an indication of underwatering. If you have not watered your plant for a long time and its soil feels dry to the touch, it is time to water your plants!

Pro Tip: Poke your finger or a satay stick a few inches into the soil/medium to test if your plant is ready to be watered. If it feels wet and cold or if there is damp soil sticking onto the satay stick when you remove it, your plant may be still too wet to water!

3. Not Enough Humidity

Browning tips on your plant could be an indication that it is not receiving enough humidity. Many common houseplants are native to jungle conditions and will not thrive in an environment that is too dry. Try grouping your plants together to increase humidity levels or simply investing in a good humidifier to keep your plant babies moisturised and happy! 

4. Pests

Random brown spots on the leaves of your plant may be a sign of pests (More on common plant pests identification and prevention here: https://bit.ly/plant-pest). If your plant is infected, isolate it to prevent the pests from spreading to nearby plants. Trim off or treat the infected part of the plant with an insecticide like neem oil. If the plant is severely infected, it is best to dispose of it right away to stop the spreading of pests to other plants in your space!

 

 

5. Root Bound

If you have had that new plant for quite some time and can’t seem to pinpoint the browning issue, examine its root ball to see if your plant is root-bound (when your plant outgrows its container, causing the roots to form into a tangled mass). While it is often hard to pinpoint the symptoms of a root-bound plant, you may observe drying, browning/yellowing leaves, small new leaves, or stunted growth. A severely root-bound plant may also have roots sticking out of the drainage holes, or you may even observe a cracked/deformed pot caused by the pressure of the roots. Plants typically need to be repotted every 12 to 18 months, depending on how fast they are growing. If you suspect your plant is root bound, remove its pot to examine its root ball. You can choose to repot your plant, prune its roots or divide the plant if needed!