Every plant parent runs into issues. The good news: plants tell you what's wrong if you know how to read them. Here's your complete guide to diagnosing and fixing the most common houseplant problems.
PlantGlow
Plant Care Expert
💡 Quick tip: Most plant problems come down to water, light, or humidity. When in doubt, check those three first.
Cause: Usually overwatering. When roots sit in waterlogged soil, they can't breathe and start to rot. The plant shuts down, and older leaves turn yellow first.
Fix: Let the soil dry out completely before watering again. If the pot has no drainage holes, repot with better drainage. Remove yellow leaves — they won't recover.
Cause: Usually low humidity or inconsistent watering. The tips are the most sensitive part of a leaf — they dry out first when the air is too dry or watering is irregular.
Fix: Increase humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier. Establish a regular watering routine. If your Calathea has brown tips, it likely needs higher humidity.
Cause: Can be either overwatering or underwatering — the plant looks the same either way. Check the soil to tell the difference.
Fix: If the soil is bone dry, water thoroughly. If the soil is soggy, let it dry out. Peace Lilies are dramatic — they'll droop dramatically when thirsty but bounce back within hours of watering.
Cause: Not enough light. The plant reaches toward whatever light it can find, resulting in long stems with widely spaced leaves.
Fix: Move the plant to a brighter location with more indirect light. Rotate plants regularly so all sides get equal light. Snake Plants and ZZ Plants tolerate low light well.
Cause: Overwatered soil. These tiny flies lay eggs in moist topsoil. They're annoying but rarely harm the plant itself.
Fix: Let the top 2 inches of soil dry out between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps to catch adults. For severe cases, a layer of sand on top of the soil can break the breeding cycle.
Cause: Prolonged overwatering. Roots turn brown and mushy, smelling bad. The plant wilts despite wet soil because damaged roots can't absorb water.
Fix: Remove the plant from its pot, trim away all mushy roots, and repot in fresh, well-draining soil. Reduce watering frequency. Make sure your pot has drainage holes.
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