Problems library

Diagnose what's wrong, fix it fast.

Eight of the most common houseplant issues — with the symptoms, causes, treatment steps, and prevention that actually work.

Yellowing pothos leaves held up by hand

Yellow Leaves

Leaves turning yellow — the most common houseplant complaint.

Dracaena leaf with crispy brown tips

Brown Leaf Tips

Crispy brown edges or tips — usually an air or water problem.

Unpotted root ball showing dark rotten roots

Root Rot

Soft, mushy roots and a sour smell — a plant emergency.

Leaf with brown fungal spots ringed by yellow halos

Leaf Spot Disease

Circular or irregular spots on leaves caused by fungi or bacteria.

Fine spider-mite webbing on the underside of a leaf

Spider Mites

Tiny sap-sucking mites that leave fine webbing on foliage.

White powdery mildew patches on plant leaves

Powdery Mildew

White powdery coating on leaves, spread by fungal spores.

Dramatically drooping peace lily

Drooping and Wilting

Leaves suddenly go floppy or limp — often thirst, sometimes worse.

Leggy stretched pothos reaching toward a window

Leggy or Stretched Growth

Long stems with sparse leaves, reaching for the light.