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Houseplant Troubleshooting Guide

Please select from the possible plant symptoms:

Dying plants or seedlings

Weak-looking, stunted, pale plants

Weak-looking, straggly plants

Fading, wilting plants

Slow plant growth

White crust on soil

Lower leaves turn yellow, but remain on plantBase of stem is soft or mushy

Collapse of plantBrown-edged leaves

Brown patches on stems and leaves

Powdery mold on leaf surface

Reddish-brown, powdery marks on leaf surfaces

Speckled leaves

Sudden loss of leaves

Bronzed or abnormally reddened leavesDry and brittle leaves

Leaf drop

Brown or yellow leaves

Yellow or white ring and spots on leaves

Swellings on leaves, corky ridges, water-soaked spots that turn red or brownYellowing between veins of young leaves, or older leaves less severely affected

Healthy leaves but no blooms

Bud drop

Symptoms Possible ProblemSuggested

Treatments

Dying plants or seedlings

Too much fertilizerWater thoroughly to flush excessfertilizer. Halt or severely reduce

feeding program.

Water-logged plantsImprove drainage. Halt or severely

reduce watering. Repot.

Weak-looking, stunted,pale plants

Insect attackIsolate plant. Try to identifyinsects. Remove insects; wash with

soapy water.

Water-logged plantsImprove drainage. Halt or severely

reduce watering. Repot.

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Under-nourished plants Feed regularly with completefertilizer or specialized plant food.

Weak-looking, stragglyplants

Not enough light

Move gradually into a position with

better light. Provide artificial lighting

if necessary.

Overcrowded Divide plants. Repot.

Too much nitrogenReduce or halt feeding. Use a low-

or no-nitrogen fertilizer.

Water-logged plantsImprove drainage. Halt or severely

reduce watering. Repot

Fading, wilting plants

Not enough warmthCheck recommended temperature

range for plant.

Not enough moisture

Water, if badly wilted. Immerse in

water for quick recovery. Checkfor causes of excessive drying suchas heaters, air-conditioning vents, or

drafts.

Too much moistureImprove drainage. Halt or severely

reduce watering.

Slow plant growth

Not enough lightMove gradually into a position withbetter light. Provide artificial lighting

if necessary.

Too little waterCheck plant's watering needs.

Follow correct watering procedure.

Too little fertilizerAdd liquid fertilizer every 2 to 3weeks.

Roots pot-bound Repot.

Natural dormancy in winter Be patient. Wait for Spring.

White crust on soil

Build-up of fertilizer salts

Remove crust, leaching salts by

flushing with pure water.

Lower leaves turn yellow,but remain on plant

Too little fertilizer, particularlynitrogen

Add high-nitrogen fertilizer.

Base of stem is soft ormushy

Too much water, particularly incold weather

Let soil surface dry out between

watering. Improve drainage. Repot if necessary. Add coarse

sand to container mix to improvedrainage.

Fungal attack in damp, cold

conditions

Isolate plant. Move to warmersituation. Allow it to dry. Repot ifnecessary.

Collapse of plant

Extreme heat or cold

Check for cause of change, such aswindow left open. Move to

position with more moderate

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temperature.

Gas fumesCheck for source of fumes.

Remove carefully.

Brown-edged leaves

Too hot, too dry

Check recommended temperaturerange for plant. Immerse in a

bucket of water and place out ofdirect sunlight.

Container mix saturated withchemical salts

Water repeatedly to flush excesssalts from container mix.

Leaves have been splashed with

strong chemicals or fertilizer.

Rinse leaves with water. Take care

that leaves are not splashed withunwanted chemicals.

Brown patches on stemsand leaves

Die-back, fungal disease or

other infection

Isolate plant. Remove affectedleaves and stems and destroy.

Check for other symptoms todiagnose infection.

Powdery mold on leafsurface

Powdery mildew

Remove affected parts and

destroy. Move plant to airierposition. For severe infestations,

use a systemic insecticide.

Reddish-brown, powderymarks on leaf surfaces

Rust

Isolate plant, cut off affected areasand destroy. For severe

infestations, use a systemicinsecticide

Speckled leaves Virus infection Destroy infected plants.

Sudden loss of leaves

Rapid temperature or lightchange

Check recommended temperaturerange for the plant. If necessary,restore previous temperature or

light conditions.

Bronzed or abnormallyreddened leaves

Not enough heat

Check recommended temperature

range for the plant. If necessary,

move to a warmer, more shelteredposition.

Not enough phosphorus or

potassium

Use higher phosphorus or

potassium fertilizer.

Dry and brittle leaves

Too little water or low humidity

Follow the proper procedure forwatering houseplants. Increase

humidity.

Leaf drop

Too much sun Move to a location with less light.

Too much fertilizer Halt fertilizer for 3 to 4 weeks.

Too much waterFollow the proper procedure for

watering your houseplants.

Follow the proper procedure for

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Too little water watering your houseplants.

Exposure to cold or draftCheck the temperature. Control

cold source.

Brown or yellow leaves

Occasional yellowing of lower,

older leaves is naturalNo treatment necessary.

Yellow or white ring andspots on leaves

Splashing cold water on foliage

while watering

Water more carefully. Do not

splash foliage.

Swellings on leaves, corkyridges, water-soaked spotsthat turn red or brown

Too much moisture absorbedfrom warm, moist soil and cool,

moist air

Increase warmth. Lower humidity. Place pot where soil will not get

warmer than surrounding air.

Yellowing between veins ofyoung leaves, older leavesless severely affected

Too little iron or magnesium Boost with trace element fertilizer.

Healthy leaves but noblooms

Not enough light Move to a position with more light.

Not enough warmth

Check recommended temperaturerange for plant. If necessary, move

to a warmer position.

Too much nitrogenReduce or half feeding. Use a low-

or no-nitrogen fertilizer.

Plant is too young or a late-

flowering variety

Some plants take years to flower

and some varieties bloom muchlater than others. Be patient.

Bud drop

Too much heat or cold

Check for cause of change such aswindow left open. Move to

position with more moderate

temperature.

Shock from moving fromgreenhouse to home

Check plant's growing

requirements. Adjust growingconditions to restore previous

conditions, if possible.

Poor humidity Increase humidity.

Draft shockControl source of draft, or move

plant to another location.

Table created from the Encyclopedia of Container Gardening

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