Regardless of whether they are free-standing in the room or hanging on the wall, indoor plants can enhance any room and improve the air quality at the same time. They can be very easy to care for but also very demanding. Even if all indoor plants have the same basic needs, each individual plant species has very specific requirements. There is no generalized care for all species. Mistakes in care happen and can quickly lead to yellow or brown discoloration of the leaves.
causes
Causes of leaf discoloration
Brown leaf tips and leaf edges can be an indication of both a lack of water and too much moisture, often in connection with too high or too low humidity. If the plants are permanently too dry, the leaves will die off at some point. Dry heating air in winter or an outdoor location in summer allows the soil to dry out relatively quickly. If you don’t water it then, this drought damage will occur. Too low humidity can be a problem, especially for some tropical plants. But native indoor plants can also suffer from dry air, especially in winter, and are grateful for a shower or two on very warm days.
brown leaf tips on Dieffenbachia
water imbalance
Water shortage or excess
The leaves of houseplants can also turn yellow or brown and wilt if they get too wet. These symptoms are often misinterpreted and taken as a reason to water more. Of course, that can make the problem worse. If too much moisture is the cause of brown leaf discoloration or yellowing, the worst thing to do is water. In most cases, too much moisture is more damaging to houseplants than a temporary lack of water. The moisture in the soil displaces the soil air. As a result, the roots suffocate and cannot absorb water or nutrients, and they wither. Waterlogging can be caused by too frequent watering, clogged drainage holes or standing water in saucers or planters.
remedy
- Do not overwater the affected plant immediately
- this could damage the plant
- Gradually increase pouring amounts to a sufficient level
- Water more frequently at warm room temperatures than in cool rooms
- if the leaves are yellow or the tips of the leaves are brown due to too much moisture, do not water for the time being
- Let the substrate dry well
- water only when the soil is slightly damp on the surface, about thumb-deep
- if parts of the root have already rotted, it is better to repot the plant
- remove old soil and rotten root parts
- then repot into fresh substrate and a smaller pot
- to encourage the formation of new roots, treat affected plants like cuttings
- put a translucent plastic bag over the plant and pot
- ventilate the whole thing from time to time
yellow leaves on philodendron
This measure is particularly useful for smaller plants. In addition, saucers and planters should be checked regularly for residual water and emptied if necessary. An exception are marsh plants such as Cyprus grass, which should be in water at all times, and cacti, which prefer dry rather than moist conditions. In order to ensure higher humidity, the plants should be sprayed with water from time to time, preferably with low-lime water. There are exceptions here too, because indoor plants with velvety hairy leaves usually don't like being sprayed.
iron deficiency
If the leaves turn yellow, this can also indicate a lack of nutrients, especially an iron deficiency. In fresh substrate, the most important nutrients are initially abundant. The plant uses part of it, but a certain part is also washed out with the irrigation water and is no longer available to the plants.
If replenishment in the form of needs-based fertilizer is not provided, deficiency symptoms and these leaf discolourations will occur. Hard water very often leads to an increased pH value of the soil and thus to an iron deficiency, especially in acid-loving houseplants. The lime accumulates in the soil, where it inhibits root tip growth, which in turn prevents the absorption of iron.
yellow leaves on Aeonium undulatum
countermeasures
- water with rainwater or softened tap water
- Tap water should be left to stand for at least two days
- so lime can settle on the ground
- Iron fertilizer will help the plant regain strength
- administer special iron fertilizer over the irrigation water
- or repot the plant in a loose and acidic substrate
over-fertilization
Too much fertilizer can burn the roots of houseplants. What follows is a yellowing of the leaves, which subsequently wither and eventually die. At the first sign of over-fertilization, the houseplant in question should be transplanted into fresh substrate.
yellow leaves on Aeonium undulatum
For less sensitive species, you may try to wash some of the fertilizer out of the soil by holding it under running water for a few seconds. After that, watering should be avoided for a few days so that the substrate can dry off. In order to prevent renewed over-fertilization, one should always orientate oneself to the individual needs of the respective plant species and the manufacturer's information on the dosage of the respective fertilizer when applying fertilizer.
Wrong location
Unfavorable site conditions
Brown leaf tips can also be the result of a sudden change of location or an unsuitable location for the plant in question. If the leaf edges turn brown and the water supply is OK, the plant is probably too warm. There are plants, e.g. tropical plants, that love to stand in the sun in a warm south- or west-facing window. Others prefer a warm spot without the blazing sun on a north-facing window, or rather shady and cool on an east-facing window.
brown leaf tips on Phoenix canariensis
Accordingly, the location should be selected in living quarters. If the needs of the respective plant are not taken into account, this can quickly lead to such unsightly leaf discolouration. Many houseplants are also sensitive to drafts or touch, for example if they are in a draughty passageway and you keep touching them as you walk by. They then show their dissatisfaction with brown leaf tips. Even in apartments where people smoke, discoloration of the leaves, leaf edges or leaf tips can often be observed on houseplants, because polluted air can also be a cause.
remedy
- based on the conditions of these plants in their natural habitats
- these include the amount of light and precipitation as well as soil quality
- implement them as best as possible in your living room
- that can avoid plant damage due to unfavorable site conditions
- in addition, avoid drafts and severe temperature fluctuations
Wrong wintering
As a rule, most care mistakes happen in the winter months, which can also cause the leaf discoloration mentioned in addition to pest infestation. The reason for this is, among other things, a significantly reduced light output. For this reason, houseplants should get as bright a place as possible without direct sunlight in winter, even if they are generally considered to tolerate shade.
While the need for light is high even in winter, the need for water is lower. Depending on the ambient temperature, indoor plants also evaporate water through their leaves in winter. The more leaf mass there is, the more water is evaporated. Consequently, it must also be watered in winter, albeit reduced. The cooler the hibernation takes place, the less it has to be watered and the drier it should be in the pot. A wet soil is always a cold soil and too low a soil temperature prevents the plants from absorbing nutrients.
brown leaf spots on Dieffenbachia
If you continue to water normally, the bales will soon become damp, which will quickly lead to rot, especially if you spend the winter in a cool place. Plants that are close to a heat source will need a little more water. Ideally, water less frequently than the rest of the year and check beforehand whether the soil is still moist. It also does not harm the plants if the substrate dries out a bit during the resting phase.
Another problem in winter is air that is too dry, which turns the tips of the leaves brown. To prevent this, it is advisable to occasionally spray the plants with low-lime water. To increase the humidity, you can fill a bowl with moist clay granules and place the plants on it. Smaller houseplants can be showered once a month. However, the substrate should be covered beforehand. Fertilizers should also be used much more sparingly in winter, and in some cases they should be stopped completely.