You love your plants and want them to succeed, but you are noticing some issues and can’t figure out what is going wrong. There are a host of things that could be the issue, but like we often say – your plant will tell you what it needs, you just have to observe! 

Whether the issue is lighting, temperatures, overwatering, underwatering, pests or your nosy pets, we want to offer you some insight and helpful tips.  

Is my Foliage Dying? 

Your plant probably isn’t dying, but if you don’t address the issues it’s facing, it could be on its way out. Let’s go through some common issues and see what you can do to help revive your plant!  

Lighting: 

Why is my plant stretching or leaning?  

Often times, your plant will seek out the things it needs. That includes light! If your plant isn’t getting enough light where it’s sitting, it will actually lean towards the sunlight to get more. However, that can make the stems weaker, so try to rotate or move your plant to get it closer to the light it craves!  

Why is my plant dropping leaves? 

You walk by your plant and frequently pick up leaves off the ground, but why? Some plants could be dropping leaves in response to being moved and needing more light. We know in the cooler months that plants are often moved for lighting or temperature reasons, so try to recognize which plants are more sensitive to that. 

Why do my leaves look burnt?  

Just like us, plants can burn! If your plant gets too much light, the leaves will brown and almost look burnt or crispy. This is often a simple fix, by moving your plant somewhere with less light. If the leaf looks beyond saving, you can carefully trim it, and the rest of your plant should be alright once it’s relocated to a slightly less bright spot.  

Why are my leaves faded? 

Leaves can lose color if they aren’t getting what they need. This includes light! If your plant needs more sun, it could slowly lose some of its pigment in the leaves. This will be obvious on plants with more variegation. You should move your plant somewhere with more light and you can expect some of that pigment to return. If you don’t have a brighter spot, try grow lights! 

Water: 

Why are my leaf tips brown? 

Your plant may be telling you about a few things with brown edges. First, it could be inconsistent watering. You don’t have to water the same day and time, but you do need to water enough. Don’t go between weeks and then soak your plant, it will be a bit shocked by that. 

Too much salt or minerals from tap water can also brown your leaves. Try to use filtered or distilled water whenever you can on your plants. If you must use tap water, we suggest letting it sit out for 24 hours to allow those minerals to evaporate. 

Why are my leaf tips yellow? 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, yellowing leaves could be telling you that your plant has received a bit too much water. Try to space out your watering a bit more and make sure your plant isn’t sitting in water. Allow the water to drain out or check the bottom of the pot a few hours after watering and dump the excess water.  

Why is my plant struggling to absorb water? 

This could be an issue with your plant’s soil. If you think you are watering enough and your plant doesn’t need to be repotted, your soil could just be struggling to hold moisture. You can submerge the entire bottom of the plant in water to re-moisten it. If you really struggle to do that, repotting may be the next best option to get your plant into fresh soil. 

Pests: 

Why are my leaves curling?  

Strange shapes or curled edges on leaves are usually an indication that there could be a pest in sight! White or black spots elsewhere on your plant could be the starting of disease. We suggest using neem oil to carefully wipe down your plant or carefully remove the damaged areas so it can’t spread. 

What is making my leaves sticky? 

This can also be resolved with neem oil. Some pests, like aphids, can leave a sticky residue, kind of like sap, on your leaves. Mites can also leave something sticky behind. You can spray leaves down with water, but if that doesn’t work, try neem oil.  

Disease: 

Why does my plant have spots on its leaves? 

This is often caused by disease. Better air movement that helps your plant dry out a bit between waterings can help avoid this. But if you have a diseased plant, remove it from your home so it doesn’t spread to other plants. 

If there are other issues with your plant that we didn’t address above, we’d love to help you resolve them! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us on social media with photos of your plant, we want to help you succeed and nurture your plants!