Is your pothos showing brown spots? Don’t worry – you’re not alone. Your plant might be sending you signals that something’s not quite right in their environment.
Pothos like conditions that are similar to where it would naturally grow, Southeast Asia. So that means warmth, moderate humidity and filtered light.
When they don’t get that then brown leaves often appear as a cry for help.
So I’ll take you through the reasons why your green pothos leaves are turning brown and how to fix whatever is wrong and get them back to full health.
Water Issues
The most common reason for brown leaves starts with how and when they’re being watered.
Touch your pothos soil – does it feel soggy? If so then that’s a big sign you’ve overwatered and this can lead to root rot and yellow or brown leaves.
But if the soil feels dry and the leaves are crispy at the edges it could be underwatering.
Getting the water balance right isn’t complicated. Put your finger into the soil so it comes up to your first knuckle. If it feels dry then you know you should be watering. And if the leaves are looking a bit droopy then that’s also a sign it needs more water.
Light and Location
As well as finding the right balance for watering you have to do the same for light. Pothos are known for being easy to care for but they’re still sensitive to direct sun.
If you’ve found your pothos has brown patches on it’s leaves, especially the ones that are closest to the window, that’s basically your plant being sunburnt.
The best spot for your pothos is somewhere it will get bright, indirect light. If need be you can use a curtain to filter the light.
If you’re seeing brown spots then try moving your pothos a few feet back from the window or use the curtain just mentioned to diffuse the suns rays.
And don’t forget that the morning sun is gentler than afternoon sun. An east facing window often works really well.
Humidity and Temperature
If the edges of the leaves are getting brown and crispy while the rest of it stays green then it could be that it needs better humidity.
Most of our homes, especially in the winter, are much drier than your pothos would like. But don’t worry, you don’t need to turn your house into a rainforest just to keep it happy.
Think about where you’ve placed your plant. Is it near an air vent?
If so that could be the issue. Dry air being blasted into your pothos face can make it thirsty and too dry. Moving it away from a vent or heater will make a big difference.
If you want to improve the humidity then you can group any of your plants together. Plants increase the moisture naturally when they’re grouped near one another. Or alternatively try a small pebble tray that has water underneath the pot.
Nutrition and Soil Health
Brown leaves could be your pothos showing you it’s either been given too much or too little fertilizer.
You only want to give your plant a light feeding in the spring and summer. If your pothos has brown tips to it’s leaves and yellow edges too then it could be fertilizer burn.
The soil itself is worth keeping an eye on too. Think about the last time you repotted your pothos. If it’s been on the same pot for years then the soil could be compacted and depleted of nutrients.
Just remove your plant from it’s pot and look at the roots. They should be firm and light colored.
If they look dark and mushy or overcrowded then repot the plant in fresh soil and a new pot that’s a little larger.
Pest Problems and Disease
Sometimes the brown spots on your pothos are due to pests. So take a close look at the discolored areas and see if there is any webbing, sticky substances or moving little dots.
Spider mites and mealybugs love pothos plants and can cause brown spots as they feed on the leaves.
Don’t panic if you find any pests though. – your plant can definitely bounce back. Just take the affected plant away from any others you have so the pests don’t spread.
Follow that up by wiping the leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Be sure to check the undersides of leaves too as that’s where pests often hide.
Fungal and Bacterial Diseases
Diseases like root rot, leaf spot and bacterial wilt can cause brown spots on pothos leaves. They usually happen when you’ve overwatered your plant, there isn’t a good amount of air flowing or the humidity is too hig.
Solution
- Prune Affected Areas: Remove any diseased leaves and stems using scissors.
- Improve Air Circulation: Make sure your pothos is somewhere that has good ventilation and air flow.
- Use Fungicides: Use fungicides if the problem doesn’t go away.
Water Quality
Tap water can contain chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals and these can cause browning on the edges of pothos plant leaves.
Solution
- Use Filtered or Distilled Water: Avoid using tap water if you can. If you have to use it though then leave it to sit out overnight and the chemicals will dissipate.
- Check for Hard Water Buildup: Look for white stuff on the surface of the soil or around the edges of the pot. This is a sign of mineral deposits. If you’ve found this then rinse through the the soil with fresh water.
Pot Bound Roots
Pothos plants grow quickly and so their roots can become crowded in the pot. When they get root bound they can then have difficulty absorbing the water and nutrients they need from the soil and that leads to brown leaves.
Solution
- Repot as Needed: Check if roots coming out of the bottom of the drainage holes or circling around the pot. If so then you need repot.
- Choose a Slightly Larger Pot: When you do repot use a pot that’s about 1 to 2 inches bigger in diameter so the roots have room to grow without overwatering being a problem.
Stress from Moving or Repotting
When pothos plants are repotted or moved to a new spot they can get stressed. This can sometimes mean the leaves turn brown.
The solution is simple: give your pothos time to adjust to the new home or pot. After it’s been moved or repotted let it have a few weeks to get used to its new environment.
You can also help the transition to go more smoothly by being as gentle as possible with your plant and to keep the light and temperature consistent.
Lack of Cleaning
When dust builds up on the leaves of your pothos it can block the sunlight and this affcets how well it will photosynthesize. This in turn can cause brown or yellow leaves.
The best way to deal with this is to clean the leaves regularly. Wipe them with a cloth or rinse them under lukewarm water to get rid of any dust.
Whilst you’re cleaning you can also use this time to check for pests.
Natural Aging and Maintenance
Even if your have the healthiest pothos it will have some leaves that turn brown and die off. That’s just how their natural cycle works.
Older leaves, especially the ones at the base of the plant, are the leaves that make way for new growth. But you need to know the difference between normal aging and problems that need dealing with.
Doing some pruning regularly will help your pothos to both look good and stay healthy. So when you see any brown leaves don’t just pluck them off. Instead use scissors to trim them away.
This is so they don’t tear which can stress the plant. At the same time you can also wipe the dust off the leaves you’re not cutting, as mentioned above.
Recovery and Prevention
The best way to fix any brown leaves to stop them from happening in the first place. The way to do this is by getting into the habit of checking things on a regular basis.
So look at the soil moisture every week, dust the leaves every month and look for pests each time you water.
Pay attention to seasonal changes too – your pothos will probably need less water and fertilizer in the winter, even if it’s growing indoors.
Remember that recovery takes time. Once a leaf turns brown it won’t turn green again. But you can make sure any new growth is healthy but addressing whatever the underlying problem is.
So keep any eye on the fresh leaves. They will be your best indicator that the changes you have made are what your pothos actually wants.