Underwatering
Water
Underwatering leaves roots without enough moisture to keep foliage turgid, and it is often worse in containers, sandy soil, or hot, windy weather.
View causeCauses
Common causes behind garden problems
Each cause page covers how to confirm it, what it typically affects, and the simplest fix to try first.
Overwatering
Water
Overwatering keeps roots deprived of oxygen and often shows up as yellow leaves, drooping, and soil that stays wet too long.
View causePoor drainage
Soil
Poor drainage traps water around roots and can mimic disease, nutrient issues, or general decline.
View causeNitrogen deficiency
Nutrient
Nitrogen deficiency usually shows up first on older leaves, which turn pale or yellow while newer growth stays greener.
View causeIron or manganese deficiency
Nutrient
Iron and manganese deficiency show up as yellowing between the leaf veins while the veins themselves stay green, usually on new growth first. High soil pH is the most common reason the plant can't take up iron or manganese that's already present in the soil.
View causePowdery mildew
Disease
Powdery mildew creates a white, dusty coating on leaves and spreads more easily where airflow is poor.
View causeAphids
Pest
Aphids cluster on tender growth, distort leaves, and leave sticky residue that can lead to more trouble later.
View causeBlossom drop
Environment
Flowers open and then drop before setting fruit, usually from temperature extremes, inconsistent watering during bloom, or weak pollination rather than a nutrient problem.
View causeCalcium uptake disruption
Water
Blossom end rot is usually caused by inconsistent watering interrupting how calcium moves into developing fruit, not a true shortage of calcium in the soil.
View causeLeaf scorch
Environment
Leaf scorch is tissue damage at the tips and edges of leaves from heat, wind, drought, or a buildup of fertilizer salts, and it does not reverse once it appears.
View causeBlack spot
Disease
Black spot is a fungal disease, most familiar on roses, that causes dark spots with fringed edges surrounded by yellowing, and it spreads fastest when foliage stays wet.
View causeInsufficient light
Environment
Without enough light, plants stretch toward the nearest light source, producing thin, pale, widely spaced growth instead of compact, sturdy stems.
View causeLow humidity
Environment
Tropical houseplants evolved in humid conditions, and dry indoor air, especially during heating season, causes crispy brown tips and edges that won't turn green again.
View causeRoot-bound
Soil
A plant left in too small a pot for too long runs out of room, and the roots circle the inside of the container instead of growing outward, which stunts growth and makes the plant hard to water evenly.
View causeSpider mites
Pest
Spider mites are tiny sap-feeding pests that thrive in warm, dry indoor air and cause fine light-colored stippling on leaves, sometimes with visible webbing in heavy infestations.
View causeFungus gnats
Pest
Fungus gnats are small dark flies that breed in consistently moist potting soil. The adults are mostly a nuisance, but their larvae can damage fine roots on young or weak plants.
View causeMealybugs or scale
Pest
Mealybugs show up as cottony white masses in leaf joints, and scale looks like small waxy brown bumps stuck to stems and leaves. Both feed on sap and leave a sticky residue behind.
View causeTemperature stress or shock
Environment
Cold drafts, heating vents, or a sudden change in location can cause a houseplant to drop leaves quickly, even when watering and light are otherwise fine.
View cause