Philodendrons (Philodendron spp.) are available a big number of shapes, sizes, and colours.
There are Philodendron species with vining or tree-like development habits, sport small or huge leaves, and vary in colours from inexperienced to pink, white to crimson, and nearly every little thing in between.
There are even some varieties with reddish-brown foliage. But when the leaves begin to flip brown once they aren’t purported to be, it means one thing is flawed with the philodendron plant.
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In our information to rising philodendrons, we offer an outline of find out how to look after species on this various genus. Our roundup of 41 distinctive varieties offers an perception into the highest decisions to develop at residence.
So we all know that brown leaves are a warning signal that one thing is amiss.
In the event you’ve seen browning foliage the trick is to determine precisely what’s inflicting the issue and solely then can you establish what to do to repair it.
That’s the place this information is available in. We’re going to go over 11 widespread causes of browning leaves in philodendrons. Right here’s the lineup:
Why Philodendron Leaves Flip Brown
Narrowing down the issue takes some detective work. Broadly, if the brown space on the foliage is sunken, water-soaked, or if it has a halo, it’s extra more likely to be brought on by a pathogen.
Browning on philodendrons that primarily impacts older leaf development and lacks these indicators is extra more likely to be brought on by an environmental downside.
These guidelines don’t all the time apply, however they offer you an excellent start line on your investigation.
Listed here are the widespread issues that may trigger browning in philodendrons:
1. Bacterial Blight
If the brown areas on the leaves of your philodendron have a foul odor, it is best to instantly suspect bacterial blight.
The micro organism Erwinia chrysanthemi and E. carotovora subsp. carotovora initially causes darkish inexperienced, water-soaked spots, however these quickly unfold and merge to type massive lesions.
Ultimately the facilities of the lesions would possibly fall out leaving unpleasant holes.
In time, the entire leaf will flip brown and mushy, with that foul odor I discussed.
The micro organism can lay low in a dormant state through the winter, tricking you into pondering that you simply’ve gotten forward of the issue, however it is going to rear its ugly head once more when the temperatures heat up once more.
Take away and destroy any symptomatic elements of your philodendron. If greater than 50 p.c of the plant is symptomatic, it’s greatest to toss it out, as therapy is unlikely to be efficient.
A product that comprises the helpful micro organism Bacillus subtilis might help suppress the illness and can be utilized as a preventative.
Stop is an efficient product that comprises this helpful micro organism.
CEASE Biofungicide
You could find it at Arbico Organics in gallon or two-and-a-half gallon containers. Comply with the producer’s instructions rigorously for utility.
2. Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot is a illness brought on by the micro organism Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae, which impacts many various species of houseplants, together with philodendrons.
Signs begin out as tiny translucent spots alongside the perimeters of the leaves.
Ultimately, these flip reddish-brown and develop a yellow halo. It’s when the spots unfold and merge that they flip gentle brown with irregular edges.
The micro organism that trigger this downside want moisture to maneuver and reproduce, so overhead watering, excessive humidity, and splashing water will encourage the unfold.
Sadly, in case your philodendron turns into contaminated with this illness, there’s nothing you are able to do about it. You’ll must eliminate the specimen.
The micro organism can journey on contaminated vegetation, soil, instruments, and even in your palms.
That’s why quarantining new houseplants whenever you first convey them residence and washing your palms and instruments earlier than use is so necessary. Don’t slack in your houseplant hygiene!
3. Chilly Harm
Most philodendron species hail from tropical areas, which suggests they aren’t tailored to chilly temperatures.
Frost or freezing temperatures will possible kill the philodendron, however even temperatures that dip under 60°F may cause chilly damage.
Even for those who maintain your home good and toasty through the winter, strolling your plant from the automobile to the home, low temperatures throughout delivery, or leaving a door open can doubtlessly trigger chilly injury.
If in case you have single pane home windows or doorways that open straight to the outside – somewhat than a storage or touchdown – the draft from one among these will be sufficient to trigger damage.
Chilly damage typically seems as black necrotic spots, brown spots, and wilted or wrinkled foliage. When you notice that your philodendron has gotten too chilly, transfer it to a hotter spot, if vital.
Then, give it per week for all of the signs to totally develop after which you’ll be able to prune off all of the broken areas as a result of they received’t recuperate.
They’ll drain the plant’s vitality and might go away the specimen uncovered to illness.
4. Leaf Spot
Leaf spot is much less widespread on houseplants than it’s on out of doors philodendrons, however the causal pathogens will be introduced indoors on an contaminated plant.
Then, they’ll quickly unfold on water droplets within the air or in your palms.
In the event you examine vegetation previous to bringing them indoors and wash your palms recurrently when working along with your houseplants, it is best to have the ability to keep away from points with leaf spot inside your property.
Pseudomonas leaf spot (Pseudomonas cichorii) initially causes small, water-soaked spots on the foliage that turn out to be massive, darkish brown spots with tan facilities and yellow halos because the illness progresses.
Closely contaminated philodendron leaves would possibly flip water-soaked and brown, and can rot earlier than falling off the plant.
This isn’t a species-specific pathogen. It may be a significant downside in basil, celery, chrysanthemum, endive, lettuce, and pepper vegetation, to call just a few.
It may well reside within the soil for months and when the temperatures are between 68 to 83°F with numerous moisture, the pathogens start to breed.
In the meantime, phytophthora leaf spot (Phytophthora parasitica syn. P. nicotianae) ends in massive, darkish brown, water-soaked lesions that may kill the leaf and, finally, the plant.
This illness, brought on by oomycetes, doesn’t keep on with philodendrons alone. It’s a major problem on lupines, nightshades, onions, tobacco, and watermelons.
Dactylaria leaf spot (Dactylaria humicola) is restricted to philodendrons and begins as small tan spots with depressed facilities.
The spots themselves don’t usually develop as massive as different leaf spot varieties. This pathogen is fairly uncommon and solely tends to have an effect on outdoor-grown specimens.
Except you ship a pattern to a lab, it’s fairly onerous to inform which pathogen is inflicting the leaf spots.
For that cause, it’s greatest to deal with any of the above signs with a broad-spectrum fungicide. Copper is one possibility, although it’s not as efficient as a number of the merchandise accessible.
A product like Procidic is efficient towards quite a few pathogens, each fungal and bacterial in nature.
It harnesses the facility of citric acid to kill pathogens on contact and in addition works systemically.
Procidic
You could find Procidic in 32-ounce ready-to-use spray bottles or 16-ounce or gallon focus containers at Arbico Organics.
Comply with the producer’s instructions and proceed utilizing it till new development emerges and no new signs develop for at the least just a few weeks.
5. Overfertilization
Overfertilization generally is a reason for salt burn – mentioned under – in that dangerous minerals construct up within the soil. However making use of an excessive amount of fertilizer also can burn the philodendron plant’s roots.
Browning leaf ideas or margins and yellowing of the decrease foliage is a reasonably good signal that it is best to think about overfertilization as your fundamental suspect for discolored leaves.
Overfertilizing can occur slowly over time or all of sudden from one main dose of meals.
It may well additionally occur if the potting combine doesn’t drain properly and the fertilizer stays in touch with the roots for too lengthy.
In the event you see signs and know you’ve probably been a bit heavy handed with the plant meals, simply flush the soil to push these undesirable mineral salts out. We speak about flushing in additional element beneath salt burn.
An extended, thorough soak can cut back the fertilizer salts within the soil by about 90 p.c, so it’s extremely efficient.
And going ahead, you should definitely fertilize your philodendron extra sparingly!
6. Overwatering
By many accounts, the primary killer of all types of houseplants is giving them an excessive amount of water.
More often than not, after I speak to somebody who says they’ll’t maintain their philodendrons alive, it’s as a result of they’re overwatering.
I get it. I was responsible of it, too. So many plant care guides inform us that the best way to maintain houseplants completely happy is to water them as soon as per week or so. However it is best to by no means water on a schedule.
It’s best to water when your philodendron wants it, and the timing can fluctuate from species to species and month to month.
A water-hungry plant would possibly want twice weekly water in the summertime and weekly within the winter.
Or a cactus may not want any water in any respect through the dormant season and only a bit right here and there through the summer time.
Overwatering and root rot go hand-in-hand. However whereas the foundation rot we speak about under is brought on by a pathogen, rotting roots can be brought on by merely including an excessive amount of water to the soil, depriving the roots of oxygen and primarily drowning them.
In the event you overwater as soon as, it’s no biggie, however repeated overwatering typically results in catastrophe.
The primary signal that you simply’re being a bit too beneficiant with the watering can might be yellowing and browning leaves that find yourself droopy and wilted.
They may drop from the philodendron, relying on the species, however not all the time.
The answer, after all, is to water much less typically. It’s all the time higher to err on the aspect of offering too little water.
Often, that’s sufficient to set your plant proper, although in case your plant is wanting very unhappy and also you wish to be further protected, take away it from the pot and toss out the soil. Trim off any useless roots and repot in contemporary soil.
You may additionally wish to deal with for root rot as described under, as there’s all the time the chance {that a} pathogen can also be concerned.
Make sure that the drainage holes within the container aren’t blocked, and in case your pot doesn’t have drainage holes, choose one other one.
Make sure you empty the catchment pot or tray a couple of half hour after watering.
7. Root Rot
Signs of root rot are just like these brought on by overwatering, with the addition of pathogens within the Rhizoctonia and Pythium genera.
These fungal pathogens want numerous moisture to outlive and reproduce, which is why they seem in soil that’s overwatered.
When a plant has root rot, the leaves will first flip yellow, then brown, and the specimen will wilt. The foliage typically received’t fall from the plant. If the issue advances although, all the plant will die.
In case your plant is in a pot, take away it and wash away all the soil from across the roots. Prune off any black, mushy, or in any other case compromised roots.
Wash the container totally with sizzling, soapy water after which repot the plant in contemporary soil.
Subsequent, it is advisable to deal with the plant to kill any remaining pathogens. You also needs to deal with any philodendron that’s rising within the floor utilizing the identical course of.
Fortunately, biofungicides are efficient towards this illness.
There are alternatives on the market that include helpful micro organism Streptomyces lydicus and Bacillus subtilis, in addition to helpful fungus Trhichoderma asperellum.
Good outdated citric acid, thyme oil, and copper works, too.
I’ve saved a number of vegetation from a root rot loss of life utilizing copper fungicide and, my favourite product, Mycostop.
Mycostop is a biofungicide that harnesses the facility of a bacterium referred to as Streptomyces Pressure K61, which is derived from sphagnum peat moss.
Mycostop Biofungicide
It makes fast work of root rot whenever you apply it to the soil and base of the philodendron.
Choose up 5 or 25 grams at Arbico Organics.
Study extra about find out how to cope with root rot in houseplants in our information.
8. Salt Burn
We’re not speaking in regards to the form of salt burn you get whenever you open your eyes whereas swimming within the ocean. That is the type that happens when mineral salts construct up within the soil.
Soluble salts like sodium, chloride, boron, calcium, and magnesium will be current in municipal water and fertilizers. Some areas have increased mineral content material of their municipal water than others.
As you irrigate your vegetation again and again with mineral-heavy water, the chemical substances finally construct up within the soil.
The roots will take up these salts and it’ll trigger the ends of your philodendron leaves to show brown. Some species will drop their leaves, as properly.
To forestall this from occurring, it is best to flush the soil each three months or so. To do that, water your plant totally till the liquid is working out of the drainage holes.
Wait 5 minutes or so after which water once more till water is working steadily out of the holes once more.
Along with this, for those who ever see a crusty layer of salt construct up on the floor of the soil, scrape it off and substitute the eliminated soil with contemporary soil.
Each few years, substitute the potting soil altogether. As potting soil ages, the natural matter breaks down and causes the soil to turn out to be compacted, depleted, and hydrophobic.
Keep watch over containers created from absorbent materials like terra cotta or unglazed clay. These supplies can take in mineral salts.
You may inform if the pot has absorbed salts as a result of you will note white discoloration on the outside.
Whereas it would disappear for those who wipe it with a moist material or when the container is moist, the white areas often return when the pot dries out once more.
If this occurs, you’ll be able to submerge the pot in water for twenty-four hours or so to dissolve the salts or simply begin with a contemporary, new pot.
9. Southern Blight
Southern blight is a illness brought on by the fungus Agroathelia rolfsii (previously Sclerotium rolfsii).
It’s tremendous widespread in greens like tomatoes and a few ornamentals, however much less widespread indoors.
In the event you use the identical instruments in your out of doors vegetation that you simply do in your houseplants, you’ll be able to carry it from the backyard to your indoor specimens.
Initially, it’s onerous to inform whether or not your philodendron is affected by southern blight or root rot. It begins with yellowing leaves that flip brown and wilt. Because it advances, although, you begin to see white and brown fungal lots. That’s what units it aside.
The pathogen thrives in humidity and heat temperatures.
There isn’t a remedy for southern blight besides to toss out the plant and all of the soil with it. Be sure to sanitize the container, too, utilizing isopropyl alcohol or sizzling, soapy water.
There are merchandise like Tenet WP accessible that include helpful fungi within the Trichoderma genera, and these will be efficient at stopping the illness.
In the event you’ve handled southern blight earlier than and also you’re nervous it would come round, deal with with Tenet WP based on the instructions on the packaging.
Tenet WP
You should buy 16 ounces of Tenet WP at Arbico Organics.
10. Sunburn
Sunburn occurs when a plant is uncovered to an excessive amount of direct gentle, significantly within the afternoon when the solar is the most well liked.
Within the case of variegated cultivars, if the white areas of the foliage flip brown, it’s possible on account of an excessive amount of solar publicity.
Relying on the species, the suburned space could seem white to darkish brown and often has a papery texture somewhat than being water-soaked.
It’s often solely the leaves that had been uncovered to the brighter gentle, although it will probably present up in different areas if the plant is extensively broken.
The answer, after all, is to maneuver the plant into an space the place it is protected against the cruel rays of the solar.
Lower off all of the broken foliage and if you wish to transfer the philodendron into brighter gentle, that’s nice. Simply do it slowly over per week or two.
11. Underwatering
Underwatering is often far much less of an issue than overwatering, however for those who chronically underwater, the philodendron will develop dry, brown patches on the foliage.
In the event you discover that the soil is continually dry and your vegetation look like wilting earlier than perking up whenever you give them a drink, you’re underwatering.
Nonetheless, I can let you know from my very own expertise that minor underwatering isn’t a giant deal.
I wait till my heartleaf philodendron is nearly wilting earlier than I water it and it’s sturdy, completely happy, and rising extra rapidly than I can deal with.
Err on the aspect of offering too little water for those who aren’t certain how a lot or how typically to irrigate your vegetation.
For many philodendrons, they prefer to have evenly moist soil. However that doesn’t imply the soil ought to really feel moist or soggy.
It ought to really feel like a sponge that you simply wrung out actually totally. You may even let the highest inch or so of soil dry out between watering.
Prune off any leaves which are largely brown, as they received’t recuperate and can simply use vitality.
Don’t Let Brown Leaves Get You Down
When a philodendron begins to develop brown leaves, you realize one thing is flawed. It is likely to be no huge deal.
Perhaps the plant was uncovered to a little bit an excessive amount of solar. Or it is likely to be a critical difficulty that wants instant consideration, like root rot.
Regardless, we hope this information units you on the trail to eliminating the brown and returning your plant to good well being.
In the event you’re nonetheless having hassle figuring out the problem, please tell us within the feedback part under. We’ll do our greatest that will help you out.
And for extra philodendron rising know-how, put these guides in your studying listing subsequent: