Brown Leaves On Your House Plants - Everything You Need to Know

As a plant parent you have probably experienced the unfortunate event of your plant’s leaves turning brown. But don’t fret because with experience comes knowledge, and we can definitely learn from these incidents. It is important to know which type of plant you own so you can learn how to properly care for it. Although I’m sure your home is lovely, it is not the natural environment that plants tend to thrive in. Therefore, houseplants depend on you to provide them with a suitable environment to meet their special needs. It is your job as a plant parent to make up for what they lack naturally by being in your home. By doing this, your plant will be able to grow and live healthily, and you can most likely prevent those beautiful leaves on your plant from turning brown. Leaves tend to turn brown because the plant’s needs are not being met. There can be many different causes and reasons for this occurrence, but here are a few most common ones to keep in mind:

Watering: Under-watering a plant is the main reason for brown leaves. Plants that don't receive enough water tend to wilt, droop, and turn brown, eventually falling off. This usually starts at the base of the plant and works its way up. Although under-watering plants is most common, don't rule out over-watering as a possible cause. If your plant’s soil is overly saturated, all the oxygen will be pushed out which will cause the plant to essentially drown. As a result, the leaves will turn brown and could even become mushy.

Humidity: Households are typically dry, especially in the winter months, not only from drier climates but also due to heating systems within the home. Of course these conditions are not ideal for tropical house plants. A telling sign that your plant is not getting enough moisture is that the brown area is normally confined to the tips of the leaves.

Light: Insufficient sunlight is a common issue among houseplants because it’s easy for the light to be obstructed indoors. So if your plants needs a lot light to thrive, it’s vital to find a sunny spot in your home to help it grow. You can spot this issue if the brown leaves are on the side of the plant that is not facing the light source.

Weather: When your plant is exposed to too much heat the leaves will not only brown, but they will also curl and fall off. A fluctuation of temperature also causes stress to the plant which will quickly result in brown, droopy leaves. This is where air conditioners and heating systems can have a major impact on your plant’s health, so be sure to avoid placing your plants in an area that is directly exposed to vents and drafts.

If you come across brown leaves on your plant, unfortunately there is no turning back — you can’t repair the dead tissue, so the only thing you can do is remove the brown parts. Be sure to use clean and sharp scissors to prevent further damage to your plants while you trim off the brown leaves. Hopefully you can figure out the cause and fix the issue so it doesn’t happen again, and you can once again have a lively and healthy plant.