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Lack of light
Symptoms
- New shoots are weak looking.
- Growth is slow.
- New leaves are smaller and turn pale.
- Older leaves may turn yellow and fall.
- Brightly coloured leaves turn green.
- Plant fails to bloom.
Solution
- Increase artificial or natural lighting at first signs of weakness.
- Reduce room temperature by about 3°C.
- Water less frequently and do not ferttilize.
Too much light
Symptoms
- Leaves exposed to direct sunlight turn pale and develop faded spots that turn dry and brown.
- Affected leaves turn increasingly pale.
Solution
- Remove plant from direct sunlight in summer or install sheer curtains to filter light.
- Remove badly damaged leaves.
Lack of water
Symptoms
- Leaves wilt.
- Growth is slow.
- Brown spots appear on margins of older leaves, which eventually turn yellow and fall.
- Soil is pale, hard and dry on the surface or damp on the surface and dry farther down.
Solution
- Water plant.
- If soil does not absorb water, immerse pot in a bucket of water until air bubbles stop appearing.
- Remove pot from water and allow it to drain.
- Continue watering at normal intervals.
Too much water or poor drainage
Symptoms
- Leaves wilt.
- Growth is slow.
- Brown spots appear on leaf tips.
- New and older leaves eventually turn yellow and fall at the same time.
- Soil is constantly damp or drainage is too slow.
- Roots become spongy, turn brown and rot.
Solution
- Make sure that no water remains in saucer and place pot on a stack of newspaper for about one hour.
- Return pot to saucer and allow soil to dry out before next watering.
- Water less frequently.
Too much heat
Symptoms
- Stems grow long and lanky (despite proper lighting).
- Older leaves wilt (despite proper watering), turn brown around margins and fall.
Solution
- Remove plant from direct sunlight in summer or heat sources in winter.
- Check to see whether plant requires a rest period.
- Remove badly damaged leaves to avoid disease.
Drop in temperature
Symptoms
- Leaves are covered in white spots or turn yellow and drop a few hours after a sudden change in temperature.
Solution
- Few indoor plants tolerate temperatures lower than10°C.
- Keep an eye on plants kept outdoors in summer and protect plants transported outdoors in winter.
Lack of fertilizer
Symptoms
- Young shoots are weak, smaller and paler (although not yellow) than rest of plant.
- Flowers are faded or plant fails to bloom.
- Plant is in an artificial potting mix and was not fertilized during the growing period.
Solution
- Fertilize as recommended.
- Transfer to a larger pot and add new soil, as necessary.
Too much fertilizer
Symptoms
- Leaves turn brown and fall.
- Plant stops growing.
- Young shoots are sometimes deformed and blackened.
- White crust forms on soil surface or pot rim.
Solution
- Leach excess fertilizer salts from soil by flushing with water several times.
- Fertilize less frequently and in smaller doses.
Salts accumulating in potting soil because of alkaline water
Symptoms
- Leaf margins (especially on broad-leafed plants) or tips (especially on narrow-leafed plants) turn brown and fall.
- White crust forms on soil surface or pot rim.
Solution
- Let tap water sit for 24 hours before watering plants.
- Mist aerial parts regularly.
Lack of humidity
Symptoms
- Leaf tips turn brown.
- Leaf margins turn yellow.
- Flower buds dry out and fall.
Solution
- Use a humidifier.
- Mist plants regularly.
- Remove them from heat sources.
Water used for watering is too cold
Symptoms
- Small pale brown spots appear on leaves.
Solution
- Some plants are very sensitive to sudden changes in temperature.
- Use tepid water when watering.
- Cold water may spot the leaves and slow the growth of some tropical plants.
Pot too small
Symptoms
- New leaves are smaller.
- Older leaves turn yellow and fall.
- Plant wilts quickly between waterings.
- Roots grow out of drainage holes or show near soil surface.
Solution
- Confirm diagnosis by removing plant from pot.
- Repot if roots form a tight ball.