House Plant with Spotted Leaves

Do your houseplants have dark spots on their leaves? Do you fear these spots might damage your plants?

Before you find a cure for these spots, know that various factors can cause spotted leaves. Sometimes, the plants alert you that they need immediate attention by turning brown. Take action as soon as you see the spots.

Dry brown patches can appear on leaves, especially along the margins and the tips, due to poor watering, over watering, or a lack of humidity.

Dig a hole in the ground to inspect the soil. If the air seems bone dry, you’re underwatering. If you experience sogginess, you’re overwatering the plant. If the soil is somewhat damp, your culprit is dry air.

Common Types of Spots

The following are the common types of spots found on the leaves of the plant:

Burning Spot

If the tips of your plant are frayed and have dark brown patches, your plant is exposed to excessive sunlight.

Solution

Move it out of direct sunlight but still in a well-lit area. It would help if you remembered that plants might get corrupted in chilly weather. Avoid a location that is too chilly or too bright.

Blotches

Your plant may have bacterial leaf spots if the patches on its leaves are dark brown, somewhat depressed, and appear wet.

Solution

Do the following:

Segregate your diseased plant from other plants.
Let your plant dry out by removing any leaves with stains or spots.
You should only water the plant after the top two inches of soil are completely dry to the touch.

This procedure can be effective in moderate situations. However, if the situation persists, you should destroy the corrupted leaves of the plant so that it doesn’t affect the rest.

Brown or Yellow Patches

Anthracnose, a fungus form, can cause sunken brown or yellow patches and develop in size over time. In most cases, it isn’t dangerous, but it is unappealing.

Solution

Cut off the damaged leaves and isolate the plant. You will have to apply a fungicide to get rid of the fungus.

Orange Halo Specks

Your houseplants might have orange halo speck on the tip of their leaves. These specks occur because of overwatering the plant.

Solution

You can try clipping off some of your plant’s leaves and allowing the soil to dry up. Restrict watering to the top two inches of soil.

Light Yellow or White Spots

Cold weather can cause patches that are quite pale in color. These pale or white spots can also occur because of temperatures below freezing or irrigation with cold water.

Solution

Houseplants like a constant temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep them away from drafty windows and freezing environments in the winter. Store them at room temperature.

Read How To Get Rid of Ants in a Houseplant

Common Causes of Spotted Leaves

The following issues can cause brown stains on houseplant leaves:

Excessive light
Humidity levels
Pests
Plant diseases
Watering issues
Fertilization issues

1. Excessive Light

Tropical plants are frequently found as houseplants. They can benefit from your home’s lower light levels. However, excessive light, whether natural or artificial, can burn or scorch your plants.

Burned house plants will have brownish spots on their leaves. Look at the plant’s placement. The leaves might burn if they are too close to direct sunshine or artificial light.

When the seasons change, the amount of light fluctuates. As the amount of light rises in the summer, a plant that thrives in a south-facing window during the winter might need to be relocated.

Reduce the light intensity by relocating the plant further away from the window.
Relocate the plant so that it only receives strong, indirect light.
Safely remove the damaged leaves as long as the damage is limited to a few leaves.
Wait to prune the damaged leaves if they are severely damaged before waiting for healthy new growth.
Remove the burnt tips with a pair of clean, sharp scissors.

There is no way to reverse scorch damage. However, if you act quickly, the plant may grow new, healthy leaves.

2. Humidity Levels

Low humidity levels might result in houseplants with spotted leaves. They can rapidly develop brown blotches on leaf tips if the humidity drops too low. Cooler air contains less humidity.

Houseplants with spotted leaves in Montana tend to die frequently due to the cold weather. The drying effect of central heating contributes to reduced humidity levels throughout the winter.

Invest in a digital hygrometer. You’ll be able to see how humid your house is and make necessary adjustments to the humidity levels.
You can pour water over pebbles in a dish until the water reaches the top of the stones. It will improve the humidity levels.
Group the plants to rectify the situation.
Trim the browned tips after the plant has begun to recuperate using clean, sharp scissors.
Remove the leaf if more than two-thirds of a leaf is brown.

3. Pests

Many common pests can cause brown leaf spots. They might also result in mottled leaves and fine webbing on the underside of leaves. Houseplants with spotted leaves in Alaska are prone to pests.

Some other insects, such as thrips, scale, aphids, and mealybugs, feed on the sap from the leaves and stems, creating brown or yellow blotches on the foliage.

Toss your plants in a bucket of room-temperature water.
Wash affected plants once a week, rubbing off any webbing you can find.
Keep an eye out for pests in your houseplants. Isolate them promptly if you find any.

4. Plant Diseases

Houseplants with spotted leaves can result from plant diseases. The following are the plant diseases responsible for spotted leaves:

Rust

Rust usually appears as brown patches and brown rings under the leaves of your plant. The dark dots on the leaves are clumps of spores from a fungus that thrives in moist settings.

You can remove these spots partially with a towel, making diagnosis simple. Wipe the leaves and check if the color transfers to the material to determine if you have a rust issue.

Remove the rusted leaves from the plant if you find any and dispose of them in a garbage bag. Apply a sulfur-based fungicide to the plant. Houseplants with spotted leaves in Connecticut are prone to rust.

Anthracnose

Fungal infections called anthracnose are responsible for black, deep lesions on plants’ leaves and stems. Look for tiny, irregular yellow or brown spots on the leaves that gradually increase in size over time.

This plant disease can quickly spread, making your plants look bad. Plants that have been infected should be quarantined, their leaves removed, and copper-based fungicide applied.

Houseplants with spotted leaves in Arkansas are prone to fungal infection. You can prevent it by following the steps below:

Moisture and inadequate air circulation are essential for the fungus growth that causes spots on leaves.
Watering the soil, not the plant’s foliage, can help avoid spotted leaves.
Make sure there is adequate space between the pots so that air can circulate freely.
Water your garden in the early morning when the leaves are still wet.
Closely packed foliage needs to be thinned out.
A 1:10 bleach solution should be used to disinfect pruning and cutting equipment after each usage.
Before the leaves bud in the spring, rake and eliminate all debris from the area around your plants.

Root Rot and Stem Rot

Root rot and stem rot may be identified by the browning or blackening of the stems and roots of your plant. They might also soften over time.

When soil is overwatered and improperly drained, it becomes prone to rotting. Remove the plant’s roots and transplant it to a new location in a well-drained container.

5. Watering Issues

If your plant is drooping and has brown leaf tips or withering brown leaves, it might indicate that it has been submerged. See if the soil is entirely dry before planting.

Give your plant plenty of water and allow it to soak up as much as possible. Empty the drip tray as soon as possible after draining the pot so that your plant does not sit in wet soil.
Make sure you are aware of your plant’s watering requirements to avoid a repeat of this incident.
While some plants require damp soil, others require dry soil before they can be watered again.
Indoor houseplants fall into dormancy in the winter and demand less water. However, your plants’ thirst will also grow when the days grow longer in the spring.

6. Fertilization Issues

Houseplants with spotted leaves often suffer fertilization issues. An excess of fertilizer salts can darken the tips of the plant.

Get rid of any crusty dirt buildup.
Thoroughly rinse the soil to remove the remaining salts.
Keep the water from splattering all over the floor using a sink.
Let the soil soak up the water.
Allow all the extra water to drain once you’ve washed the soil.
The soil should dry before you water again.
Repot the plant if the salt buildup is excessive.
Cleanse your plant’s soil once a month to avoid salt buildup in the soil.

Read House Plants for Cold Dark Rooms

Tips to Prevent the Spotted Leaves

Remove the damaged foliage.
Ensure all plant instruments are sanitized and disinfected before each use to avoid spreading the disease.
Water the plant when the soil is dry, not the leaves.
Pay close attention to your plant. Consider the plant’s current state and all aspects of its upkeep.

The following are the plants with spotted leaves:

1. Gold Dust Plants – Aucuba Japonica

Gold dust plants are slow-growing with glossy, spotted leaves. They become tall and lanky over time. They should be controlled indoors if you prune their stems back in spring to stimulate branching.

These plants have been cultivated in the United States for almost a century now. All you need to do is cut them at a 45-degree angle and avoid ripping the stems by using sharp pruners.

Switch to a larger container by repotting in the spring every 2-3 years or as needed. Keep the speckled leaves dust-free by wiping them off with a damp cloth. Make sure you use a moist towel to clean them.

The buildup of dust on foliage might look unappealing. It also inhibits sunlight and clogs leaf pores. Avoid using leaf-shine products. They can also exacerbate these issues.

Botanical Name	Aucuba Japonica
Common Name	Spotted laurel, gold dust plant, Japanese Laurel
Family	Garryaceae
Water requirements	Medium
Ideal Season for Growth	March-April
Nature	Toxic
Native to	China and Taiwan

2. Polka Dots Plants

Houseplants with spotted leaves, such as Polka dot plants, can be hybridized in the United States. They are bushy houseplants with spotted leaves and polka-dot patterns that gave birth to their name.

You’ll discover polka dot plants in various color combinations. Among these combinations are pink and green, pink with white, and green with white.

You can’t go wrong with a pink polka dot plant in your indoor garden. It’s not only beautiful, but it’s also simple to cultivate.

These plants like shady locations. Choose a location that isn’t too bright or too dark, or the plant’s leaves’ colors may fade, reducing its aesthetic appeal.

Plant Polka dots like well-drained, organically rich soil. These plants do well in a general-purpose organic potting soil mix. These plants want a modest amount of water in the soil.

Polka Dot Plants demand temperatures over 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant them in the spring after the fear of frost and bring them indoors.

These plants prefer 50% humidity or higher. They can be sprayed with water or their container placed on a tray loaded with stones and water if you need to enhance the humidity.

When your plant’s leaves turn yellow and fall off, you’ve probably been watering it far too frequently. Water less often. Allow the earth to dry out a bit before planting.

If you feel that your polka dot plants have brown dry leaf tips or drooping stems, it needs additional water or humidity. The stems begin to droop to the ground when they are thirsty.

Botanical Name	Hypoestes Phyllostachya
Common Names	Polka Dot, pink dot, flamingo plant
Family	Acanthaceae
Soil Type	Well-drained
Ideal Season for Growth	Summer
Plant Type	Herbaceous
Nature	Non-toxic
Native to	Madagascar

Final Words

Maintaining houseplants with spotted leaves can be challenging. However, the situation can be rectified if you recognize the symptoms early on.

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Sophia

Hi! I’m Sophia, and I love plants – especially an expert in growing house plants. I stay in Chicago, United States of America, and through my blog and social media platforms, provide tips and tricks on how to grow healthy, vibrant plants indoors. Check out more here.