Yellow or withered leaves, increased occurrence of pests or stunted growth - many symptoms in indoor plants indicate a disease. But what is really behind it? Only with an accurate diagnosis will you be able to nurture your growth back to health. Therefore, in this article we list the most common diseases of indoor plants.
Brown spots on the leaves can indicate a disease or nutrient deficiency
The most common diseases of indoor plants
chlorosis
Chlorosis forms slowly. It is a leaf disease in which the roots are no longer able to absorb sufficient iron. The following symptoms appear with the disease:
- yellow leaves with green veins
leaf spot
Waterlogging, cold irrigation water or excessive humidity promote this fungal infection on indoor plants, which you can recognize by the following symptoms:
- brown, yellow or red-brown spots on the leaves
mildew
Powdery mildew is the result of an aphid infestation. Depending on whether it is powdery mildew or downy mildew, too high or too low humidity is responsible for the disease. How to recognize powdery mildew:
- small fruiting bodies on the underside of the leaf
- white, sticky coating on the leaves
- Leaves turn yellow
- Leaves curl up
- Ants on the houseplant
sunburn
Not every plant tolerates intense sunlight. Watering at midday can also cause damage due to the magnifying glass effect if drops of water remain on the leaves. Typical for a sunburn are:
- light or dark brown spots burned deep into the leaf tissue
rust fungi
Drafts and a lack of nutrients call the rust fungus onto the scene. Houseplants are particularly at risk when spruces grow in the garden or near the property. The conifers are considered to be the intermediate host of the rust fungus. On indoor plants he expresses himself as follows:
- Spore spots on and under the leaves
- sometimes also on the fruits (if present)
- if the infestation is severe, the spots turn from a rust-like hue to a deep black
- leaves fall off
nutrient deficiency
Conventional potting soil often does not provide sufficient amounts of important nutrients. Depending on which mineral is missing, the following symptoms result:
- Potassium: leaves turn yellow or brown, leaves dry up and fall off
- Phosphorus: dirty discoloration of leaves, leaf shedding, bud loss
- Nitrogen: leaves turn yellow, fall off at the bottom of the plant
- Manganese: similar symptoms to chlorosis