Brown Spots on Pothos: Causes and Treatment

On occasion, though, something goes wrong, and as a consequence, brown patches appear on the leaves. The appearance of brown spots on pothos and other plants is a typical indication of a number of different diseases.

If you see brown spots on your pothos plant, it might be a sign of any of the following problems:

• The temperature around the facility has dropped.
• It receives an excessive amount of sun.
• It does not have a sufficient amount of humidity.
• You’re not doing a good job of watering it.
• Your plant is receiving an excessive amount of fertilizer.
• You are dealing with an insect problem.

You may be sure that it is time to examine the ways in which you take care of yourself and conduct some investigating.

Several Factors may Contribute to the Brown Spots on Pothos

Inadequate Lighting

Bright, indirect sunshine is ideal for the health of these rainforest residents. They are able to thrive in shaded conditions; however, the variegation on a variegated pothos might be lost if the light levels are too low.

However, if you place any pothos in an area that receives an excessive amount of strong, direct sunlight, you run the danger of burning the leaves. Brown spots and streaks will appear as a result of this.

Examine the amount of light that is reaching your plants. Is there a time throughout the day when the sunshine is particularly intense? If this is the case, you may provide it with some protection by moving it or shading it.

Remove the charred leaves from the plant using a clean, sharp cutting instrument. It shouldn’t take your plant very long to recuperate and start producing new growth for you.

Dryness in the air, coupled with biting winds,

Keep in mind that your pothos is a native of the jungle, and as such, it prefers high levels of humidity and a shady environment. Therefore, you should utilize a humidifier in the room where you store your plants or spray your plants every day.

If your pothos is a desk plant rather than a hanging basket plant, place its container on a pebble tray with a little bit of water in the bottom of the tray. This will help the plant retain its moisture. The surrounding air will become more humid as the water evaporates, which is beneficial to the plant.

Be cautious to shield your pothos from extreme temperatures, whether they are hot or cold. Make sure that the air can move freely around your plants without disturbing them. Never put your pothos or any other plant in a position where it will be directly in front of a source of heat or cold, such as a heater or air conditioner.

In addition, your plant has to be kept a good distance away from any open windows or doors that let in drafts, as well as any doors that are used regularly.

Extreme Temperatures

The ideal environment for pothos is one that is continuously warm and ranges from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is able to withstand temperatures as low as 65 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the night but not much lower than that.

If you leave your plant outside in temperatures that are even slightly below freezing for even a short period of time, the leaves will likely wilt and turn brown.

You should be able to bring your plant back to life as long as the roots have not been frozen. This is the procedure to follow:

• Remove the damaged parts of the foliage.
• Put the pot in a warm spot that gets plenty of direct or indirect sunshine.
• If you continue to care for it as you normally would, it should recover.

The leaves of the plant will wither and fall off if they are subjected to temperatures that are higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is possible to bring the plant back to life if the period of exposure is limited and the soil remains wet around the roots. Remove any leaves that are damaged and offer care that is delicate and consistent.

Poor Watering Techniques

When pothos is overwatered, the plant’s roots and stems may rot, causing the leaves to become mushy and dark with patches. A lack of irrigation may cause the leaves to become parched, brown, and dry.

It is recommended that you employ the soak-and-dry technique of watering, in which you first allow the soil to get somewhat dry and then give it a thorough soaking. This approach produces the greatest results.

This lets the plant get enough water and lets the soil breathe.

Take the following steps if you notice that your plant is showing signs of dehydration:

1. Remove any broken leaves and give the remaining ones a thorough soaking.
2. Give the pot about half an hour to rest in a container of water at room temperature before you attempt to use it.
3. After that, take the pot out of the sink and tilt it so that any extra moisture may run out.
4. Never allow your plant to remain permanently submerged in water since doing so will cause the roots to rot.

You may be able to save the plant even though it has brown spots on it since the brown spots were caused by root rot.

It should be replanted in a container that is either brand new or has been disinfected. The new potting medium should be fresh, bright, and airy.

When you re-pot the plant, use a tool that is extremely sharp and sterile to cut away damaged leaves and roots that have become mushy and rotting.

Before re-potting, give the plant some time to rest in an open but protected area so that it can dry out.

When you are pruning the plant, keep an eye out for a couple of strong cuttings that you may remove and report independently in the event that the parent plant does not make it.

Fertilizer Excess

The pothos does not need a lot of food. If there is too much pothos fertilizer, it can cause salt to build up, which can lead to brown spots.

It is most likely that the difficulty you are having is due to the accumulation of salt on the top layer of the soil.

If this happens, you can increase the chances that your plant will live by taking the following steps:

• Water that has been freshly distilled should be used to flush the dirt.
• The salt should then be washed away by letting water trickle through the drainage holes on the bottom.
• When you are finished, wait until the soil is almost completely dry before you water it again.

In the event that it is time to re-pot your plant, you may solve the issue of excessive fertilizer by transferring it to a new container filled with a new potting mix.

When you do this, check the roots and clip them as necessary.

In any case, remove the damaged stems and leaves from the plant. They won’t be around for long since they’ll be replaced by fresh growth.

To prevent this issue, fertilizer should only be used during the active growth season (spring and summer).

A standard houseplant fertilizer of high quality should be used once a month at a dosage of half-strength, and this should be done consistently.

Think about the fact that you might not need to fertilize the plant if you move it to a new pot every spring and use new potting soil.

Invertebrate Vermin

If the environment around your pothos is changed in any way, pest insects like mealybugs and spider mites may be more likely to attack it.

Some examples of these imbalances include the following:

1. Wrong light.
2. Poor watering habits.
3. Temperature variations.
4. Inappropriate amounts of humidity.

In the event that this occurs, you may be able to remove the pests from the plants by using a powerful spray of water from either the kitchen sink or the shower.

It will take multiple applications of the treatment before you can be certain that all of the bugs and their progeny have been eradicated. In such a case, they will continue to hatch from their eggs even after the plant has been destroyed.

To properly clean the space where your plants are kept, you will also need to make use of a powerful detergent solution. This will eliminate any remaining insects as well as their eggs.

Your plants may also be sprayed with a diluted solution of a pesticide like permethrin, which is another alternative. This is an alternative that is relatively safe for use inside, and the majority of plants (even pothos) can deal with it rather well.

This is the procedure to follow:

Make use of a concentrate that has a percentage of 10% and combine it at the rate of one teaspoon per quart of water.
After that, spritz your plants once every two or three days for a couple of weeks to make sure that all of the bugs and the next generation of pests have been eradicated.

In any case, after the plant has been treated, the damaged stems and leaves should be trimmed away.

It is important to keep in mind that since pothos is so simple to propagate via cuttings, it is often preferable to re-pot a few cuttings rather than the whole plant. After that, thoroughly clean them and get rid of any plants, pots, soil, or other items that have been contaminated with pests.

By doing so, you may totally rid the plant area of any pests and begin over with a clean slate. Proper plant care is one of the most effective defenses against insect pests.

In addition, to protect your plants against infection, put a few drops of neem oil in your plant sprayer and use it to provide a light mist once a week.

After that, remove any traces of dust from the leaves by wiping them down with a paper towel or a gentle cloth. This will also help the leaves shine.

Pothos may be protected against brown spots on the leaves by proper plant care.

Pothos is an easy-care plant that should do well and stay healthy in almost any typical home setting.

If the temperature in your house is at a suitable level, your plant is situated in an ideal location, and you properly water and fertilize it, you shouldn’t have any issues. To prevent brown spots on pothos leaves and to treat those that already exist, the recommendations offered here should be followed.