The most common cause of plant leaves turning yellow with brown spots is leaf spot disease. This is caused by a fungus that feeds on the leaves of the plant. The first thing you need to do if you suspect leaf spot disease is make sure you keep the infected plant as far away as possible from your healthy plants while you treat it. Remove any affected leaves and dispose of them properly so that spores do not find their way to the other plants in your garden.
You can get rid of leaf spot disease by mixing a solution of baking soda and water and spraying it on the plant’s infected leaves.
Why are my plant’s leaves turning yellow with brown spots?
The most probable answer to this question is leaf spot disease. If your plant has brown spots with yellow edges, it could be a sign of this fungal disease. It can affect both your indoor and outdoor plants. If there are spotted leaves nearby, the spores can get carried by the wind and find their way onto one of your plants, and if the spores start to reproduce, the distinct fungal leaf spot will begin to develop. The longer the fungus goes unnoticed in the plant, the larger it grows, until these spots start touching one another and looking more like brown blotches than spots. The leaf will eventually become completely brown and fall off the plant onto the soil. This is where the spores will wait for the next plant to infect.
How do you treat leaf spot disease?
The first thing you need to do if you suspect leaf spot disease is to transfer the infected plant to an area of your house that is far away from your other plants. Just to be sure, in case the spores have already spread to other plants before you were able to separate them, do not water any of your plants from the top, as the water splatter can scatter the spores even more. Water your plants at the base until you are sure that they are all free of the fungus.
You can treat leaf spot disease by mixing one tablespoon baking soda and one teaspoon mineral oil in a spray bottle with water. Shake the solution well and spray the parts of the plant that are infected with the fungus. You may need to treat the infected plant once a week for a month to make sure that all the fungus and spores are eradicated.
How do you prevent leaf spot disease?
The fungus that causes leaf spot disease needs poor air circulation and moisture to thrive. In order to prevent this disease from making its way across your garden, you should water your plants at the base and not from above. Make sure the plants are far enough from each other that there is good air circulation between them.
In your outdoor garden, water the plants in the early morning so that the moisture on the leaves will evaporate in the morning sun.
If there are parts of your garden where the foliage is thick, you need to thin it out. Make sure you disinfect your pruning or cutting tools with a 10% bleach solution after each use. Remove as much as possible of the fallen leaves and debris from the base of your plants and dispose of them properly.
What are other causes of yellowing plant leaves?
Not enough water
When a plant’s roots are not getting enough water, its leaves will start to turn yellow. This will happen if you are only watering the top part of the soil.
You can remedy this by filling a basin or your sink with three inches of water and soaking the bottom of the pot in it. This will allow the plant to soak water from the bottom. After 30 minutes, remove the pot and let it rest so any excess water can trickle out. Repeat this process every four weeks.
Too much water
If your plant’s leaves are turning yellow but they also look dull and lifeless, you might be overwatering it. Plant roots do not like being in soil that is soggy; they will drown because they also need to dry out in order to get enough air. When a plant’s roots soak in wet soil for extended periods of time, they can develop root rot, which can kill plants if it starts to affect the stem and leaves.
Remedy overwatering by lessening the amount and frequency of your watering. Make sure the soil you use is airy and porous so it is well-draining. Use a pot that has drainage holes at the bottom so that any excess water simply flows out. If there are rotten roots, cut them off with scissors.
The plant is adjusting to a new environment
When you move to a new house, your plants go through an adjustment period just like you do. New environments can stress your plant and one of their ways of manifesting this stress is through yellowing leaves. The best way to destress your plant in a new environment is to make sure that, despite being in a completely new location, you are still able to provide it with everything it needs. Soon enough, the plant will acclimatize to its new environment.
The plant is getting too much light
A plant’s leaves can turn yellow if it is put in a spot in the house where it is bombarded by too much sunlight. Transfer the plant to another area of the house that provides it with just the right amount of light.
Conclusion
If your plant’s leaves turn yellow and have brown spots on them, they are most probably afflicted with leaf spot disease. This disease is caused by a fungus that feeds on the leaf, leaving behind the signature brown spots.
You can get rid of the fungus by spraying the plant with a mixture of baking soda, mineral oil, and water. Apply the spray once a week for a month to make sure all the fungus and spores have been killed. Also make sure the infected plant is separated from your healthy plants.
Image: istockphoto.com / Дмитрий Коростылев