Plant problems? We can help.

Most houseplant problems show up first in the leaves: yellowing, brown tips, crisp edges, spots, curling or dropping leaves. The same symptom can have more than one cause, so each guide here starts from a symptom and goes through its likely causes and what to do about each.

In many cases the cause is watering, light or humidity rather than disease, so check those first. Root and stem problems, such as root rot or a soft, mushy base, usually trace back to soil that stays wet for too long. Pests are easiest to deal with when you catch them early, so look under the leaves when you water. If you are not sure what you are looking at, the symptom checker narrows it down.