Indoor plants not only beautify our home environment but also provide fresh oxygen and promote mental well-being. However, indoor plants must be healthy. The leaves essentially indicate the health of the plant. You will know that your plants are not healthy when their leaves turn brown and shed excessively. But you need to understand why the leaves are actually falling or turning brown. When leaves fall due to the natural growth of the plant, the leaf first turns yellow and then brown, which is normal. On the other hand, it’s not normal when your plant’s leaves go from green to straight brown and shed excessively. By this, you will understand that your plants are not healthy.
These problems occur due to some reasons, such as:
- Watering less than required
- Watering more than required
- Having more light than is necessary
- Having less light than is necessary
- Not applying fertilizer as required
- Insect infestation
Know Your Plants
Knowing your plants is very important to preventing brown leaves on your plants. Direct sunlight is beneficial for some plants but harmful to others. Similarly, the same fertilizer cannot be used for both vegetable and flower plants. Also, each plant requires different types of care. So, you must know about your plants. You can easily prevent brown leaves on your plants after knowing about your plant’s type. Now, we are sharing with you some tips to prevent brown leaves on different types of plants.
1. Care by the Light
There are three types of plants: some need direct bright sunlight, some need bright but indirect sunlight, and some need no sunlight. When you see brown spots on your plant’s leaves after proper watering, bring your plant to some shade if it is in bright light. You should place your low-light plants in your living room or reading room to avoid direct sunlight.
2. Avoid Overwatering
Overwatering is harmful to plants. The harmful aspects are:
- Energy loss in plants
- Increased susceptibility to rot and decay
- Air spaces in the soil get filled with water
- Inhibited oxygen intake
- Prevention of carbon dioxide release
- Root rot
- Leaf scorch
- Leaves turning from green to yellow or brown
So, stop watering for a few days to eliminate this problem.
3. Avoid Underwatering
Underwatering is not beneficial for plants, but it is better to be mildly underwatered than overwatered. Effects of underwatering include:
- Wilting and limp leaves
- Slower plant growth
- Leaves closing their stomata to prevent evaporation
- Leaves turning from green to yellow or brown
- Very dry soil
Avoiding underwatering is better for your plants. Before watering, check how deep the soil is dry with your fingers. Water the plants when the soil is 1 to 2 inches dry, and water should be given according to the nature of the plant, the size of the pot, and the condition.
4. Avoid Using Too Much Fertilizer
Are you doing the plant a lot of good by using too much fertilizer? Then you are wrong. Using too much fertilizer will cause a lot of damage to the plants. The harmful aspects are:
- Abnormally reduced plant growth
- Reduced rate of water release from the plant
- Weakening of the plant
- Yellow and brown leaves
- Abnormal leaf drop
- Increased insect and disease attacks
In addition to these issues, the plant may face various problems. So you have to use fertilizer sparingly and be aware of fertilizer use.
5. Avoid Using Less Fertilizer
Just as too much fertilizer is bad for plants, too little fertilizer is also bad for plants. The disadvantages of applying less fertilizer are:
- Plants become deformed, leaves shrivel and turn brown
- Plant stems weaken
- Leaves fall prematurely
- Decreased productivity of the plants
- Decreased immunity of the plants
Therefore, it is very important to use the right amount of fertilizer. Using less fertilizer can lead to plant death. So, use fertilizer in proper ratios. You can use banana peel water as an easy and hassle-free fertilizer. Take the banana peel in a bowl, cover it with a little water, and keep it for 2 to 3 days. Then use that water on the root of the plant. It works like fertilizer as it contains potassium and magnesium.
6. Protection from Insect Attack
Plants’ leaves turn brown due to insect attacks. So, be careful about it. You can spray powdered soap water on the leaves to reduce insect infestation. If the pest infestation is high, it is better to use insecticides. Taking care of the plants by following all the mentioned rules will prevent the browning of your plant’s leaves and keep your plants healthy.
