Brown spots on houseplants
Common causes of brown spots and the first things to check, summarized from 63 PlantGrail care records across 37 plants (as of ).
What causes brown spots on houseplants?
It depends on the plant and how it is kept, so check the plant pages below. For Cactus, the records explain it like this: Microscopic flat mites (Brevipalpus spp.) or spider mites feed on the cactus epidermis, causing orange-red blemishes that merge into brown, cork-like scars. This is often misdiagnosed as "rust fungus" but lacks the characteristic powdery spores.
Common first steps
- Improve air circulation with a small fan.
- Confirm by wiping a white Q-tip across the blemish; if it comes away with orange/red streaks (crushed mites), it is an infestation.
- Treat with a sulfur-based miticide or neem oil once weekly for 4 weeks. Standard insecticides often fail against mites.
Plants with records for brown spots
Most records first. Open a plant for its own causes and fixes.
- fiddle leaf fig Ficus lyrataPlant care guide
- calathea Goeppertia spp.Plant care guide
- dieffenbachia Dieffenbachia spp.Plant care guide
- pilea peperomioides Pilea peperomioidesPlant care guide
- peperomia Peperomia spp.Plant care guide
- rubber plant Ficus elasticaPlant care guide
- pothos Epipremnum aureumPlant care guide
- philodendron Philodendron spp.Plant care guide
- snake plant Dracaena trifasciataPlant care guide
- bird of paradise Strelitzia reginaePlant care guide
- zz plant Zamioculcas zamiifoliaRead the guide
- orchid Phalaenopsis spp.Plant care guide
- chinese evergreen Aglaonema spp.Plant care guide
- monstera deliciosa Monstera deliciosaPlant care guide
- prayer plant Maranta leuconeuraPlant care guide
- tradescantia Tradescantia zebrinaPlant care guide
- schefflera Schefflera arboricolaRead the guide
- jade plant Crassula ovataRead the guide
- alocasia Alocasia spp.Read the guide
- anthurium Anthurium spp.Read the guide
- syngonium Syngonium podophyllumRead the guide
- fiddle-leaf-fig Read the guide
- boston fern Nephrolepis exaltataPlant care guide
- chamaedorea elegans Plant care guide
- scindapsus pictus Scindapsus pictusPlant care guide
- hoya Hoya spp.Plant care guide
- pachira aquatica Plant care guide
- ficus elastica Ficus elasticaPlant care guide
- bromeliad Bromeliaceae spp.Plant care guide
- pothos manjula pothos manjulaPlant care guide
- coffee plant Coffea arabicaRead the guide
- pink princess Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess'Plant care guide
- majesty palm Ravenea rivularisPlant care guide
- parlor palm Chamaedorea elegansRead the guide
- dracaena Dracaena spp.Plant care guide
- english ivy Hedera helixRead the guide
- alocasia frydek Alocasia micholitziana 'Frydek'Plant care guide
Questions about brown spots
Which plants have the most records for brown spots?
fiddle leaf fig, calathea, dieffenbachia, pilea peperomioides, peperomia and 32 others.
Can brown spots be prevented?
Avoid extremely dry, stagnant air. Periodically shower your cacti with a gentle stream of water to dislodge early mite colonies, ensuring they dry quickly afterwards.
What are these records?
This page summarizes 63 PlantGrail care records on brown spots. Records describe care topics; they are not counts of observed plants or treatment outcomes.