What’s Wrong with My Houseplant? 7 Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore

Rotting, wilted or just plain sad looking? Here's the fix

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Published Apr 1, 2025

whats-wrong-with-my-houseplant: a dying potted plant

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It’s a sad truth that not every plant we fall in love with and bring home is going to thrive.

But there’s no blame here: Not every flower, shrub or bit of greenery is the right fit for your home. “Plants are living things tied to their environments,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturalist with Costa Farms. “There may be subtle changes in our homes that we don’t notice but that can affect them, such as a draft from a heating vent or lower light levels as the seasons change. You may be able to save your plant if you catch problems early.”

But don’t berate yourself if things suddenly aren’t looking good. “It’s OK to give up if more than half the plant is dead,” says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf of The Houseplant Guru and author of Bloom: The Secrets of Growing Flowering Houseplants Year-round. “I decide if a plant is worth my time and energy to try to bring it back to life.”

It’s also about how you feel. “It’s time to toss a plant if it doesn’t make you happy,” says Hancock. If you’ve tried to remedy the situation but the plant doesn’t seem to be recovering after a few weeks, it’s time to call it quits and get rid of it. Ditto if you can’t seem to get ahead of a pest outbreak because you risk infecting your other plants. To be honest, there’s no reason to keep struggling with a plant that doesn’t bring beauty and joy to your space. Toss it, chalk it up to experience and try again.

Ahead, the most common problems with houseplants and what you can do about them:

whats wrong with my houseplant poor growth

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1. Poor Growth

You may not be able to put a finger on why a plant isn’t looking healthy or putting out new leaves. Maybe it just looks a little “blah,” which is often because a plant isn’t getting sufficient light. “Light drives everything,” says Hancock. “The less light a plant receives, the less energy it has to grow.”

What to do:

Plant tags often tell you what kind of light a plant will tolerate, such as low light. But that’s not the same as what a plant actually wants, says Hancock. Most houseplants are tropical in origin and love as much bright, indirect light as you can provide. Although they’ll put up with low light, they’ll just sort of sit there and not push new growth. Try to boost the amount of light a lackluster plant receives and see if it perks up. If you don’t have bright east, west or south-facing windows, use a grow light.

whats-wrong-with-my-houseplant: an overwater potted plant

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2. Mushy, Rotting or Wilted Plant

You may interpret a wilted plant as needing more water, but it may be that the plant is too soggy. “When the potting mix surrounding the plant’s roots is too wet, the roots won’t have enough oxygen,” says Steinkopf. “This causes the roots to rot and the plant to collapse.” Other signs of overwatering include plant mushiness or rotting around the base of the plant.

What to do:

Feel the potting soil. If it feels soggy, you may have overwatered. If it’s in a small pot, ease the plant out of the container and examine the roots. “Healthy roots are firm and white. Rotted ones are soft, and the plant is likely to die,” says Hancock. Take a stem cutting and root it if the root system is compromised so you can propagate a new plant before this one dies.

whats-wrong-with-my-houseplant: a houseplant growing a yellow plant

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3. Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves could be a sign of overwatering or that you allowed the plant to dry out too much. “After watering it revives, but the consequences of inconsistent watering can be yellowing leaves,” says Steinkopf. A plant that’s too wet also may develop yellow leaves.

What to do:

Pay attention to the pattern of yellowing. “Every leaf has a lifespan,” says Hancock. “The oldest leaf will eventually yellow.” If it’s just one leaf, it’s probably nothing to worry about because it died from old age. But if it’s a lot of leaves, or if it’s only the new baby leaves, yellowing often is due to overwatering. Cut back on the water and wait it out to see if the plant recovers.

whats-wrong-with-my-houseplant: a houseplant leaf with brown edges

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4. Crispy Brown Edges on Leaves

Brown leaf tips occur for many different reasons including too much fertilizer, a plant that touches a hot or cold window, or inconsistent watering. Some plants, such as calathea, also tend to get crispy edges if you don’t get their watering just right, says Hancock. This is due to the plant giving off more moisture than the roots are taking up.

What to do:

You’ll have to do a little sleuthing. Try to adjust your watering schedule, or if you suspect you may have been fertilizing too frequently, cut back and consider flushing the potting mix with water to wash out excess fertilizer. Or you may consider repotting the plant in fresh potting medium, says Steinkopf.

whats-wrong-with-my-houseplant: a woman inspecting a plant leaf with a magnifying glass

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5. Sticky Substance on Leaves

Look closely: You may think it’s some sort of sap from the plant itself, but it’s more likely a sign of bugs. This sticky substance is called honeydew, and is the excretion of pests such as scales, mealybugs or aphids sucking the plant juices and excreting the excess sugars, says Steinkopf.

What to do:

Isolate an infected plant from others in your collection to prevent the spread. Then make a positive ID so you know the best way to manage each pest. Pests such as aphids and scales can be sprayed off with a blast from a kitchen sprayer or garden hose. Scales and mealybugs can be treated with insecticidal soap or neem oil, but follow the label instructions. Re-treat a plant every week or so, as needed, for a few months. “Don’t assume it’s one-and-done treatment,” says Hancock.

whats-wrong-with-my-houseplant: a houseplant sitting directly under sunlight

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6. Pale or Scorched Leaves

Pale leaves may occur when a plant receives too much direct light. Succulents will take on a red hue. “If a plant is moved from a low-light area to a high-light area, such as when we take it outdoors for the summer, it can develop scorched leaves,” says Steinkopf.

What to do:

Slowly acclimate plants to higher light levels. For example, if you want to take a houseplant outdoors for summer, first place it in a shaded area or along the north side of the house for a week or two, then only in a little morning sun, gradually increasing the hours of direct light it receives, says Steinkopf. But also remember that many tropical houseplants grow in the understory in their native environment, shaded by large trees, so they won’t tolerate full sun.

whats-wrong-with-my-houseplant: a tall leaning house plant

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7. Stretching or Leaning Plant

A plant that’s leggy, leaning to one side or spindly looking with long, stretchy stems is likely not getting sufficient light, says Steinkopf. All houseplants, including succulents and cacti, may stretch as they try to grow toward the light source.

What to do:

If your plant is leaning or leggy, turn it regularly. “Rotate your plant a quarter turn every time you water for more even growth,” says Steinkopf. If it’s a succulent or cactus that’s stretching, try to move it closer to the light source or use a grow light.

Arricca Elin SanSone

Freelance Gardening Editor

Arricca Elin SanSone is a gardener with more than 15 years of experience. In addition to PureWow, she writes for Prevention, Country Living, Veranda, The Spruce and many other national publications. She also trials new plant cultivars and field tests garden products to evaluate practicality and durability.

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What’s Wrong with My Houseplant? 7 Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore

Rotting, wilted or just plain sad looking? Here's the fix

1. Poor Growth

What to do:

2. Mushy, Rotting or Wilted Plant

What to do:

3. Yellow Leaves

What to do:

4. Crispy Brown Edges on Leaves

What to do:

5. Sticky Substance on Leaves

What to do:

6. Pale or Scorched Leaves

What to do:

7. Stretching or Leaning Plant

What to do:

Freelance Gardening Editor

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