Pothos plants (Epipremnum aureum or Scindapsus aureus) are evergreen vines that can grow several feet within one year, though they are considered slow growers. The pothos plant is known to be one of the best plants for purifying the air in your home or office because it has very few problems with pests or diseases. However, occasionally brown, shriveled leaves can appear on your pothos plant for no apparent reason.
1) Brown Plant Stem
The first possible cause of the brown leaves on your pothos may be that the stem running up through the center of the leaf turned brown and dried out. This problem may arise from over or under-watering. When it appears that the plant stem has turned brown, you can test whether this is true by pulling on a leaf. If the entire leaf detaches from its base then it is possible that overwatering could have been your problem. Water your plant less often but for longer periods to help prevent this problem in the future.
2) Root Rot or Fungal Disease
Another possible reason for brown leaves appearing on your pothos is that the roots are rotting due to either a root rot disease or fungus. Again, this may be caused by over-watering, but if you think about it, water can’t pool up around the roots if they are rotting, so it must be occurring from the inside out. If you think that your pothos plant may have root rot or a fungal disease then you should take a sample into your local garden center to ask for help.
3) Insect Damage
Insects can cause browning of leaves on pothos plants, but it is unlikely that this will occur. If you believe that insects are the problem then you should take a sample into your local garden center to determine what type of pest infestation may be occurring on your plant.
4) Too Much Sunlight
When the leaves of your pothos plant turn brown and begin to wither it may be because the plant is not receiving enough light. The leaves should be a medium to dark green in color, so if they are turning brown then you may need to move your pothos plant to an area that receives brighter light.
5) Iron Deficiency
Another reason for the browning of leaves on your pothos may be related to the plant getting too much fertilizer. If your pothos is growing in a pot and you have been giving it regular doses of fertilizer, then it could be receiving too much. The signs of this are usually yellowing leaves. If this is happening, cut back on the amount of fertilizer that you give your plant and see if that helps.
6) Cold Temperature
Pothos plants can survive very low winter temperatures, but, if given no protection, they will die. If the leaves on your pothos plant are turning brown then it may be because of a sudden change in temperature or exposure to cold winds. You should move your plant away from any drafts and into an area where the temperature stays stable.
7) Soil Not Properly Drained
Another possible reason for brown leaves appearing on your pothos is that the plant’s roots are not getting enough oxygen and they begin to rot. This can occur if the soil is not properly drained or if it has too many minerals in it. You should repot your pothos plant in new soil to make sure that the soil is not holding too much water.
8) Not Enough Watering
The final possible reason for brown leaves on a pothos plant may be because the plant is not getting enough water. You should check to make sure that you are adequately watering your plant by checking the soil with your finger. If it is very dry when you insert your finger into the soil, then it is time to water. This will cause leaves to turn brown and wilt because there isn’t enough moisture in the soil for the plant’s roots to absorb.
When pothos leaves turn brown on their own, they can be removed without
why are my pothos leaves turning brown
