Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:19 pm
Sometimes, when we stop to observe a little bit our plants we can detect some brown spots on the leaves. However, what are these spots due to? This may be one of the most difficult questions to answer but we are going to try to follow a series of guidelines to at least get closer to the problem.
Brown spots on plant leaves can be indicative of various issues, including disease, pest infestations, or environmental stress. To address and remove brown spots on your plant leaves, follow these steps:
1. Identify the Cause:
- First, determine the underlying cause of the brown spots. Inspect the leaves closely and consider factors such as water, light, humidity, and the presence of pests. Identifying the cause will help you take the most appropriate action.
2. Prune Affected Leaves:
- If the brown spots are confined to a few leaves, prune those affected leaves. Use clean and sharp pruning shears to make clean cuts. Dispose of the removed leaves to prevent the spread of disease or pests.
3. Adjust Watering:
- Overwatering or underwatering can lead to leaf issues. Ensure your plant is receiving the right amount of water for its specific requirements. Allow the soil to partially dry between waterings to prevent waterlogged roots.
4. Improve Drainage:
- Make sure your plant’s pot or garden soil has proper drainage. Poor drainage can contribute to root rot and leaf issues.
5. Maintain Consistent Humidity:
- Some plants are sensitive to fluctuations in humidity. Ensure a consistent humidity level within the appropriate range for your plant’s species.
6. Inspect for Pests:
- Examine the undersides of leaves and stems for signs of pests such as spider mites, aphids, or mealybugs. If pests are present, treat the plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil according to the product instructions.
7. Adjust Lighting:
- Ensure your plant is receiving the right amount of light. Some plants can develop brown spots from too much direct sunlight or too little light. Adjust the placement of your plant accordingly.
8. Proper Fertilization:
- Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can cause nutrient imbalances and leaf burn. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer and follow the recommended application rates.
9. Disease Management:
- If you suspect a fungal or bacterial disease, isolate the affected plant to prevent the spread of the disease to others. Treat the plant with a suitable fungicide or bactericide, following the product instructions.
10. Ensure Adequate Air Circulation:
- Good air circulation helps prevent fungal issues. Ensure that there is enough space between your plants and that the room is well-ventilated.
11. Monitor and Maintain:
- Regularly monitor your plant’s health and continue to provide the appropriate care to prevent further issues.
It’s important to note that some plants may naturally develop brown spots as they age. In such cases, simply removing the affected leaves is sufficient.
If the problem persists or worsens despite your efforts, consider seeking advice from a local nursery or a plant care expert who can provide specific guidance based on your plant’s type and growing conditions.
What are brown spots on plant leaves?
There are many different types of spots on the leaves of our plants as they are one of the most common symptoms of many diseases. They can be caused by viruses, fungi, bacteria, some insects or due to nutritional problems. That is to say, it is not going to be an easy task! Therefore, we are going to give you some tips to rule out options.
We can start by trying to detect if the cause of the spots is infectious (coming from fungi, viruses, bacteria,…) or non-infectious (caused by abiotic factors such as lack of nutrients or meteorological causes). It will be infectious if we see that the distribution of symptoms on the plant is irregular and we observe how they are spreading to other parts of the plant.
However, if the spots affect the whole plant equally or all leaves equally and we do not see a clear evolution of these symptoms, it will be a non-infectious problem.
In most cases, the main damage caused by these spots is a reduction in photosynthesis because the leaves have less useful surface area.
Types of brown spots according to their shape
It is very important to observe the shape of the spots as they are not all the same. There are some round spots, others with more angular shapes, some larger than others,… And, indeed, these characteristic shapes are the ones that can also help us in the diagnosis.
Circular brown spots or spots on leaves
They are usually lesions with a circular shape as shown in the photo. They do not affect the main nerves of the leaf.
Although they can be caused by some viruses, the most common cause is a fungus such as Cercospora beticola.
Angular spots
These spots have irregular shapes due to the fact that they usually take the shape of the leaf veins that limit them.
They are associated with fungal diseases such as downy mildew and other diseases caused by fungi such as Alternaria tomatophila, Corynespora cassiicola, Leveillula taurica, or some bacteria such as Xanthomonas sp.
Irregular, moist, greasy brown spots.
They have a moist, translucent, greasy appearance and can be quite widespread. They are usually found on leaves, but can also appear on stems and fruits. It is usually a state that evolves quickly to other types of spots of a browner color or with a necrotic appearance (those that end with the death of plant tissues). Occasionally, they may be surrounded by a yellow circle.
Possible causes:
Fungal diseases (fungi) at the beginning of development (mildew, alternaria, cercosporiosis,…).
Some bacteria such as Pseudomonas syringae in melon.
Large and widespread spots
If we find brown spots of several centimeters in size, it may be due to the fact that the small spots have been evolving little by little until they are joined together or toxicity problems.
Causes: bacteria or fungi (Botrytis cinerea, Mildew, Sclerotina sclerotiorum, Phoma,…)
Concentric spots (in the shape of a tree ring)
These are a type of spots that if we look closely inside we can see concentric rings (like when we cut a tree and see the rings on the trunk). It is mainly due to fungal diseases at the end of their evolution.
Brown spots in the form of a ring
Contrary to the previous case, if we see spots that form a single ring, it is most likely to be a virus. Although there are also some herbicides that cause ring-shaped toxicity on the leaves, which can cause confusion.
Solutions against brown spots on leaves
As mentioned above, the risk of confusion is important in diagnosing why brown spots appear on plants. Therefore, before applying any treatment we should:
Observe the spots well, see how they evolve over time, how they disperse, how they change color or the different parts they affect.
We must not forget to take a good look at both sides of the leaves. Often by looking at the underside we can observe some typical symptoms of fungi that will facilitate the diagnosis.
Once we get closer to our problem we can act and perform the appropriate measures for each case. In the blog you will find several posts about how to eliminate fungi from plants in the garden, what to do in case of diseases caused by viruses or some natural or ecological remedies for pests and diseases.
In the category “Pests and diseases” there are also several articles about white spots on leaves and many other problems that can arise in the garden. Anyway, do not hesitate to leave us in the comments your suggestions for topics, tips or any doubts you may have to help you as much as possible.