Most houseplant problems come down to water, light or bugs. Pick what you see below. Each card gives the likely causes and the first thing to check.
Do these 4 checks first. They take 5 minutes.
If it's wilting, check the roots too. University plant guides say to look at the roots any time a plant wilts.
Feel the soil. Wet and sour-smelling means check the roots. Bone dry means it's thirsty.
One old lower leaf turning yellow now and then is normal.
Wet soil? Read the root rot guide →
Is it near a heater or AC vent? How often have you fed it lately?
Brown tips won't turn green again. Trimming them only fixes the look, so fix the cause and watch the new leaves.
Feel the soil. Dry: water slowly until it runs out of the bottom. Wet: don't water, check the roots.
Wet and still drooping? Check for root rot →
Did you move it, or did the weather turn, in the last few weeks?
Weeping figs drop leaves after even small changes. Old inner leaves falling on an otherwise healthy plant is normal. If you're moving a plant somewhere brighter, do it over a few weeks.
Slide the plant out of its pot. Brown, soft roots that smell bad are rotting. Firm, white roots are healthy.
Read the full root rot guide →
Are the spots on the side facing the window? Did it sit by a cold window or ride home in a cold car?
Burned or frozen patches stay. New leaves will be fine once the cause is gone.
Does it lean toward the window, with long gaps between leaves?
Move it somewhere brighter. Stretched stems won't shrink, but new growth will be fuller. Trim the long stems to reshape it.
Move it away from your other plants, then look under every leaf with a flashlight. Sticky leaves usually mean mealybugs, scale or aphids.
Most bugs need treating every week for 4 to 6 weeks, because new ones keep hatching.
Both make a plant droop and turn yellow, which is why it's easy to guess wrong. Watering a plant that's already too wet is how most root rot starts. Here's how to tell them apart.
| Sign | Overwatered | Underwatered |
|---|---|---|
| Soil | Still wet days after watering | Dry, may pull away from the edge of the pot |
| Pot weight | Heavy | Light |
| Leaves | Yellow, soft and droopy | Dry, crispy edges, droopy |
| Stem base | Can turn soft | Firm |
| Roots | Brown, soft, may smell bad | Firm but dry |
| What to do | Stop watering and check the roots | Water slowly until it runs out of the bottom |
If water runs straight down the inside of the pot, the soil has shrunk away from the sides. Sit the pot in a bowl of water until the soil is soaked through.
Overwatered, and the roots are brown and mushy? Follow the root rot guide.
Still not sure? Try the free diagnosis tool on our site.
LivePlant for iPhone
Most of the problems on this page start with watering. LivePlant reminds you to check the soil and learns from your check-ins, so the schedule fits your plant and your season. If a leaf looks wrong, snap a photo and it suggests what might be causing it.
Free to download · iPhone only · iOS 16+
Usually water: too much or too little. Not enough light, not enough fertilizer and sap-sucking bugs can do it too. Feel the soil 2 inches (5 cm) down first. One old lower leaf turning yellow now and then is normal.
The roots are probably damaged, so they can't take up water. Don't water more. Slide the plant out of its pot and check the roots for rot.
Dry air is the most common cause. Uneven watering, too much fertilizer, and chlorine or fluoride in tap water can also cause brown tips.
Fungus gnats. They do little harm on their own, but they mean the soil is staying wet. Let the top of the soil dry out between waterings and empty the saucer.
Yes. A fully yellow leaf won't turn green again, so you can cut it off. Trimming brown tips only improves the look, so fix the cause first.
Dilip Kansara is the founder of LivePlant. He writes practical, data-backed guides on plant care for the LivePlant Blog.
Sources checked October 24, 2026.