If you notice that many leaves are yellowing at once, and the yellowing is happening all over your plant, Mast says it could be a watering issue. Note, however, that yellow leaves won’t magically turn green again. You’ll need to snip them off with a pair of sharp scissors. For those plants with brown edges on their leaves, a thorough watering and more regular misting should do the trick. Take a spray bottle and give your plant’s leaves a spritz every day to temporarily increase the humidity around them. (Note: Plants with fuzzy leaves like succulents and cactuses should not be misted.) Again, the brown leaves will not magically turn green again, but you should notice less of them forming within a week or two. If not, move onto plan B: “Another reason often is due to minerals like fluoride, salts, and chlorine found in tap water,” says Mast. “I suggest filling a pitcher with water and allowing it to stand uncovered overnight so the minerals can evaporate or just using distilled/rainwater instead of tap water.” Mast recommends filling a sink with about 2 to 4 inches of lukewarm water, depending on the pot size. From there, “remove the plant from its saucer and place it into the sink and allow the plant to soak up the water from the bottom. A plant’s roots usually reside toward the bottom of the pot, so this is the best way to make sure the water is reaching the roots quickly,” she says. Allow your plant to soak up the water for 30 to 60 minutes, and it should recover nicely. “At this time, it is also a good idea to take the sprayer and give the leaves a little shower. This will help hydrate the plant quickly and remove any dust from the foliage.” “Shake the solution well and then spray all areas of the plant that are infected with brown spots. It may take a couple of applications before the bacteria is totally gone,” she says. Repeat this process once or twice more, leaving two to three days in between treatments before putting the plant back in its home. The main thing that plants really can’t recover from, though, is root rot. “Unhealthy or rotten roots will be black to brown, mushy, shriveled, and even have a rotten, sour smell to them,” says Mast. “The plant’s roots are no longer viable and dead. Once this happens, the plant will not be able to take up water and nutrients, causing the plant to die.” In this case, say a little prayer for your plant, compost it, and consider what went wrong so you don’t make the same mistake the next time. Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
