Plant Problem Lab
Pothos profile

Plant + symptom guide

Pothos brown spots

Brown spots need texture and location checks. Dry window-facing spots, soft spreading lesions, and pest speckling point to different next steps.

For pothos, adjust the diagnosis around this plant profile: Pothos is forgiving, but yellow leaves usually point to wet soil, low light, old leaves, or a root ball that has gone too dry and then been soaked.

Most likely causes

direct sun or heat scorchwet-soil root stresspestsleaf damage from moisture swingsoverwatering or slow-drying soillow light slowing growth and water use

How to confirm it

Check whether spots are dry and tan, soft and spreading, or tiny and speckled.

Notice whether damage is strongest on the window-facing side.

Inspect undersides and new growth for residue, dots, or webbing.

Check whether yellowing is on older inner leaves or spreading through whole vines.

Look for long bare stems that point to low light.

Next steps for Pothos

  1. Step 1

    Move out of harsh direct sun if damage lines up with the window.

  2. Step 2

    Isolate the plant if pest signs appear.

  3. Step 3

    Avoid cutting every spotted leaf until the cause is stable.

Recommended reading

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