Common Leaf Browning Issues in Gardens

The leaves of the Plant Leaves often start turning brown, and we have faced this issue a lot in our garden as well. It is a common issue for many gardener, due to which they are quite worrie and struggle a lot with their plants. Contrary to this problem, everyone wants to maintain greenery in their garden. Brown tips that remain on the plant often indicate that there is some interference with the water. And on the other hand, some also believe that it is cause by improper care or due to a disease or pest attack, so we will provide you with complete information about what is the cause of this and how to avoid it.

When we noticed that our plants were turning yellow or brown, meaning that brown spots were forming, we realized that the plants were trying to tell us something. The most important reason for this was improper watering or too much, or too little water. Plants usually need five gallons of water per square meter weekly when it is in their active growth period, and we had made a small maintenance mistake in this. Therefore, we saw that there were also some other factors, such as low humidity, inconsistent water schedules, lack of fertilizer, etc. Even the difference in water quality can be a reason.

Check the Root of the Problem

When your plant is showing brown leaves, the real culprit often lurks below the surface, so to properly understand why your plant is showing brown leaves, you will need to examine it properly.

The root problem usually manifests itself in two main ways: a root-rot condition and a root-bound condition. Both conditions are very similar to each other and require the same treatments. For this, first of all, you will have to check the roots of your plants. The easiest way to do this is to first remove the roots from the pot, including the plant. Then, place your hand on the soil surface and tap the bottom of the pot to loosen the root ball a little. If the plant is resisting coming out, it means that it has become very root-bound. In such a case, you will have to squeeze the flexible container or use a knife to loosen the edges.

Healthy roots should always be firm, white, or creamy, but what we saw in this unhealthy root was not. The difference we saw in the condition of the root rot was that it was soft mushy root and brown while we mostly found it in black color while a foul and unpleasant smell was coming out of the soil and the root was being pulled out very easily because its outer layer had become slippery while the condition we saw for the root bound plants was that the root was in the form of a dense mat circling on the root ball and the root that was there was visibly grinding for the drainage hole then the container that was there was being pushed out from the shape due to the root pressure and the soil was a little visible between the roots.

Identifying Symptoms of Underwatering in Plants

In looking and listening, we examined two different causes, but both conditions have similar leaf symptoms, and you may have noticed yellowing Plant Leaves, especially on some of the older leaves. Wilting is also often cause by inadequate watering, stunted growth, and prematurely brown leaf tips and edges. Without a doubt, these symptoms are often cause by underwatering, which can be confusing to diagnose.

Moreover, when we tried overwatering and underwatering, both caused root problems. In addition, the soggy soil provides a perfect condition for fungi to live in, and they survive better in it. If we dry out the roots, they can die, and if we overwater, the roots can rot.

Evaluate Soil and Water Conditions

In addition to the root problems we saw, soil conditions and water quality often explain why leaves are turning brown. These factors, in particular, make it difficult to determine the exact source of the plant’s distress.

The white crust that forms on the surface of the soil, at the edges of the pot, is a telltale sign of salt buildup. These salts usually come from fertilizers or hard water, and they extract moisture out of the plant cells, creating a chemical burn that results in the brown tips we see on plants. And the major reason for the brown tips you often see on plants is, as we have already mentioned, the quality of the water, so try to use better quality water that does not contain various types of salts.

Fertilizer burn is often found in plants and is cause by adding too much fertilizer or by applying fertilizers incorrectly. Fertilizers contain some salts that remain in the soil, and when the soil absorbs nutrients from it, it causes the roots to become tender or the foliage.

Soil Drainage

Apart from this, soil drainage also plays a very important role. For drainage, we dug a 12-inch deep pit to test drainage and filled it with water, and then let it drain completely. When we refilled it again, we saw how much water drained in 15 minutes. When we had to calculate the average hourly drainage, one to three inches is an ideal range. So we multiplied that 15-minute drainage by four, and on average, we got drainage in the same range. If the drainage is less than this, it is in poor condition, and if it is more than this, it is dry soil, due to which the right amount of water does not reach the plant.

Water Quality

Water quality matters a lot. We first used salt water, i.e., water that had chlorine mixed in it, and the sensitive species started to show yellow or develop brown tips. In contrast, when we used the right soft water, it did not have any negative impact on the plant and we got very good results.

Solutions

Flush the soil with clean water and use a container to leach out excess salts. Water the plants deeply but infrequently to prevent salt build-up. Check the soil moisture before watering by inserting your finger into the soil to make sure the soil moisture level is good enough. Tap water is usually hard, so consider the rainwater too.

Fix and Prevent Brown Tips on Plants

Now that we have identified the causes of brown tips on our plants, we will talk about how to fix this damage or problem. First, you notice that your leaves are turning brown. First of all, you should flush the soil. Salt accumulation, which is due to fertilizers or tap water, should also be kept in a suitable container so that it does not turn brown. The reason for this is osmotic stress. When you flush it properly, using distilled water and reversing the osmosis, you will get a total of twice the container volume. Then pour the water down slowly so that it can freely pass through the drainage hole and leave it for 30 to 60 minutes.

After this, air circulation is also a critical factor, so it should be properly manage. Without airflow, the soil becomes damp, and this becomes the perfect condition for fungi or bacteria to thrive.

The best solution for this is to install fans, but instead of installing fans, we used a better solution. We placed our indoor plants near the windows so that natural airflow is maintained. In addition, we hung some plants on the ceiling, which also makes natural airflow stronger. Low humidity also often causes brown spots, so for this, use pebble trays or group plants. In addition, keep the plants in a moisturized area, such as the washroom or near an area where there is a lot of water use.

Conclusion

Brown Plant Leaves are often found on Plant Leaves that show an insidious leaf condition, and they also cause panic in gardeners. In this guide, we have completely told you what the common issues that cause this browning, such as root rot related to the soil or rootbound in the plant due to which this issue. Apart from this, soil conditions, water quality, and environmental factors all contribute to it, which causes leaf browning. Remember that plants communicate according to their needs, and these are some tips that will help you know if your plant has any disease. After diagnosing them, knowing the exact problem and observing it is very important. Regarding the condition of the soil, we mentioned that its training should be good.

Talking about water quality, the quality of the water, i.e., not being salty, causes this osmotic pressure and many plants. Some water is removed, and it causes a dry condition in plants. In addition, airflow was mentioned in the environmental conditions, which means that airflow should also be good, for which fans should be used or windows and ceiling areas should be closed, and in addition, humidity levels should be maintained.