Home/Leaf Doctor

What's wrong with this leaf?

You don't need the right words to describe a plant problem - just point at the picture that looks like yours. Each card links straight to the step-by-step fix. When two look similar, check the soil first: wet or dry decides half of all diagnoses.

Brown, crispy tips and edges

Dry air, underwatering, or fertiliser salt build-up.

Underwatering rescue Humidity guide

Yellowing lower leaves, wet soil

Overwatering - roots sitting in soggy soil and starting to rot.

Overwatering rescue Watering scheduler

Yellow between green veins

Nutrient deficiency (often iron or magnesium) - chlorosis.

Fertiliser calculator Feeding basics

White powdery coating

Powdery mildew - a fungus that loves still, humid air.

Pest & disease guide Problem solver

Brown spots with yellow halo

Fungal or bacterial leaf spot - often from wet leaves at night.

Pest & disease guide Rescue protocols

Fine webbing, dusty speckles

Spider mites - thrive in warm, dry rooms; check leaf undersides.

Pest & disease guide Humidity guide

White cottony clumps in joints

Mealybugs - they hide where leaves meet stems.

Pest & disease guide Problem solver

Sticky film, tiny green insects

Aphids or scale - the stickiness is honeydew they excrete.

Pest & disease guide Neem & soap how-to

Holes and chewed edges

Caterpillars, slugs or beetles - mostly on outdoor and balcony plants.

Pest & disease guide Garden crops

Leaves curling or cupping

Heat stress, thirst, or pests feeding on the underside.

Rescue protocols Light checker

Whole plant drooping

Either extreme: bone-dry roots or waterlogged ones. Check the soil first.

Rescue protocols Watering scheduler

Leggy, pale, stretching growth

Not enough light - the plant is reaching for the nearest window.

Check your light Low-light plants

Still stumped? The problem solver walks through it question by question, and the rescue protocols cover the full emergency-room routine.

Plant first-aid kit

Soil moisture meter Most rescues begin with finding out how wet the roots really are. Check price Pruning snips Clean cuts on dead and mushy growth. Check price Indoor potting mix Fresh, free-draining soil for the repot. Check price Pots with drainage holes Water has to be able to leave. Check price

Links go to Amazon or a partner store (such as Adagio Teas) and may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We link gear types, not sponsors' picks: you choose the exact product.