– Philodendron Leaves Turning Brown –

Philodendron Leaves Turning Brown – Beginners Troubleshooting Guide

We are all too familiar with the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize that your beautiful philodendron leaves are turning brown. So many questions begin to race through your mind…

Is there a water problem?

Are there pests or diseases?

Where did you go wrong?!?!

Philodendron Leaves Turning Brown

Fortunately, we have a process that we like to follow to hone in on the specific issue causing your philodendron leaves to turn brown.

So if you’re ready to get to the bottom of your brown philodendron leaves, roll up your sleeves, grab your magnifying glass, and let’s get our hands dirty!

credit: gyfcat

What Type of Brown Leaves Do You Have? (And What Caused It?)

Did you know a brown leaf is not just a brown leaf?

Believe it or not, there are different types of brown philodendron leaves, and distinguishing the difference is the first step in identifying the source of your philodendron troubles.

It is also why we have structured this guide to help you cut down the amount of time and energy you invest into finding the problem.

Our recommended Garden Bench Top approach is to:

  • identify the type of brown leaf your philodendron has developed,
  • read through the potential causes and choose the most likely cause, and
  • implement the suggested solutions (detailed below each reason).

Note: You may see the exact cause listed times under different types of brown leaves. This is normal since you may find varying types of brown leaves developing on a weakened philodendron.

1. Philodendron Leaves Completely Brown

It would be tough to misdiagnose a philodendron with completely brown leaves. The brown leaves are very obvious and (to be honest) stand out like a sore thumb.

The entire philodendron leaf will be discolored and can vary in shades of brown.

A sick leaf will also develop a different texture when compared with other healthy leaves.

The texture is an important element in helping us narrow down the potential causes of the brown leaves. For example, brown leaves can become soft and floppy. Or, at the other extreme, they can develop into dry and crispy leaves.

It is also common for completely brown leaves to fall off. Sometimes, this is the first instance we notice our philodendron is in trouble.

Completely Brown Leaves on Philodendron

Root Rot Caused by Overwatering

A common cause for completely brown leaves on a philodendron is the development of a disease in the main root system called root rot.