Anthuriums have some of the most beautiful, shiny, and bright leaves, but it’s common for them to get brown spots or turn brown and dull. If you see brown leaves on your anthurium, you should be worried. But don’t be! With some help from a professional, your plant will get better quickly!
Flamingo lily, also known by its botanical name Anthurium, is a popular tropical houseplant admired for its lush green leaves and brightly colored flower spathes However, even with proper care, it’s not uncommon for the leaves to start turning brown
Brown leaves on your flamingo lily can be caused by various factors including watering issues, excessive sunlight low humidity, temperature stress, soil problems, pests, and diseases. The good news is that with some troubleshooting and adjusted care, your plant can bounce back from this issue.
Common Causes of Brown Leaves on Flamingo Lily
Here are some of the most frequent reasons behind brown leaves on Anthurium plants
Overwatering
Excessive watering leads to saturated soil, which deprives the roots of oxygen. This causes root rot and leaf browning. The foliage may start drooping before turning brown.
Underwatering
Insufficient watering leads to dehydration, resulting in dry, crispy brown leaves. The browning typically starts from the tips and edges.
Direct Sun Exposure
Anthuriums prefer bright, indirect light. Too much direct sun can scorch the leaves, causing burnt brown spots.
Low Humidity
Flamingo lily thrives in humid conditions. Dry air causes the leaf margins to brown and curl up.
Temperature Fluctuations
Exposure to very warm or cold drafts can stress the plant, leading to leaf scorching.
Improper Soil
Soil that doesn’t drain well or retains too much moisture leads to root rot. On the other hand, a sandy mix that dries out quickly can cause dehydration.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Lack of important nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium leads to chlorosis and leaf browning.
Pest Infestations
Common pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and thrips suck sap from the leaves, causing stippling, discoloration, and browning.
Bacterial or Fungal Diseases
Leaf spot, blight, and other diseases can also lead to necrotic brown spots on the foliage.
How to Fix and Prevent Brown Leaves on Flamingo Lily
If your Anthurium has developed brown leaves, don’t panic. Here are some tips to nurse it back to health and prevent recurrence of the issue:
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Adjust watering – Check if the soil is staying wet for too long after watering. Allow it to dry out slightly between waterings. Water less frequently during winter when growth slows down.
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Provide bright, indirect light – Place the plant near an east or west-facing window where it gets a few hours of gentle morning/evening sun. Filter harsh light with a sheer curtain.
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Increase humidity – Use a pebble tray, humidifier, or group plants together to maintain 40-60% humidity around the Anthurium. Mist the leaves occasionally.
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Keep temperatures moderate – Ideal range is 60-80°F. Avoid cold drafts and direct heat sources like appliances and heating vents.
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Use well-draining soil – Anthuriums need a fertile, loose, breathable potting mix that retains some moisture but also allows excess water to drain away readily.
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Apply balanced fertilizer – Use a houseplant fertilizer at half strength every 2-4 weeks during the growing period to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
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Treat pest infestations – Use horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, or neem oil to get rid of sap-sucking pests. Cut away badly infested parts.
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Improve air circulation – Allow space between plants for air to flow freely. This prevents moisture buildup and spread of diseases.
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Prune away damaged leaves – Remove leaves that are more than 50% brown to improve the plant’s appearance and encourage new growth. Sterilize pruners before each cut.
With some adjustments to its growing conditions and care routine, your flamingo lily can thrive once again. Consistent troubleshooting and preventive care will help keep its foliage lush and green.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the edges of my flamingo lily leaves turning brown?
Brown leaf edges are often caused by low humidity. Increase ambient humidity around the plant to prevent the leaf margins from drying out. Grouping plants together and using a humidifier can help.
Why is my flamingo lily getting brown spots on the leaves?
Brown spots usually indicate sunburn, pest damage, or a fungal/bacterial infection. Move it away from direct light, treat pests, and remove affected leaves to stop the spread.
I water my flamingo lily frequently but the leaves are still turning brown. Why?
Overwatering causes saturated soil and root rot leading to brown leaves. Allow the soil to partially dry out between waterings and ensure the pot has enough drainage holes.
How can I revive my flamingo lily plant that has several brown leaves?
Assess the cause and make suitable adjustments to lighting, watering, humidity, etc. Remove badly damaged leaves. The plant will produce new foliage if growing conditions are improved.
Should I cut off all the brown leaves on my flamingo lily?
Remove only leaves that are 50% or more affected. Cutting away too many leaves can stress the plant further. The remaining green parts of partially browned leaves can still photosynthesize.
With some attentive care and prompt troubleshooting, your flamingo lily can bounce back from the unsightly browning issue. Always observe proper watering practices and optimal growing conditions for a healthy, thriving Anthurium plant.
Over Exposure to Direct Sunlight
Overexposure to direct sunlight is a common cause of brown leaves on anthuriums. Some sunlight is okay for these tropical plants, but too much can burn their leaves and cause them to get sunburned. You’ll know that this is the cause if you notice spots that look burnt on your leaves.
Keeping an Anthurium from getting too much direct sunlight is easier than nursing it back to health, so it’s important to find the right balance between light and shade. Anthuriums like bright light that comes from behind them, so put them near a window with sheer curtains or outside in a spot with some shade.
If you see that your anthurium’s leaves are turning brown from too much sun, move the plant to a shadier area right away. Until the plant has recovered, this should be done out of direct sunlight. Do not put it in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day. This will quickly burn the leaves of your plant.
As long as the leaves don’t begin to rot, you can leave the burnt leaves on the plant if you don’t mind the look. It typically won’t hurt the plant to leave the burnt foliage on, but many people choose to prune away the brown leaves, as they will never turn back to green. When doing this, make sure to use clean, disinfected pruning shears.
Low humidity is another common cause of brown leaves on anthuriums. Low humidity can stress out the plant and cause it to dry out, which makes the leaves turn brown and crispy. This issue usually arises during the winter months when heaters are turned on to keep homes warm. The heater’s hot air dries out the air in your home or office, which hurts the growth of your indoor plants.
The leaves on your plant will be brown if they feel crunchy when you touch the brown spot and the brown seems to be around the edges of the leaves.
To prevent this problem, consider investing in a humidifier that will help you maintain a suitable level of moisture around your anthuriums. Alternatively, you can place a humidity tray filled with pebbles and water underneath your plant’s pot to create some extra humidity.
Another good way to keep the humidity level right is to group plants together so that they release water through transpiration. This process increases relative humidity around them naturally.
Watering issues can also cause brown leaves on anthuriums. This problem can be caused by two types of watering errors: too much or too little. There may also be harmful substances in the water that are also causing the brown leaves. When you give your plants tap water, make sure it is clean or let any chlorine evaporate before giving it to them.
Overwatering is one of the most common causes of brown leaves on anthuriums. It happens when the plant gets too much water and stays in it for too long without letting the roots get enough oxygen. This will eventually rot the roots. Root rot can harm your plant, hinder its growth, and ultimately may even kill your plant.
The earliest sign you’ll see when overwatering has occurred is drooping leaves, followed by browning of the leaves. When overwatering is the cause, the leaves will still feel soft, almost mushy. Another sign of overwatering is if there is a smell coming from the soil.
When overwatering occurs, it’s important to take quick action to save your plant. You’ll want to remove the entire plant from the pot, get the soil away from the roots carefully, and thoroughly inspect the roots. Using clean pruning shears, prune away any brown and soft roots. Those have been rotted and will not come back to life. Treat with our Root Supplement.
Avoid overwatering by checking if the top layer of soil feels dry before giving more water, preferably using a moisture meter. Adjust watering frequency depending on environmental factors like light intensity and humidity levels.
Dehydration is one of the most common reasons for brown leaves on anthuriums. Anthuriums require a consistent supply of water to thrive, and without it, they can quickly become dehydrated.
One way to check if your anthurium is dehydrated is to feel the soil. If it feels dry or almost powdery to the touch, then chances are your plant needs watering. But be careful not to water too much, as we already talked about, as this can also cause problems like root rot.
One more way to tell if your Anthurium is browning because it is too wet is to feel the leaves that are affected. If they are crunchy and most of the leaf is turning brown, it’s probably because it was too wet. Don’t worry, though! Anthuriums are fairly tough and will bounce back once you get them rehydrated.
Rehydrating your plant is not always as simple as just giving it a good watering. At times, when soil is really dry, it will actually push water away, making the water run off the sides of the pot and out the bottom. Because you can see water coming out of the holes, this makes it look like you’re watering enough. Putting your finger (or a moisture meter) in the soil is a better way to figure out how much to water your plant. If it’s bone dry, you’ll need to take extra measures to rehydrate it.
It worked best for me to put 4 to 6 inches of water in a large bowl or sink and then lay the pot on its side in the water, if it was small enough. For five minutes, let it soak there. Then, turn the pot so that the other side is in the water. Each turn should be about a quarter of a turn. Let the plant soak for at least 20 minutes, turning it every few minutes.
You can quickly hydrate your plant this way, and the soil will soak up enough water to fully rehydrate itself as well. Use a houseplant shovel or rake to carefully dig into the soil and check to see if the soil in the middle of the pot is wet or dry. If the soil is wet all the way through, you can take the plant out of the water and let the extra water drain away.
From now on, you should be able to water the plant normally as long as the soil doesn’t dry out again.
It is true that fertilizer gives your anthuriums the nutrients they need to stay healthy and bright, but too much fertilizer can kill the plant. One of the first symptoms of over fertilizing is brown leaves. It’s possible for too much fertilizer to burn the roots and stop them from getting water or nutrients.
The brown leaves on your plant could be caused by too much fertilizer. Check to see if the brown leaves are droopy. They will typically not be too dried out, either. If you just gave your plant fertilizer a week or so ago and now it has brown spots or leaves that are turning brown, you probably gave it too much fertilizer. You’ll need to fix the problem right away.
To keep your anthuriums from getting too much fertilizer, make sure you follow the directions for how often and how much to use. Before applying fertilizers to any plant, not just Anthurium, it’s best to water them down to half their strength. Do this until you’re sure the plant can handle the type of fertilizer you have for it.
One sure-fire way to prevent over fertilizing is by only giving your Anthurium a plant food that is made for indoor plants. This plant food is given each time you water your plant, and has the perfect balance of nutrients that your plant will be able to absorb quickly, completely avoiding the possibility of fertilizer burn (if administered properly).
To save a plant that has been given too much fertilizer, you’ll want to completely drown the roots. Take the plant outside and let the water hose run through the soil for several minutes. The goal is to wash away any more nutrients that may continue to harm your plant. In most cases, plants will begin to bounce back from this within a few days.
For a few months after fertilizer burn, a plant will be much more sensitive to it. For this reason, it shouldn’t be fertilized again for at least two months. After this, slowly add more fertilizer until you reach the full amount that was suggested. This should take about six months.
Anthuriums are sensitive to environmental fluctuations, which can cause brown leaves. These plants prefer consistent temperatures between 60-85°F, so sudden changes in temperature can stress them out. If you moved your Anthurium to a new place with different temperatures or lighting, give it some time to get used to its new home. Slowly get your plant used to its new surroundings by letting it be in them for short amounts of time every day until it does.
Drafty windows and doors or air vents can also cause damage to your Anthurium’s foliage. To keep this from happening, make sure they aren’t near any drafty areas and that the temperature stays the same around them.
To figure out if this is why your plant’s leaves are turning brown, you’ll have to really put yourself in their shoes. You can tell if this is the cause by seeing how, when, and how quickly the environment of your plant has changed. This is because changes in the environment can turn a leaf brown all over or just leave brown spots.
In the end, your plant will get better as long as the new environment is within its acceptable range. It will just take some time. Just make sure that the temperature and humidity around your plant are both within the acceptable range. If the new environment isn’t in the acceptable range, you will need to change it or move the plant to a place where it can get the right temperature and humidity.
7 Causes of Brown Leaves On Anthuriums
Here are the most common reasons your Anthurium leaves may be turning brown. If you see a few brown leaves among the healthy ones, you probably don’t need to worry. Read below to try to pinpoint exactly why your Anthurium’s leaves are turning brown.