Pothos Leaves Turning Brown?
The four common causes of brown tips and spots — and how to tell them apart.
Brown pothos leaves are usually about moisture stress, not disease: underwatering and low humidity cause dry, crispy brown tips and edges, while fertilizer burn browns the leaf margins after over-feeding, and direct sun leaves dry, bleached-brown scorched patches. Soft, dark-brown mushy spots are the exception — that points to overwatering and root rot. The pattern tells you which. Snap a photo below for an instant diagnosis and the exact fix.
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The 4 causes, compared
| Cause | How to spot it | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Underwatering / low humidity | Dry, crispy brown tips and edges; soil bone-dry | Water thoroughly until it drains; group plants or add humidity, and keep to a regular schedule |
| Fertilizer burn | Brown, scorched leaf margins soon after feeding; possible white crust on soil | Flush the soil with plenty of water; feed less often at half strength |
| Too much direct sun | Dry, bleached-brown scorched patches on the sun-facing side | Move to bright, indirect light away from harsh midday sun |
| Overwatering / root rot | Soft, dark-brown mushy spots, soil stays wet, stems limp | Let the top 2 in of soil dry; cut back watering and check roots for rot |
FAQ
- Why does my pothos have brown crispy tips?
- Crispy brown tips are the classic sign of underwatering or dry air — the leaf edges dry out first. Water thoroughly, raise humidity, and keep a steady schedule; existing brown tips won't recover but new growth will come in clean.
- Should I cut the brown parts off my pothos?
- You can trim a brown tip or a fully browned leaf — trim just inside the healthy tissue or remove the whole leaf at the base. It's cosmetic; the key is fixing the cause so new leaves don't brown too.
- Brown spots vs brown edges on pothos — what's the difference?
- Dry brown edges and tips point to underwatering, low humidity or fertilizer burn; soft, dark, spreading brown spots in wet soil point to overwatering and root rot. Check whether the soil is dry or soggy to tell them apart.