What does a sick pothos look like?

Author: Viva Ryan  |  Last update: Sunday, January 18, 2026

If your golden pothos' leaves are turning brown or black, or developing brown tips and edges or small spots, the cause could be exposure to high temperatures and harsh sunlight, fertilizer overuse, overwatering, and several possible diseases. Poor air circulation and fungus issues can also turn its green leaves brown.

What does an unhealthy pothos look like?

The most common issue we see with pothos plants is yellowing leaves. However, this (like many other discoloration issues) can have multiple causes! Sometimes older leaves will yellow when the plant is done with them, but if you notice many leaves yellowing, there may be an issue.

How do you fix a sick pothos plant?

Rescuing an Over-Watered Pothos

Gently remove it from its pot to inspect the damage. Brown, mushy roots? It's time for surgery. Trim the rot, repot in fresh soil, and promise your Pothos you'll never overdo it again.

How to know if a pothos plant is dying?

How Can You Tell If A Jessenia Pothos Is Dying?
  1. Yellow leaves and browning tips signal over/under-watering in Jessenia Pothos.
  2. Leaf discoloration and pests indicate light issues and infestations.
  3. Root rot is stealthy; act fast with fresh soil and proper watering.

What does a pothos in shock look like?

One of the most noticeable signs of transplant shock is wilting. Despite proper watering, the plant's leaves or stems may droop and look limp, suggesting that the roots are not functioning properly. Leaf drop is another common symptom, with older leaves falling off more frequently, leading to a thinner appearance.

My Pothos Plant is DYING? What to do?

What does a dehydrated pothos look like?

Here are some telltale signs that your Pothos needs water: Its leaves seem to be wilting or drooping. The soil's top layer is very dry when you check with your finger. The leaves of your Pothos are browning, crisp, or brittle.

What does a stressed plant look like?

In fact, chances are those yellowing, brown, or wilting leaves you're noticing are early signs of plant stress. Plant stress describes a set of non-ideal growth conditions within which your plants are forced to survive.

What does an overwatered pothos look like?

A: If overwatered, your pothos will typically show signs of yellowing and mushy leaves.

How to nurse a pothos back to health?

Water your Pothos every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings. Expect to water more often in brighter light and less often in lower light. If the plant's leaves begin curling inward or the potting mix is dry, this is a sign you need to water it more often.

How do I know if my pothos has root rot?

One obvious sign your pothos has root rot is its leaves will slowly begin to wilt and yellow even though the soil is moist, or, if you check the roots, they may feel soggy and look brown or black. If you suspect your plant has root rot, DO NOT OVERWATER.

How do I bring my pothos back to life?

Cut off all the dead brown vines. Cut off any yellow leaves. Trimming the ends off healthy vines promotes growth from farther up the vine where leaves are missing, if you notice a particularly leafless vine. It'll be back to life in no time!

What is my pothos telling me?

The sad leaves are a tell tale sign of underwatering, and yellowing/blackened leaves can be the same (but also a fertiliser issue or a humidity issue) so either you're not watering enough when you water the plant (I bottom feed, by putting the hole pot in bowl full of water and removing once it stops drinking when the ...

What is the lifespan of a pothos plant?

Natural Lifespan of Pothos

A well-maintained Pothos can live anywhere from 5 to 10 years, sometimes even longer with the right conditions. Factors such as light, water, and soil quality play significant roles in determining how long your Pothos will live.

How to help sick pothos?

Control and Treatment

Discard infected plants and do not reuse pots. Sclerotia frequently cling to the sides of pots and will infect the next crop planted. Remaining pothos may be treated with a fungicide drench containing pentachloronitrobenze (PCNB) or flutolanil.

What does a wilted pothos look like?

If you accidentally let your plant's soil dry out completely, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown.

How often should I water pothos?

Pothos typically only need to be watered once every one to two weeks. If your plant is in bright light, it may need to be watered more than that, but usually, these plants don't need too much water in order to thrive and survive. A good rule of thumb is to let the top inch of soil dry out before you water again.

How do you make pothos healthy again?

Summary: pothos plant care
  1. Water only when the soil surface has dried out.
  2. Remove withered and dead leaves.
  3. To prune shoots, cut back by two thirds.
  4. Prune at leaf nodes for bushier growth.
  5. Fertilise every two to three weeks between March and October.

Should I cut off dying pothos leaves?

Pothos plants are easy to prune. All you need is a sharp, clean pair of shears or scissors so you can simply trim the vines to the desired length, or snip off a damaged leaf near the base of the stem where it connects to a vine.

Do pothos like to climb or hang?

Do Pothos like to climb or hang? Pothos naturally vine horizontally or hang downward from their pot unless there is more sunlight to reach up for. Depending on your preferences, these laid-back, easy-to-care-for plants are willing to climb, trellis, weave, or dangle from a hanging basket.

What does a diseased pothos look like?

Yellow leaves and mushy stems signal root rot issues. Root rot is often a result of fungal contaminants rather than bacterial ones. It's the most common affliction of pothos plants. You'll notice yellowing leaves and weak, mushy stems on aboveground growth.

Should I mist my pothos?

Does my pothos need a humid environment? Pothos like humid environments, so you may want to mist the leaves or place the pot on a humidity tray. Alternatively, you can keep your pothos in a naturally humid spot, like a kitchen or bathroom.

Should I cut the yellow leaves off my pothos?

Those yellow leaves will not recover, so you may also want to remove those (again, tug gently and they'll come off if they're ready) so the plant can direct its energy to growth and maintaining healthy leaves. Think about how much and how often you're watering your pothos plant.

How do you know if a plant is in shock?

The telltale signs of shock are yellowing or brown wilted leaves that droop drastically. Often a stressed plant becomes very delicate and the leaves easily fall off, if touched or bumped. There are two kinds of shock to be aware of when relocating or repotting your plants: plant shock and transplant shock.

What are the 3 signs of water stress in leaves plants?

Common signs of drought stress include:
  • Grayish cast to leaves.
  • Leaf curling or rolling.
  • Drooping leaders on conifers.
  • Leaf drop.

What does an unhealthy plant look like?

Signs are visible, direct evidence of the causal agent on the affected plant part. Signs may include tracks, bite marks, chemical residue, honeydew, egg masses, frass (insect fecal excrement), fungal mycelium and spores, or bacterial ooze.

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