Why is my plant turning brown?
On succulents especially, browning is usually the visible end of a root problem that started weeks earlier.
The causes, and how to tell them apart
Root rot from overwatering most common on succulents
How to tell: Browning that starts at the BASE and moves upward, with soft or mushy tissue near the soil line. The plant may feel loose in its pot.
What to do: Unpot immediately. Cut away all soft brown tissue, let the cut surfaces callus for a day or two in open air, then repot into dry gritty mix and wait a week before watering.
Sun scorch common after a move outdoors
How to tell: Bleached, tan or reddish-brown patches on the surfaces most exposed to sun, appearing within days of a move into brighter light.
What to do: Move to morning sun only and reintroduce brighter light gradually over two to three weeks. Scorched tissue will not recover.
Cold damage seasonal
How to tell: Browning after a cold night, often mushy at first and then dry and papery.
What to do: Bring it in ahead of cold nights. Remove the damaged growth once it is fully dry.
Which of these burn first
Sun scorch and heat stress are two of the causes above, and the threshold is not the same plant to plant. These are the least heat-tolerant species tracked here — above the figure shown, damage is a matter of hours in direct sun rather than days.
| Species | Heat damage above | Direct sun |
|---|---|---|
| Calathea | 90°F | no direct sun at all — it bleaches and crisps |
| Boston fern | 90°F | no direct sun |
| Pilea | 90°F | no harsh direct sun |
| Norfolk Island pine | 90°F | needs strong light or it goes sparse and droopy |
| Monstera | 95°F | 1–2h gentle morning sun is fine; harsh afternoon sun scorches |
| Pothos | 95°F | avoid direct afternoon sun; variegation fades in deep shade |
| Heartleaf philodendron | 95°F | no direct sun |
| Aglaonema | 95°F | no direct sun — the painted/pink cultivars want more light than the dark green ones |
| Corn plant | 95°F | no direct sun — bleaches the foliage |
| Madagascar dragon tree | 95°F | tolerates some morning sun |
Shade buys a few degrees, not a different air temperature — a plant under a pergola on a 104°F day is still in 104°F air.
By species
The likely answer differs by plant — these species have their own version of this problem:
Plantroster compares this month's photo against last month's, so slow changes — the ones you stop noticing because you see the plant every day — get flagged.
Open PlantrosterOther problems
General horticultural guidance, not a diagnosis of your specific plant.