Pothos plants are beautiful, easy-to-care-for houseplants that can brighten up any space.
But what do you do when you see black spots on pothos leaves?
There are a few different things that could be causing black spots on pothos leaves, and luckily, most of them are easy to fix.
This article will cover the five most common causes of pothos leaves turning black and what you can do to solve the problem.
What Causes Black Spots on Pothos Leaves and How Can You Fix It?
Pothos plants are known for being tough and resilient, but even they can develop problems from time to time.
One problem that pothos plants experience is black spots on their leaves.
Black spots on pothos leaves can be caused by several things, including too much water and pests.
However, fungal diseases are the most common cause of black spots on pothos leaves.
However, to properly diagnose and treat black spots on pothos leaves, it’s essential to understand what’s causing them.
Only then can you take the necessary steps to fix the problem.
Here are the five most common causes of black spots on pothos leaves:
1. Overwatering
One of the most common causes of black spots on pothos leaves is overwatering.
Pothos plants are very sensitive to too much water; if their roots are constantly sitting in water, they will start to rot.
This usually happens because the pot doesn’t have proper drainage, the plant is getting too much water or both.
This can lead to several problems, including pothos root rot and black spots on the plant leaves.
You can tell if your pothos plant is overwatered if the leaves are wilting, yellowing, or falling off.
How To Treat An Overwatered Pothos Plant
If you think your pothos plant is overwatered, the first thing you need to do is check the drainage.
If the pot doesn’t have proper drainage, water will pool at the bottom and start to rot the roots.
Simply repot your pothos plant into a pot with drainage holes to fix this.
If the pot has drainage holes, but the plant is still overwatered, you may be giving it too much water.
To fix this, water your pothos plant less often or only when the soil is dry to the touch.
2. Fungal Diseases
Fungal diseases are another common cause of black spots on pothos leaves.
The most common fungal diseases that cause black spots on pothos plant are sooty mold, leaf spot, and anthracnose.
Sooty Mold
Sooty mold is a type of fungal growth that appears as black spots on the leaves of pothos plants.
The fungus grows on the honeydew produced by aphids and other pests and can quickly spread to cover large areas of the plant.
While sooty mold does not typically cause serious harm to pothos plants, it can impede photosynthesis and cause the Pothos leaves to turn yellow or brown.
In addition, sooty mold can make the plant more susceptible to disease.
How To Treat Sooty Mold
If you think your pothos plant has sooty mold, the first thing you need to do is check for pests.
Aphids and other pests produce honeydew, the food source for sooty mold.
If you find pests on your pothos plant, you can remove them by spraying the plant with water or using a natural pest control method.
Once the pests are gone, the sooty mold will start to disappear on its own.
You can also remove sooty mold by wiping it off the leaves with a damp cloth.
Fungal Leaf Spot
Leaf spot is another type of fungal disease that can cause black spots on pothos leaves.
Various fungi cause leaf spot, and they can quickly spread and kill a pothos plant if left untreated.
Leaf spot fungal infection usually begins as small, water-soaked spots on the leaves that eventually turn brown or black.
The spots are often surrounded by a yellow halo, which can eventually lead to the death of the leaves.
How To Treat Leaf Spot
If you think your pothos plant has leaf spot, the first thing you need to do is remove any affected leaves.
Leaf spot is very contagious and can quickly spread to other parts of the plant.
After removing the affected leaves, you should disinfect your pruning shears with rubbing alcohol to prevent the disease from spreading.
Once the affected leaves have been removed, you can treat leaf spot by spraying the plant with a natural fungicide.
There are some different natural fungicides that you can use, but one of the most effective is neem oil.
Neem oil is a natural insecticide and fungicide that is safe for use on pothos plants.
To use neem oil, simply mix it with water and spray it on the affected areas of the plant.
Anthracnose
Anthracnose is another fungal disease that can cause black spots on pothos leaves.
A variety of different fungi causes anthracnose, and it typically affects plants that are stressed or growing in shady, damp conditions.
Anthracnose symptoms include black or brown spots on the leaves, stems, and flowers.
This disease can quickly spread and kill a pothos plant if left untreated.
How To Treat Anthracnose
If you think your pothos plant has anthracnose, you first need to improve its growing conditions.
Anthracnose thrives in shady, damp conditions, so try to provide your plant with more sunlight and improve the drainage of its pot.
In addition, you should remove any infected leaves, stems, or flowers from the plant.
Anthracnose is very contagious and can quickly spread to other parts of the plant.
After removing the affected plant parts, you should disinfect your pruning shears with rubbing alcohol to prevent the disease from spreading.
Then, you can treat anthracnose by spraying the plant with a natural fungicide like neem oil.
Neem oil is a natural insecticide and fungicide that is safe for use on pothos plants.
To use neem oil, simply mix it with water and spray it on the affected areas of the plant.
3. Bacterial Infection
Bacteria can also cause black spots on pothos leaves.
Bacterial diseases are often spread by contaminated water or tools, and they can quickly kill a pothos plant if left untreated.
The most common bacterial diseases that affect pothos plants are bacterial leaf spot and bacterial blight.
Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot is a common disease that affects many different types of plants, including pothos.
These bacteria thrive in warm, humid conditions and can be spread by rain or watering.
Symptoms of the bacterial leaf spot disease include small, dark brown, or black spots on the leaves.
A yellow halo may surround the spots, and the leaves may eventually turn yellow and die.
How To Treat Bacterial Leaf Spot
To prevent bacterial leaf spot, always water your pothos plants from the base and avoid getting the leaves wet.
If your plant is already infected, you must remove any affected leaves and dispose of them.
You should also disinfect your tools and equipment to prevent the spread of the bacteria.
If the disease is severe, you may need to treat your plant with a copper-based fungicide.
Bacterial Blight
Bacterial blight is a common plant disease that can affect many plants, including pothos.
This disease is caused by a bacterium called Pseudomonas cichorii, which thrives in warm, moist conditions.
Symptoms of bacterial blight include black spots on the leaves, stems, and flowers of affected plants.
The spots may be surrounded by a yellow halo, which can eventually lead to the death of the plant.
How To Treat Bacterial Blight
Constantly water your pothos plants from the base to prevent bacterial blight and avoid getting the leaves wet.
If your plant is already infected, you must remove any affected leaves and dispose of them.
You should also disinfect your tools and equipment to prevent the spread of the bacteria.
If the disease is severe, you may need to treat your plant with a copper-based fungicide.
4. Pests
Pests can also cause black spots on pothos leaves.
Aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites are all common pests that can infest pothos plants.
These pests suck the sap from the affected plants’ leaves, stems, and flowers.
This can cause the Pothos leaves to turn brown or yellow and eventually die.
Pests can also spread diseases, so getting rid of them as soon as possible is essential.
How To Control Pests
To prevent pests, always inspect your pothos plants carefully before buying them.
If you see any pests, do not buy the plant.
You should also quarantine new plants for a few weeks to ensure they are not infested.
If your plant is already infested, you can remove them by hand.
Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to kill mealybugs and spider mites.
You can also spray a mixture of water and soap on aphids to kill them.
You can also use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control aphids.
These products are safe for humans and animals but kill the most common pests.
5. Fertilizer Burn
Fertilizer burn can also cause pothos leaves turning black.
This common problem occurs when too much fertilizer is applied to the plant.
The excess fertilizer can burn the roots and leaves of the plant, causing the leaves to turn brown or black.
Pothos plants need very little fertilizer, so you should only fertilize them once a month during the growing season.
How To Prevent Fertilizer Burn
If you see black spots on pothos leaves, it is probably because of fertilizer burn.
To prevent this problem, always follow the directions on the fertilizer label.
Do not apply more fertilizer than is recommended.
If your plant is already burned, you can try to save it by leaching the soil with water.
To do this, water the plant thoroughly and then allow the excess water to drain away.
You should also flush the soil with water every few weeks to remove any residual fertilizer.
How To Prevent Black Spots On Pothos Leaves
Pothos plants are relatively easy to care for, but they can be susceptible to problems like black spots on the leaves.
There are a few things you can do to prevent this problem:
- Water your pothos regularly, but ensure the soil is dry between waterings.
- Water from the bottom so that the leaves don’t stay wet.
- Use a well-draining potting soil mix.
- Provide bright indirect light, but avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.
- Provide good air circulation around the plant.
- Avoid using too much fertilizer, as this can cause black spots on the leaves.
- If you notice black spots, remove the affected leaves and dispose of them.
If you follow these tips, you should be able to prevent black spots on your pothos leaves.
Final Thoughts
Black spots on pothos leaves can be caused by several different problems, including disease, pests, and overwatering.
If you see black spots on your pothos leaves, try to identify the cause to take appropriate action.
Most problems can be remedied with a bit of patience and care.
With proper care, your pothos plant should be able to bounce back from even the most severe problems.
