Do you see brown spots on Schefflera leaves?
It is a typical problem in this plant, as it's quite sensitive to such issues.
But why do these spots appear on the leaves, and is there any way to get rid of them completely?
In today's guide, I'm going to share some insightful details on this topic.
So, let's get started.
What Are The Brown Spots On Schefflera Leaves?
As mentioned earlier, the brown spots problem is pretty common in Schefflera.
However, it can arise due to many reasons.
Here are some of the common reasons why you'd see such spots on Schefflera leaves -
1. You Haven't Watered Your Plant In A While
When was the last time you watered your Schefflera plant?
If you have been neglecting your plant for a long, you will surely see brown leaves on it.
It mostly happens due to the lack of resources issue, as the water plays an important role in moving nutrients from one part to another.
So, this could very well be the reason for such leaves on your plant.
Apart from that, the underwatering situation can also lead to weaker plants.
And as you know, the weak plant can become an easy target for pests and other issues.
2. You Water Your Plant Frequently
Similar to underwatering, overwatering is another major concern for indoor plants like the Schefflera plant.
Since this plant doesn't require a lot of water in indoor conditions, overwatering can make things difficult for the plant.
When the water sits in the pot too long, it invites issues like root rot and fungus growth.
Both these issues can make the plant weaker.
As a result, you will start seeing yellow and brown spots on the leaves as well as stems.
3. There Might Be Fungus Or Bacteria Issue On The Schefflera plant
As I mentioned earlier, fungal growth is the prominent reason for brown spots on Schefflera leaves.
Since the leaves are the most tender part of the plant, the fungus quickly attacks them and grows on them until there are no resources left for its growth.
So, do check out for any possible fungus growth on your plant.
These are the three main reasons for this issue.
In the next section, I have shared a few solutions to fix this problem.
So, let's have a look at them below.
How To Fix Brown Spots On Schefflera Leaves
Here's how you can fix the brown spots on your plant's leaves -
1. Remove The Leaves With Brown Spots
It's an essential part of this whole process and needs to be done as early as possible.
The leaves affected by such spots are not going to turn green again.
So, there is no point in having them on the plant.
If you keep them on the plant, they will eventually fall off.
Also, the fungus present on these leaves may spread to other parts of the plant.
Therefore, it makes sense to get rid of them quickly.
To do so, you should use clean and sharp scissors.
Cut the affected leaves and discard them properly.
Do not use these leaves in your compost bin, though!
2. Prune The Branches If They Turn Brown Or Black
Like the leaf pruning process, you should cut the affected branches off the plant.
These branches will aid the fungus spreading process and may weaken the plant in a short period.
So, cut them off as well and discard them far away from your indoor or outdoor garden plants.
3. Spray Fungicide On The Affected Part
Now that you have worked on the pruning part, you can move to the next step.
In this step, you will have to spray fungicide on the parts that seem more affected.
You can use any fungicide for this purpose.
Neem oil is another useful natural fungicide for spraying on plants, and it's easily available too.
Note: You will have to dilute these solutions before spraying on the plant.
Do not use them directly, as the concentrated solution will burn the plant quickly.
Once you are done with the spraying, wait for a few days.
Observe the plant carefully and see if there is any improvement in the condition of the plant.
If you feel the fungus has resurfaced after the initial spray, you can spray it again.
Ideally, it takes at least a couple of spray sessions to remove this issue from the plant.
4. Keep The Plant In A Bright Sunny Place
Whether it's an overwatering situation or fungus issue, you should always keep your plant in a bright place.
When the sunlight reaches the plant, it naturally helps keep the plant dry and stops the fungal overgrowth in quick time.
So, even if you have sprayed the plant with a fungicide, you should try to place it near sunlight.
It shouldn't be direct sunlight, though.
If you place it in direct sunlight after the spray session, the leaves may get burnt due to excess heat.
5. Stop Overwatering Your Schefflera Plant
Well, this is the most important thing to do if you want to stop seeing brown spots or other related issues on your plant.
As mentioned in the guide, the Schefflera plant is susceptible to such issues.
If you keep overwatering, the plant will become weak and attract unwanted issues in no time.
So, be careful when you water indoor plants like the Schefflera plant.
For watering frequency, you can water this plant every week or so.
If the plant is mature and has enough branches, it won't require much water in indoor conditions.
You should only water this plant when the topsoil looks absolutely dry.
Otherwise, there is no need to water it every other day or so.
Overall, these are the things you can do to get rid of this issue on your Schefflera plant.
In the next section, you will see some similar questions and answers related to this topic.
If you have any more questions, do take a look at it.
FAQs
It really depends on what type of brown spots are present on the leaves.
If they are related to bacteria or fungus, you will have to use fungicides on the plant.
On the other hand, you can also think of fixing the watering frequency.
It will help reduce the brown spots issue in your plant.
If you have been overwatering your Schefflera plant for some time, it will start looking droopy.
It is the initial sign of this problem.
Later on, the leaves and stems will catch the rotting issue, and the plant will begin to rot from the bottom.
It may also lead to fungus issues if the soil is wet and the outside environment is humid.
Yes, you can remove the leaves with brown spots from your plant.
These leaves are not going to regain their original color, and the fungus or bacteria might spread the issue to other leaves.
So, you should be careful about it.
If there are too many brown leaves on the plant, you will have to keep the fresh ones on it.
Do not remove all of them at once, as it might cause shock to the plant.
The best way to treat fungus on this plant is through using the known fungicides.
If you prefer the organic ones, you may try something like Neem Oil.
For the inorganic fungicides, there are multiple options available on the market.
So, you can pick any one of them and spray them as suggested.
The fungus issue takes time to resolve, so make sure you follow the same process again after a week or so.
Yes, overwatering can be a secondary cause of brown or black spots on the leaves.
These spots generally appear due to the fungus that grows on the surface of the leaves.
When the soil remains wet due to overwatering, it provides a great environment for the fungus to thrive and multiply in a quick time.
Therefore, it can certainly be a major factor in this issue on your plant's leaves.
Over To You
Brown spots are a sign of a major issue in the plant.
Although it's a common issue, you shouldn't neglect it at all.
If you do, you will end up losing your plant completely.
So, make sure you address it as soon as possible.
Now, in case you have more queries or doubts related to this issue, please let me know in the comments below.
I will surely try to help you out.
Do share this guide with your friends and family if you found it helpful.
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