Sometimes indoor growing houseplants develop white spots on their leaves. Most of the growers don’t know whether it is risky or a seasonal change.
You don’t need to worry about white spots on leaves unless they are triggered by pests or fungal diseases.
In most cases, lack of care and common houseplant pests are responsible for white spots on houseplant leaves.
In today’s article, you will learn how to know the exact cause of these white spots and how you can fix them in easy steps.
Let’s dive in:
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1) Sunburn Causing White Spots
White spots on leaves due to sunburn are common on wet leaves. When you expose your plant to direct sunlight for a long period of time.
You will get white spots on your plant leaves.
Because the high-intensity sunlight damages the pores of the leaves. Then the light enters the plant tissues and damages them. This results in dry white spots.
Solution
To prevent this problem, you need to understand the light requirements of your plant. Some houseplants do not need direct sunlight.
Therefore, find a suitable place for your plant to protect it from direct sunlight.
To revive your plant health just move it to a less bright place and give a good amount of water. Your plant will heal itself in 10 to 15 days.
If due to any problem your plant needs direct sunlight. Then expose it only to the morning sunlight from 8 am to 10.30 am.
2) Powdery Mildew
The white talcum like powder that you see on potting soil and also on plant leaves is called powdery mildew.
This is a fungus disease that spread due to environmental factors.
Unlike other diseases, powdery mildew thrives in hot and humid temperatures. It is the result of poor care, overwatering, and unhygienic surroundings.
In the first stage, the white spots are small in size. Their size grows large as time goes on. It can infect stems, leaves, and fruits.
Solution
Wipe the powder with a cotton cloth and rubbing alcohol. Let the top 2 inches of the soil dry completely before watering your plant.
This will reduce the humidity and stop the further build-up of mildew.
After wiping it use neem oil and water mixture and spray it on the plant. Cover every part of the plant with neem spray.
This will reduce the recovery time of your plant and also help your plant to develop strong immune systems.
No fancy fungicides are required to deal with powdery mildew.
3) Nutrient deficiency
Lack of copper, iron, calcium, and manganese results in white spots on plant leaves. In iron deficiency, the tissues of plant veins turn white, yellow, and in some cases light green.
This is the result of a continued lack of iron for a long period of time.
Calcium deficiency directly affects the health of buds.
Copper and manganese are also essential for the absorption of other essential nutrients. In absence of these trace elements. Your plant becomes nutrient deficient and develops white spots on its leaves.
Solution
There is only one single to this problem. You need to supply a good amount of nutrients to your plant. For this, you can use pre-fertilized potting soil.
Or
You can add a good amount of organic material to your potting soil like compost.
Or
You can use the common houseplant fertilizers for each plant. Every plant has different nutritional needs. Therefore, you need to choose fertilizer according to your plant type.
Read the instruction on the package before giving it to your plant.
Because some nutrients required dilution in water before use.
4) Use of Mineral Rich Water
Hard water contains a high amount of minerals. In many cases, these minerals are not required by the houseplants. They are required to grow big trees.
When you spray hard water on plant leaves to make them comfortable in a low-humid environment.
Then the hard minerals that are not fully soluble in the water get stick to the plant leaves.
Because these white spots are on the top surface so they are not harmful. You can use a neat cloth to wipe your plant leaves.
5) Pests
Spider mites, thrips, and leaf miners cause white spots on plant leaves. These pests suck the sap of the plant and make your plant nutrient deficient.
They also make tiny punctures in the plant leaves. When the light energy falls on these tiny pores. These pores get burned and turn white.
To identify this cause, you need to inspect your plant closely. Actually, make a routine of checking your plant while watering them.
Inspect both sides of the leaves.
Solution
In mild infestations, you can use rubbing alcohol and wipes to wipe each leaf manually. Then spray neem oil on the entire plant.
In serve damage, you need to use insecticidal soap and rinse your plant with it.
Keep it separate from other healthy plants. Your plant will heal in 7 to 10 days.
If pests are all over the plant and insecticidal soap did nothing. Then propagation is the only method to save the plant variety.
Do not use pesticide sprays on houseplants. These sprays are for crops and large trees. Houseplants cannot tolerate strong chemicals from pesticides.
How do Prevent White Spots on Plant Leaves?
To prevent white spots, you need to give proper care and attention to your plants.
Water your plant once the top 2 inches of the potting soil become dry. Use chemical-free filtered water for watering plants.
Do not expose your plants to direct sunlight for a long period of time. First, understand the light needs of your plant then choose the location for your pot.
- Inspect your plants once in 4 days to check for pest infestation and fungal diseases.
- Spray neem oil on your plant, minimum 4 times per month.
- Do not expose your plant to highly humid areas.
- Increase the air circulation in the grow room and keep the surroundings clean.
Conclusion
Now that you know the causes of white leaf spots. You can easily fix them in your plants. If you follow the correct care routine. Your plants will never face any problem with white spots.
Before buying a houseplant know about its growing requirements. Then find a good place in your house. Then buy it and start growing it.
If you are a beginner then start gardening from beginner indoor plants.
