Why my plants leafs drying up?

Fin5223547
by Fin5223547
This is my avocado tree that I have been growing but am having the same problem with several of my other house plants to. The leafs start drying up around the edge first, before falling off. I have been cutting the leafs off , am I doing the right thing and what is causing this problem? Only some of my plants are still hanging on.
  18 answers
  • Joanne lueke Joanne lueke on Feb 07, 2018

    I am thoroughly convinced that a leaf has to drop before another one opens at the top. As far as the leaf edges drying and curling mine have done this as well. I am attributing it to having to keep the house warmer which also dries the air and soil out faster. Glad when spring finally comes lol.

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    • Sea13778652 Sea13778652 on Feb 08, 2018

      One more thing ...when I bring my plants in for the winter they always drop leaves and they dry out more in the house. so just watch your plants and keep them going til spring.....which will be here so........My plants are wanting the spring and out side too!!!

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Feb 07, 2018

    Do you see any little bugs on the top or bottom of the leaves? We use a moisture meter to monitor which plants need to be watered when. Are your plants root bound? Do they get enough or too much sunlight? Look up each plant that isn't doing well and see if it can help you get back your healthy plants. During the winter it is hard to get enough sun for sun loving plants. Most plants also may require somewhat more frequent watering's due to the dry heat of a furnace.

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    • Arlis Arlis on Feb 09, 2018

      Isnā€™t a plant light then sunlight too much light? Plants have to have dark and light just as we do. It might be getting to much light. Also what is your watering schedule? My avacado tree is about 5 feet tall now and I donā€™t water it until the leaves get just a bit droopy. There is special avacado food also that I add but I use half of what they say each time I water so there isnā€™t a sudden strong shot of food to shock the tree. Knock on wood! So far so good!šŸ˜„

  • Pat Pat on Feb 07, 2018

    too much water? Too little water? Plant pests? Have you moved it to a different spot? I would google the plant and see how to care for it.

    • Fin5223547 Fin5223547 on Feb 08, 2018

      i have tried giving it less water then tried giving it a little more water and move it twice. The people in the YouTube videos for the avocado tree didnā€™t seem to have this problem. The weather here in Philadelphia has been irregular causing the temperature to be different in my house.

  • Christine Rayward Christine Rayward on Feb 07, 2018

    Depending on where you live, cold or hot, humid or dry conditions weather. perhaps they could be placed in a neutral place and perhaps a good tonic for them. {fertilizer]

    • Mara Mara on Feb 08, 2018

      I am in Hatfield, same problem. Noticed that now that days are lengthening, avocado and lemon are coming back to life

  • Diane Diane on Feb 08, 2018

    i think itā€™s lack of humidity. I mist mine with a spray bottle. You could also put peat moss around base. Also make sure water is not too cold, plants prefer room temp.

  • Peter E Malbrough Peter E Malbrough on Feb 08, 2018

    Humidity... in a pan under the pot put pea gravel and keep water in it, NOT enough to cover the gravel, just enough to keep the gravel moist!

  • Barbara Baldwin Barbara Baldwin on Feb 08, 2018

    I know exactly what's happening..the leaves are grayish and brittle? You've got yourself a nasty infection of a teeny weeny bug that saps the plants chlorophyll, turning it silver then dead. You might see them with a magnifying glass on the leaves bottom side..

  • Cur5181835 Cur5181835 on Feb 08, 2018

    Check to see if the soil is staying too damp. 'Wet feet' will cause leaves to drop as the roots break down and can no longer support the plant. If this is the case, you need to repot - probably in a slightly smaller pot - with soil that drains very well - like cactus potting soil.

  • Pat Pat on Feb 08, 2018

    When you find the spot this plant likes, don't move it....sometimes just moving it to another lighter, or darker place will cause plants to drop leaves. My ficus plant was very finicky....didn't like to be moved .... leaves would turn yellow and drop off.

  • Blaine Blaine on Feb 08, 2018

    Spider mites. Very small plant pest. Check the undersides of the leaves. If you see a little speck of dirt, touch it with your fingernail. If the speck moves, spray your plants with a solution of half water and half rubbing alcohol with a squirt of dish soap. Keep at it unto the plant improves.

    • Barbara Baldwin Barbara Baldwin on Feb 09, 2018

      Yep. I couldn't remember the name. You can see the damage done by spider mites in the pic.

  • Mal32614781 Mal32614781 on Feb 08, 2018

    Avocado plants like to be watered ONLY with rainwater - from the time they are pits until they are plants. They don't ever seem to like tap water.


  • Lystra Salazar Lystra Salazar on Feb 08, 2018

    Maybe you should put your plant by the window sill in the kitchen since plants grow best in there. Check the store for good fertilizer to use for winter for your plant. Hope this help

  • Joanie Joanie on Feb 09, 2018

    The winter time can be tough on all plants, with the furnace on. Dry weather is NOT good for plants....as far as the furnace on. Don't keep your temp. cold or hot. 72 is good. Keep them in the most light you can. Not full sun, good light. Keep tray of pebbles and water under them. Mist them. I have a green house jungle, owning 35 + plants. Upstairs and down. Hangin' vines, big pots of Palms, pots on stands and floors and counters. I LOVE them.  ...I talk to them every mornin'.....believe it or not, oxygen is good for them, as it is for you. A lot of people have Mist machines for their bedrooms. Keep an eye on plants that moisture drips off leaves.....that is a great sign, they are doin' well. Don't under water or over water. Finger in soil test is good. Spring transplanting is good...I got a couple who need new homes.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Feb 10, 2018

    I have no avocado plants. I got spoiled when we lived in Florida and had an avocado tree that was twice as tall as the house and gave us five pound fruits. I found an article that may help. It sounds like the plant needs a lot of light, maybe more than a window can give. If you use a grow light, do it during the day. I hope the article is a help, the site has other articles, but most deal with outdoor in the soil avocado trees.

    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/avocado/indoor-avocado-plant-care.htm

  • User User on Feb 10, 2018

    Its a tropical plant, it is simply to cold and gloomy for it. Keep it barely moist, don't overwater it, add nice artificial light and spray it with warm water evening and morning. I'll keep it trough the winter just fine and your avocado will regain it's strength in warm and sunny days.

    Watch for it's growth, it is actually a large tree so during the active grows period (Summer) change pots to a bigger ones as needed.


  • Elizabeth Villalobos Elizabeth Villalobos on Feb 10, 2018

    I put worm compost in the soil and it thrives to the point it gives an abundance of fruit


  • Huntress Huntress on Feb 10, 2018

    Are you using miracle grow, and soil has fertilizer in it ? May be too much fertilizer, forcing upward growth, doesn't allow much for the rest of the plant. Your upward growth looks good in pix, but leaves aren't getting nutrients to sustain them. Just a thought. Good luck.