Plant Care

Pothos Brown Spots and Tips: What They Mean and How to Fix

Last updated: October 30, 2025

Brown spots and crispy tips on pothos leaves signal overwatering, underwatering, or water quality issues—here's how to diagnose and fix each cause.

TTerrence "TJ" Johnson

October 30, 2025

Pothos leaves with brown spots and crispy tips being examined for proper diagnosis — — Image © PlantReference.org 2026

Quick Answer

Brown pothos spots typically indicate overwatering or fluoride toxicity from tap water. Check soil moisture and switch to filtered water immediately.

TL;DR

Brown spots and tips on pothos leaves usually mean overwatering (dark brown spots), poor water quality (brown tips), or direct sunlight damage. Check soil moisture and switch to filtered water for quick fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my pothos leaves turning brown at the tips?

Brown tips on pothos leaves typically indicate water quality problems from fluoride or chlorine in tap water, or low humidity conditions. The brown areas feel crispy and dry, starting at leaf tips and progressing inward if untreated. Switch to filtered or distilled water and increase humidity around your plant to 40-60% to prevent further damage.

Can brown spots on pothos leaves be saved?

Brown spots cannot be reversed once they appear, but you can stop them from spreading by addressing the underlying cause. Trim severely damaged leaves at the stem and remove brown tips back to healthy green tissue. New growth will emerge healthy once you fix watering, lighting, or water quality issues causing the problem.

What does overwatering damage look like on pothos?

Overwatering creates dark brown or black spots with yellow halos around them on pothos leaves. The spots feel soft and mushy when pressed, unlike crispy brown tips from other causes. Check soil moisture—if it's wet 2 inches (5 cm) down, stop watering immediately and consider repotting in fresh, well-draining soil.

Is it normal for pothos leaves to have brown spots?

No, brown spots are not normal on healthy pothos leaves. They indicate stress from overwatering, poor water quality, direct sunlight, or pest damage. Healthy pothos should have solid green leaves (or proper variegation patterns) without brown spotting, crispy tips, or yellowing except for natural aging of very old bottom leaves.

How do I prevent brown tips on my pothos?

Prevent brown tips by using filtered or distilled water instead of tap water, maintaining 40-60% humidity, and keeping plants away from heating/cooling vents. Let tap water sit 24-48 hours before use to off-gas chlorine, or invest in a water filter system for consistent plant care.

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Tagged with

#pothos care #brown spots #plant problems #houseplant care #overwatering #water quality #plant troubleshooting #indoor plants #plant health #leaf damage

Written By

Terrence "TJ" Johnson

TJ stumbled into plant parenthood when a coworker gave him a neglected pothos. That single plant sparked an obsession that led him to quit his corporate marketing job and start a plant care service for busy professionals in Chicago. TJ maintains over 150 plants for residential clients and runs monthly plant swap meetups at local coffee shops. He's self-taught through YouTube, plant forums, and plenty of expensive mistakes (RIP to his variegated monstera). TJ specializes in troubleshooting common houseplant problems and is known for his blunt, no-BS advice: "Your plant isn't dying because Mercury is in retrograde—you're overwatering it." He's particularly skilled with finicky tropical plants like fiddle leaf figs and calatheas.