Why is my plant unhappy?
Pick what you're seeing and we'll walk through the likely causes - in rough order of how common they are - with a fix for each. The single most useful first step for almost any sick plant: feel the soil, because over- and under-watering look surprisingly alike. Need step-by-step first aid? See the plant rescue protocols, or identify a bug or blight in the pest & disease index.
Most houseplant problems trace back to watering and light. Before you reach for anything fancy, check the soil with your finger and ask whether the spot is bright enough. If several symptoms appear at once, start with the most likely cause above and change one thing at a time.
Plant first-aid kit
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