Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Examine the spots to see if they look wet or mushy.
- Check if you have been misting the leaves or getting them wet during watering.
- Look for signs of poor airflow around the plant.
Likely causes
Fungal Infection
Most likelyHow to tell: Dark, water soaked spots appear on the leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo.
What to do: Remove the affected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Improve air circulation around the plant and avoid misting the leaves.
Overhead Watering
PossibleHow to tell: Spots appear after you have been watering by pouring water directly over the leaves.
What to do: Water only the soil at the base of the plant. Keep the foliage dry to prevent bacteria from settling in.
Find out what's wrong with your dumb cane
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
If the spots are spreading rapidly across multiple leaves, it is a serious infection. A single small spot is usually not a cause for panic.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the leaves dry and ensure the plant has enough space for air to move around it.
Dumb Cane: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your dumb cane and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the spotted leaves?
- Yes, it is best to remove them with clean scissors to prevent the infection from moving to healthy parts of the plant.
- Is this a disease that will kill my plant?
- It can be if left untreated, but it is usually manageable by removing the damaged leaves and keeping the foliage dry.
More problems with Dumb Cane
- Why is my Dieffenbachia getting mushy and wilting?
- Why are there tiny webs on my Dumb Cane?
- Why are my Dieffenbachia leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Dieffenbachia getting so leggy?
- Why are my Dieffenbachia leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Dieffenbachia drooping?
- Why is my Dieffenbachia losing leaves?
- Why are my Dieffenbachia leaves curling?
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.