Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Check if the leaves are staying wet after watering.
- Look for fuzzy gray growth on the spots.
- Ensure the plant is in a spot with good air movement.
Likely causes
Botrytis blight
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see brown or gray fuzzy spots on the leaves and flowers. This happens most often in cool, damp conditions.
What to do: Remove and discard any infected leaves or flowers immediately to stop the spread. Improve air circulation around the plant and avoid overhead watering.
Leaf spot fungus
PossibleHow to tell: Small, dark brown or black spots with yellow halos appear on the foliage. These spots often grow larger if the plant remains damp.
What to do: Keep the foliage dry by watering only at the soil level. Apply a copper based fungicide if the spots continue to spread after you have improved airflow.
Find out what's wrong with your pink afrikaner
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
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
If the spots are spreading rapidly or covering the flower buds, it is a serious concern. Small, isolated spots are usually manageable with better care.
Stopping it coming back
Water at the base of the plant to keep leaves dry. Provide plenty of space between plants to allow for good airflow.
Pink Afrikaner: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your pink afrikaner 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, removing infected foliage helps prevent the fungus from spreading to healthy parts of the plant.
- Is my plant dying?
- Not necessarily, but you must change the environment to stop the fungus from taking over.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Pink Afrikaner
- Why are there tiny bugs on my Pink Afrikaner?
- Why is my Pink Afrikaner not blooming?
- Why are my Pink Afrikaner's leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Pink Afrikaner's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Pink Afrikaner drooping?
- Why are my Pink Afrikaner roots rotting?
- Why is my Pink Afrikaner growing so tall and thin?
- Why are my Pink Afrikaner leaves curling?
Back to the Pink Afrikaner guide
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.