Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil is too wet or too dry.
- Assess the amount of direct sunlight the plant receives.
- Inspect the underside of leaves for pests.
Likely causes
Inconsistent Watering
Most likelyHow to tell: Leaves turn yellow or brown before falling off.
What to do: Stick to a regular schedule of checking the soil every 7 to 14 days. Water only when the top few centimeters feel dry.
Light Deficiency
PossibleHow to tell: The plant looks stretched out and drops lower leaves first.
What to do: Move the plant to a location with full, direct sun. It needs plenty of light to maintain its foliage.
Find out what's wrong with your common mallow
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.
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When to worry
Worry if the plant is losing many leaves at once. Losing an occasional older leaf at the base is a natural part of the plant growing.
Stopping it coming back
Provide consistent light and water to keep the plant stable.
Keep your common mallow healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Is leaf drop normal in winter?
- Common Mallow may slow down growth in winter, but it should not drop all its leaves. Keep it in a bright spot.
- Can pests cause leaf drop?
- Yes, heavy infestations of aphids can weaken the plant and cause leaves to fall. Check the new growth for small insects.
More problems with Common Mallow
- Why does my Common Mallow have orange spots on its leaves?
- Why are there tiny bugs on my Common Mallow?
- Why are my Common Mallow leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Common Mallow leaves getting brown tips?
- Why is my Common Mallow drooping?
- Why is my Common Mallow wilting and showing root rot?
- Why is my Common Mallow growing tall and leggy?
- Why are my Common Mallow leaves curling?
Back to the Common Mallow guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.