Should I cut off all the spotted leaves?

If the spots are small and few, you can leave them. If they are large or spreading, it is best to prune those leaves to protect the rest of the plant.

Is this disease contagious to my other plants?

Yes, fungal spores can travel through the air or via water splashes. Keep the infected plant away from your other greenery until it is healthy again.

Prayer plant: spots, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check if you have been misting the leaves or getting them wet during watering.
Feel the soil to see if it is soggy or waterlogged.
Check for good airflow around the plant.

Likely causes

Fungal Leaf Spot
Most likely
How to tell: Small, dark, or water-soaked spots appear on the leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo around them.
What to do: Remove the affected leaves to stop the spread. Ensure you are watering at the soil level rather than splashing water onto the leaves, and improve air circulation around the plant.
Overwatering
Possible
How to tell: Leaves develop dark, mushy spots and the soil stays wet for too long.
What to do: Let the top inch of soil dry out completely before watering again. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so the roots do not sit in standing water.

Leaf spots on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your prayer plant

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.

When to worry

If the spots are spreading rapidly or turning into large, black, mushy patches, the plant is struggling with a serious infection.

Stopping it coming back

Always water at the base of the plant to keep the leaves dry and provide a gentle fan or open window nearby for better air movement.

Prayer plant: spots? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your prayer plant 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.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I cut off all the spotted leaves?: If the spots are small and few, you can leave them. If they are large or spreading, it is best to prune those leaves to protect the rest of the plant.
Is this disease contagious to my other plants?: Yes, fungal spores can travel through the air or via water splashes. Keep the infected plant away from your other greenery until it is healthy again.

Guides to these causes

Leaf Spot

Why are there spots on my prayer plant leaves?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your prayer plant?