Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Look under the leaves for tiny green or black bugs.
- Check for fuzzy gray mold on the stems or leaves.
- Ensure the plant has enough space for air to move around it.
Likely causes
Botrytis
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see brown or gray spots that eventually develop a fuzzy, moldy texture.
What to do: Remove all affected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Improve air circulation around the plant and avoid getting water on the foliage when you irrigate.
Aphids
Most likelyHow to tell: Small, soft bodied insects cluster on new growth and leave behind sticky residue or yellowing spots.
What to do: Spray the plant with a gentle stream of water to knock them off. If they persist, apply insecticidal soap once a week until they are gone.
Find out what's wrong with your geranium
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
If the spots are spreading rapidly across the entire plant, it is a serious infection. Small, isolated spots from old age or minor water splashes are nothing to worry about.
Stopping it coming back
Water at the base of the plant rather than overhead, and keep the leaves dry to prevent fungal growth.
Geranium: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your geranium 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
- Can I save leaves that have spots?
- It is best to prune off heavily spotted leaves to keep the rest of the plant healthy. The plant will grow new, clean foliage quickly.
- Are these spots contagious to my other plants?
- Yes, fungal spores and aphids can easily travel to nearby plants. Isolate your geranium until the spots are gone.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Geranium
- Why are my geranium's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my geranium growing so leggy?
- How do I get rid of pests on my geranium?
- Why is my geranium drooping?
- Why is my geranium not blooming?
- Why is my geranium's stem turning black and mushy?
- Why are my geranium's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my geranium losing its leaves?
- Why are my geranium 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.