Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Inspect the undersides of leaves for white cottony pests.
- Check if the leaves are staying wet after watering.
- Ensure the plant has enough space for air to move around it.
Likely causes
Fungal Leaf Spot
Most likelyHow to tell: Small brown or black spots appear on the leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo. This happens when leaves stay wet for too long.
What to do: Remove the affected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Ensure the plant has good air circulation and avoid splashing water on the foliage.
Mealybugs
PossibleHow to tell: You see small white cottony clusters in the leaf axils or on the undersides of leaves. They suck sap and can cause discolored spots.
What to do: Dab the insects with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. For larger infestations, spray the plant with insecticidal soap every week.
Find out what's wrong with your spur flower
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
Small spots are manageable, but if they cover most of the foliage, the plant will struggle to photosynthesize. Take action as soon as you notice them.
Stopping it coming back
Water at the base of the plant rather than over the top, and keep the leaves dry.
Spur flower: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your spur flower 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 use a fungicide?
- You usually do not need one. Improving air circulation and keeping leaves dry is almost always enough to fix the problem.
- Are these spots contagious to other plants?
- If it is a fungal issue, yes. Move the affected plant away from your other houseplants until it is healthy again.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Spur flower
- Why are there white cottony bugs on my Plectranthus?
- Why is my Plectranthus wilting and the soil smells bad?
- Why is my Plectranthus growing long and sparse stems?
- Why are my Plectranthus leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Plectranthus drooping?
- Why are my Plectranthus leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Plectranthus losing its leaves?
- Why is my Plectranthus not blooming?
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.