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Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum

What are these brown spots on my split leaf philodendron?

Brown or black spots on your leaves are often a sign of a fungal or bacterial infection. These spots usually appear when the leaves stay wet for too long or the air circulation is poor. Check your watering habits first.

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spots on a plant
Photo: Scot Nelson, CC0

Check these first

  1. Look for yellow halos around the brown spots.
  2. Check if you have been getting water on the leaves.
  3. Ensure the plant has enough space for air to move around it.

Likely causes

  1. Fungal Infection

    Most likely

    How to tell: You see brown spots with yellow halos on the leaves. The spots might grow larger over time.

    What to do: Remove the affected leaves to stop the spread. Improve air circulation around the plant and avoid getting water on the leaves when you water the soil.

  2. Watering Issues

    Possible

    How to tell: The spots are irregular and the soil is consistently too wet or too dry. The edges of the leaves might also be crispy.

    What to do: Check the soil instead of watering on a fixed schedule. Only water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry.

Leaf spots on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum

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

A few small spots are usually not a crisis, but if they are spreading rapidly across multiple leaves, you need to act. Trim the worst leaves to keep the plant looking tidy.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the leaves dry and ensure the plant is in a spot with good airflow. Avoid crowding it with other plants.

Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum: spots? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum 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.

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Questions people ask

Can I cut the brown spots off?
Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Is this caused by too much sun?
Sunburn usually looks like bleached or scorched patches rather than distinct spots. If your plant is in direct harsh light, move it to a spot with bright indirect light.

More problems with Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum

Back to the Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum 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.