Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Feel if the spots are crusty or soft.
- Check your water source for high mineral content.
- Ensure the plant is in a spot with good air circulation.
Likely causes
Mineral Deposits
Most likelyHow to tell: Small, white or crusty spots appear on the leaves after they dry.
What to do: Switch to using rainwater or distilled water for your soaks. You can gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove the buildup.
Fungal Infection
PossibleHow to tell: Dark, fuzzy, or sunken spots that spread across the leaves.
What to do: Increase airflow around the plant immediately. Remove the affected leaves and avoid misting until the plant shows signs of recovery.
Find out what's wrong with your air 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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
Soft or spreading dark spots indicate a fungal infection that can kill the plant quickly. Crusty white spots are harmless but look unsightly.
Stopping it coming back
Use filtered or rainwater and always place your plant in a spot with good air movement after watering.
Air plant: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your air 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.
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 tap water for my air plant?
- You can, but if your tap water is hard, it will leave mineral spots. Rainwater or distilled water is much better for them.
- Are these spots pests?
- Air plants rarely get pests, so spots are almost always related to water quality or airflow issues.
More problems with Air plant
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.