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Observe before treating

Plant symptom checker

Describe what you see to find useful checks and possible causes. This tool cannot confirm a disease, identify a pathogen, or prescribe a treatment.

Leaf symptoms compared with a magnifying glass.
AI-generated botanical illustration.

Your observations

Identify your plant from a photo

Photo suggestions can help you research a plant, but they can be wrong and do not confirm a disease.

A starting point for inspection

Check drainage and root condition

What to check next

    Understanding plant health suggestions

    Start with the whole plant

    A single damaged leaf rarely tells the whole story. Note which leaves changed first, whether stems are firm, and whether the problem is spreading. Take a photograph in similar light each time so you can compare changes.

    Check the growing conditions before reaching for a treatment. Review light, temperature, drainage, moisture below the surface, and recent changes in care. Both excessive and insufficient watering can cause wilting, so appearance alone is not a watering instruction.

    How this checker chooses a result

    The checker uses a small set of fixed rules. Distinct observations such as webbing, sticky patches, spots, or damaged new growth take priority over moisture clues. Otherwise, it uses the mix condition and leaf edges to suggest an inspection. If the clues are inconclusive, it says more information is needed.

    The tool does not analyze a photograph, calculate confidence, or rule out other causes. The affected area provides context but cannot identify a nutrient deficiency. Several problems may occur together, and changing one selection may show a different check.

    Keep treatment specific

    Do not use a pesticide, fungicide, fertilizer, or household chemical simply because a symptom looks familiar. Identify the problem and check that any product is suitable for the plant and its location. Follow the local label, including precautions for people, pets, and edible plants.

    If you suspect a spreading pest or disease, separate the plant while you investigate. For rapid decline, repeated problems, or a valuable specimen, contact a local horticulturist or plant diagnostic service with photographs and your care history.

    Plant pest guide
    Common questions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Answers to common questions about plant care and this tool.

    No. Yellowing can occur with too much or too little water, inadequate light, normal aging, pests, and other problems. Check the moisture below the surface and the pattern of symptoms before changing care.

    Do not assume fertilizer is the answer. Review light, moisture, drainage, and pests first. If feeding is appropriate for the species and season, follow the product label rather than increasing the dose to force recovery.

    No. This is a simple set of observation-based rules, not a laboratory test or an AI diagnosis. Similar symptoms can have several causes. A local horticulturist or plant diagnostic service can help with persistent or rapidly worsening problems.

    Further reading and references

    1. How to help a poorly houseplant — Royal Horticultural Society Practical checks for light, watering, temperature, pests, and other causes of poor growth. The checker rules are not a validated diagnostic model. [Source ]