Fertilizer Burn on pothos
What's Happening
Over-fertilization causes osmotic stress from salt accumulation in soil, drawing water out of root tissues and causing marginal leaf burn. Symptoms include brown crispy tips and edges, often following a recent fertilizer application. Unlike nutrient deficiency, this affects newer growth and shows distinctive salt crust on soil surface. Community data indicates this is common with liquid fertilizer applied at full strength or too frequently.
How to Fix It
- 1
Flush soil thoroughly: Water with 3x pot volume of distilled/rainwater to leach excess salts
- 2
Stop fertilizing: Cease all fertilizer applications for 4-6 weeks
- 3
Scrape salt crust: Remove white mineral buildup from soil surface
- 4
Switch to distilled water: Use non-tap water for 2 months to prevent further accumulation
- 5
Resume weakly: When fertilizing resumes, use 1/4 strength every 4-6 weeks only during growing season
How to Prevent It
Always dilute fertilizer to half-strength or less. Fertilize only during active growth (spring/summer). Flush soil every 3 months to prevent salt buildup. Use distilled or rainwater if tap water is hard.
Related Problems
Same Problem on Other Plants
Go Deeper
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