Diagnose a plant problem
Describe what you can actually see. GrowingHQ ranks the possible causes, shows what fits and what does not, and tells you the one check that separates the leading candidates — rather than naming a single cause and hoping.
What this covers, stated plainly
23 symptoms and 542 diagnostic rules. That is not every plant problem and this is not a plant doctor — a combination GrowingHQ has no rules for gets a refusal rather than generic advice that would fit anything.
Some rules are specific to houseplants, and 211 plants carry rules of their own, because one diagnostic tree does not fit every plant. Root rot from a full saucer is a houseplant’s commonest killer and a rare diagnosis for a border shrub.
Which plants have rules of their own
Agapanthus, Aglaonema, Alocasia, Aloe vera, Amelanchier, Anthurium, Apple, Apricot, Asparagus, Aubergine, Basil, Bay, Bearded iris, Beetroot, Berberis, Bird of paradise, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Blue fescue, Blueberry, Borage, Boston fern, Broad bean, Broccoli, Brunnera, Brussels sprouts, Buddleja, Cabbage, Calathea, Californian lilac, Camellia, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chamomile, Chard, Cherry, Chervil, Chicory, Chilli pepper, Chinese money plant, Chives, Christmas cactus, Clematis, Climbing hydrangea, Coriander, Courgette, Crab apple, Crocosmia, Crocus, Cucumber, Curry leaf, Daffodil, Dahlia, Deutzia, Dieffenbachia, Dill, Dragon tree, Echeveria, Echinacea, Endive, Epimedium, Escallonia, Evergreen climbing hydrangea, Fatsia, Feather reed grass, Fennel, Fig, Firethorn, Fittonia, Forsythia, Foxglove, French bean, Fuchsia, Garlic, Garlic chives, Gladiolus, Globe artichoke, Golden-scaled male fern, Gooseberry, Grape, Grape hyacinth, Hard shield fern, Hardy cyclamen, Hardy geranium, Hart's tongue fern, Haworthia, Hawthorn, Heartleaf philodendron, Hebe, Hellebore, Heuchera, Hippeastrum, Holly, Honeysuckle, Hosta, Hoya, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Hyssop, Jade plant, Japanese forest grass, Japanese maple, Jerusalem artichoke, Kale, Kentia palm, Kohlrabi, Lady fern, Lamb's lettuce, Land cress, Lavender, Leek, Lemon balm, Lemon thyme, Lemon verbena, Lemongrass, Lettuce, Lily, Loganberry, Lovage, Magnolia, Mahonia, Maidenhair spleenwort, Male fern, Marjoram, Melon, Mexican feather grass, Mexican orange blossom, Mint, Miscanthus, Mock orange, Monstera, Moth orchid, Nerine, Onion, Oregano, Ornamental allium, Ostrich fern, Pak choi, Parlour palm, Parsley, Parsnip, Passionflower, Pea, Peace lily, Peach, Pear, Peony, Peperomia, Pieris, Plum, Potato, Pothos, Pumpkin, Quince, Radish, Raspberry, Redcurrant, Rhododendron, Rhubarb, Rocket, Rose, Rosemary, Rowan, Royal fern, Rubber plant, Rudbeckia, Runner bean, Sage, Salad burnet, Salvia, Savory, Sedge, Shallot, Shiso, Silver birch, Skimmia, Snake plant, Snowdrop, Soft shield fern, Sorrel, Spider plant, Spinach, Spring onion, Star jasmine, Strawberry, String of hearts, String of pearls, Swede, Sweet pepper, Sweetcorn, Swiss cheese vine, Syngonium, Tarragon, Tayberry, Thai basil, Thyme, Tomato, Tuberous begonia, Tulip, Turnip, Viburnum, Vietnamese coriander, Weigela, Whitecurrant, Winter savory, Winter squash, Wisteria, Yew, ZZ plant.
Narrowing it down
What you have told it
- The older, lower leaveschange
There is a garlic guide to this
GrowingHQ holds 2 causes specifically for garlic with this symptom, written out in full. Read the garlic guide to plant running up to flower before it is ready to eat.
What it might be
Not enough to go on yet
A symptom on its own is not a diagnosis. 2 different causes produce this sign, and separating them needs at least 2 further observations — ranking them on general frequency alone would be the "yellow leaves means overwatering" mistake in a more elaborate form.
Answering any 2 of these would let it proceed:
- Is the whole plant affected, or only part of it?
- Is the plant indoors, outdoors, or under cover?