By Plont · 31 October 2026
Use this checklist in a notebook or phone document, or bring it to a nursery consultation. It helps you explain what happened; it does not identify a pest, diagnose a disease or prescribe a watering interval.
What to record
- Plant
- Name if known, where it came from and how long you have had it. Mark an uncertain name as uncertain.
- Date and position
- When you looked, where the plant sits and any recent move. Describe the actual window, curtain or shelf.
- Visible change
- Which leaves or stems are affected, what the marks look like and whether the change is spreading. Describe rather than diagnose.
- Mix and drainage
- What the potting mix feels like below the surface, whether the growing pot has drainage holes and whether water is collecting underneath.
- Recent care
- Water, feed, repotting or other actions you actually took, with dates where known. Leave gaps if you cannot remember.
- Photographs
- A whole-plant view, close-ups of the affected parts and a view of the pot. Avoid including people or private details.
- Questions
- What you need help deciding. Keep suspected causes separate from observed facts.
- Next check
- Choose when to look again based on the situation and any advice received. Investigate worsening symptoms sooner.
An example with the unknowns left in
Illustrative example: 31 October, a known pothos beside a bright window. One lower leaf looks yellow. The mix feels moist below the surface; the saucer is empty. No water added today. Last feeding date unknown. Cause not established. Whole-plant and leaf photographs taken. You choose 2 November to compare again, with earlier help if its condition worsens. That date belongs to this invented example, not a care rule.
Turn your note into a clear question
Try: “Here is what I observed and what I changed. What else should I check before deciding what to do?” Include the record with your photographs when asking a knowledgeable nursery or horticultural adviser.
If the plant’s name is uncertain, our guide to a plant with no label is a starting point. For unexplained marks or webbing, read the pest inspection guide.
Why observations come first
The RHS houseplant troubleshooting guide covers light, moisture, temperature and other possible causes of problems. This checklist is Plont’s editorial organisation tool, not an RHS diagnostic form or an endorsement.