Free diagnosis · Rabat and all of Morocco

Plant Doctor

Yellow leaves, spots, little bugs, a drooping plant? Send us a photo: we'll tell you what to do.

Send a photo on WhatsApp
Three ways to show us your plant

Wherever you are in Morocco

01 · By photo

On WhatsApp

A few photos and a couple of lines of explanation. We reply with the likely causes and the first thing to do.

02 · At the studio

Bring it in

Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00, 6 Rue Zemmour, Aviation district. If the roots are the problem, we can repot it by appointment.

03 · At our events

Consultations

During our Rendez-vous Botaniques, the Plant Doctor sees you without an appointment: bring the plant you're worried about.

Reading the signs

The most common symptoms

Yellow leaves

Likely causes

Most often: too much water, or a potting mix that no longer dries out. Sometimes lack of light, or an old leaf dropping naturally.

First step

Feel the soil a few centimetres down. Damp? Stop watering and empty the saucer. Just one old lower leaf? Nothing to worry about.

Read: Yellow leaves: why is my plant turning yellow

Brown, dry edges or tips

Likely causes

Air that's too dry (air conditioning, heating, chergui wind), very hard water, or soil that dries out completely between waterings.

First step

Move the plant away from air vents, use water that has been left to stand, and raise the humidity around it with a fine mist sprayer.

Read: Tap water and houseplants

Little bugs, webbing or sticky residue

Likely causes

Mealybugs (white cottony clusters), aphids (on young shoots), spider mites (fine webs, dull speckled leaves), thrips (silvery marks).

First step

Isolate the plant. Clean both sides of the leaves, then spray our ready-to-use black soap for plants, repeating every few days.

Read: Mealybugs · Thrips · Spider mites

Soft leaves, drooping plant

Likely causes

Thirst, if the soil is dry. If the soil is wet and the base is soft: rotting roots.

First step

Dry soil: water thoroughly and it will perk up within hours. Soggy, foul-smelling soil: the roots need checking, so bring the plant in.

Read: Repotting a houseplant

Long stems, small pale leaves

Likely causes

Lack of light: the plant is stretching towards the window.

First step

Move it closer to a window, out of direct midday sun. New growth will be more compact; leggy stems can be cut back.

Read: Bright, indirect or low light?

Brown or black spots on the leaves

Likely causes

Sunburn (dry, pale spots on the window side), overwatering (soft, dark spots), or cold.

First step

Cut off badly damaged leaves, move the plant if it's in direct sun, and let the soil dry before the next watering.

Read: Getting watering right

Gnats around the pot

Likely causes

Small fungus gnats: their larvae live in soil that stays damp on the surface.

First step

Let the top few centimetres of soil dry out between waterings, water from the saucer, or cover the surface with pozzolana.

Read: Fungus gnats

No new growth at all

Likely causes

Winter (that's normal), a pot that's too small, exhausted potting mix, or not enough light.

First step

In spring and summer, feed with the compost tea root feed. If roots are coming out of the pot, it's time to repot.

Read: Repotting at the studio

One change at a time: if you move the plant, change the watering and add fertiliser on the same day, you won't know what worked. And when in doubt, don't water: a plant recovers faster from too little water than from too much.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Do you charge for the diagnosis?

No. Send your photos on WhatsApp, or drop in at the studio during opening hours: we'll look at your plant and tell you what to do, free of charge.

Which photos should I send?

The whole plant, a close-up of a damaged leaf (top and underside), the soil surface, the pot with its saucer, and where it lives. Tell us too how long it's been like this, and how often you water.

Can a plant with rotting roots be saved?

Often, yes, if some of the roots are still firm and pale. We cut away what's soft and brown, and repot in a healthy mix. The earlier you act, the better the chances.

Should a sick plant be repotted?

Not always: repotting tires a plant. We repot when the problem comes from the roots or the potting mix (rot, soggy soil, a pot that's too small). Otherwise, we fix the light and watering first.

Do you make visits?

For businesses, hotels and restaurants, yes: that's our plant maintenance service. For private clients, send photos first.

Show us your plant

The whole plant, a close-up of a leaf, the soil and the pot: with these photos, we can already see clearly.

Send a photo on WhatsApp