Leaves are vital to plant growth and development. Leaves capture energy from the sun that is then used in the process of photosynthesis. Additionally, leaves paint a picture for us on how plants are doing and reveal the health of a plant. Understanding the meaning behind different leaf colouration and patterns will help you better determine your plants needs and how to appropriately diagnose and react to a problem.
The simplest and quickest diagnosis to make is from deep green leaves; this is a sign of a fully healthy plant. Beyond that, it gets slightly complicated. Brown leaves do not correlate to any plant health sign, merely those are old leaves that have retired and given way to new leaves. Dried leaves that are still green indicate that the plant is lacking in water, while leaves that remain green but are soft and curl around the edges point to overwatering. Plants that are lacking in nutrients will appear yellow, purple or with brown spots. Understanding the specific pattern or colour will connect to a specific nutrient deficiency. For instance, leaves that turn purple usually indicate a phosphorus deficiency. Finally, leaves with white patches are a result of mildew. This entails a lack of adequate airflow.
