One day, the leaves were fine. The next morning they looked like they’d been munched on overnight. To tell the truth, I thought my plant was done for. I now realize that little holes in plant leaves are quite normal, and most of the time, you can stop them from spreading.
The biggest challenge is typically determining what caused the damage. Usually, the first suspects are pests. However, weather, disease, animals (like cats), and also weak leaves are other potential causes. The great news is that almost all plants will heal themselves relatively quickly if you identify the problem sooner rather than later.
Pest eating plant leaves is by far the #1 reason for little holes
So, if you’re thinking about “what is eating my plant leaves”, usually it’s an insect. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve had to deal with caterpillars, slugs, and teeny-tiny beetles. Some pests eat through circular sections of the leaf, while others leave ragged edges or pieces of their leaves missing.
Slugs and snails are particularly sneaky. I spent weeks trying to determine what was causing the holes in my plants’ leaves before I spotted the slimy trail leading to my pots. Checking your plants at nighttime can be very revealing!
Caterpillars often chomp off larger pieces along the edge of a leaf; meanwhile, tiny beetles produce more numerous, scattered holes across the surface of a leaf. Grasshoppers and earwigs may also eat leaves outdoors.
Something I didn’t learn until I experienced it myself is that ignoring minor damage is a bad idea. Minor damage can rapidly become serious damage.
To prevent pests from eating your plant leaves, I always follow these basic steps:
- Check both sides of leaves each week
- Remove insects that you see with your hands
- Use neem oil when necessary
- Clean up dead leaves/debris promptly
- Don’t crowd your plants
Generally speaking, healthier plants are better equipped to fight pests than those that are under stress.
Your plant might be infected with a fungus/bacteria
There are instances where holes occur without seeing bugs. Sometimes, fungus/bacterial infections create brown areas which dry out and eventually fall away. When this occurs, it produces a “shot-hole” effect.
When I think about this type of problem, I immediately think of overwatering. Excessively wet leaves plus a lack of air circulation provide the ideal conditions for infection to spread. Overcrowding indoor plants is another source of excess moisture.
A couple years ago, I did this very thing with a cluster of herbs in my crowded kitchen window. Within a few short months, the leaves developed black spots, then tiny holes began appearing throughout the entire plant. Once I provided better air circulation, the issue greatly diminished.
If you believe you might have an infection on your hands, take away any severely damaged leaves and try not to water your plants in the evening. Watering the roots directly instead of spraying the leaves tends to help.
As far as preventing future problems go, I find that prevention is way more important than remediation here. Leaving leaves alone and providing plants with ample space to breathe is incredibly effective.
Storms/turbulent weather will shred your leaves
Outside plants occasionally seem completely fine one day and shredded the next. Windstorms, heavy rain showers, hail, and extreme heat all potentially damage leaves. Thin or fragile leaves get ripped apart very easily. Very strong gusts of wind will whip branches violently. And hail can create holes that resemble bug damage very closely.
I saw this happen after last summer’s storms where some huge leaves got torn apart overnight and resembled having been eaten by bugs. Initially, I suspected bugs had infested my plants. Not so.
If severe weather patterns are typical in your region, placing pot plants indoors or in protected areas can protect them somewhat. Gardening plants may benefit from using supports/barriers to limit storm damage.
Trimming badly damaged leaves can also help restore visual appeal/appearance to your plants. Don’t cut back too much foliage at once though.
Household pets/random accidents are another potential culprit
It’s not always nature-related accidents that damage your plant leaves. Sometimes it’s your pets and/or household mishaps.
My cat has eaten its fair share of houseplants over the years. Cats will often nibble randomly on houseplants and leave small bite marks/torn edges/haphazardly located holes. Similar types of damage can occur due to dogs/kids/furniture/other items rubbing against plants.
Plants positioned near high-traffic areas are generally going to be most prone to being accidentally knocked or broken.
If your pet enjoys nibbling on your houseplants, consider keeping them on higher shelving/plant stands/using hanging baskets to keep them safe. Keep in mind that it’s always best to keep poisonous plants safely inaccessible to pets and children.
Honestly, some degree of leaf damage is just part-and-parcel of cohabiting with pets and houseplants.
Weaker leaves can provide an easy target for bugs/disease
While nutrient deficiencies rarely result in direct “holes”, weaker leaves become more susceptible to tearing/pests.
I’ve found in my own experiences that weak leaves are more likely to show signs such as yellowing/thin growth/slow growth before developing holes. Weaknesses in growth/nutrients/light are indicators of a plant struggling to grow robust leaves.
Consistent care does matter more than expensive fertilizers and/or products. Proper amounts of sunlight/proper watering habits/regular feeding will generally strengthen your plants’ ability to resist pests/diseases over time.
Underwatering and overwatering both pose equal risks to weakening your plants.
I used to feel terrible when my weak-looking plants would develop holes and die shortly thereafter. That feeling hasn’t changed, but I’m learning to focus less on the immediate panic and more on identifying why things went wrong so I can be prepared for future issues.
Preventing holes from developing on your plant leaves
After you have identified the reason(s) why your plant’s leaves have holes, preventing additional problems becomes a whole lot easier. Here are a few things I do daily/weekly/monthly to keep my plants happy and healthy:
- Regularly inspect new leaves for signs of problems
- Identify any pests early on
- Water carefully, avoiding overwatering
- Provide sufficient air movement around your plants
- Remove weak/dying/dead foliage ASAP
- Take preventative measures for protecting outdoor plants from harsh weather
- Properly feed/maintain your stressed-out plants
Taking these regular inspections and maintenance tasks seriously will significantly reduce the risk of major problems occurring in the future.
