The Leaves Are Dying on My Indoor Trees

Place the Tree Outside

• If the tree is not getting proper sunlight or water, placing it outside helps correct the issue if the outside conditions are appropriate. While placing a tree outdoors is not feasible in cold or snowy weather, moving the tree to another location inside where it gets more sunlight is a viable alternative and helps the leaves replenish. Sunlight is vital for a tree's photosynthetic processes, and indoor trees often get deprived of it. If the weather outside is warmer, find a spot where the tree is not endangered by high winds, excessive rain or other hostile environmental conditions.

Watering

• Check the soil of the tree. If the water is dry or hardened, the tree likely isn't getting enough water, and the leaves are dying as a result. Conversely, too much water also leads to the tree drowning and the leaves start wilting and falling off if this remains the case. While it depends on the specific tree type, damp soil is a good rule of thumb that ensures a healthy tree. The soil should also be loose enough to drain effectively. Thicker clay or tightly packed dirt traps water into the root system, leading to drowning. Switch out the soil with a looser potting soil if you suspect improper drainage.

Inspect the Plant

• The leaves may be dying because of an illness or parasite in the tree. Check the branches and trunk of the tree to look for discoloration, pitting or other signs of damage. If the leaves have small bites taken out of them, they are likely being eaten by a parasitic insect that requires elimination for the tree to thrive. Pesticides are likely needed to remove the invading parasite, but follow all directions to ensure that the plant isn't damaged and that surrounding plants and pets remain unaffected as well. Discoloration of the leaves is also an indication of a possible fungus infection that requires antifungal agents to remove.

Fertilizer

• Even if the tree is properly watered and is getting enough sun, it may still be short on nutrients in the soil. Proper fertilization helps correct this problem by providing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium into the soil for the roots to utilize. Follow all instructions on the fertilizer packaging, because overfertilizing the tree is as likely to kill off the tree's leaves as not fertilizing at all. Water is useful in helping the fertilizer filter through the soil for the roots to absorb it. If the leaves were dying due to lack of nutrients, they should start recovering within a few days.