---
title: "Can anyone help me identify what’s going on with my Avocado tree? Dr.…"
description: "Can anyone help me identify what’s going on with my Avocado tree? Dr. Planta said it was both overwatering and underwatering…😖 other AI said it was spider…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/qAeNKd71gTBLP2d5EWzkpa"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Rob Brenner"
published: "2026-07-01T18:04:45.609759Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gLwsS9zGv4u6YKgxnuZ2uQsYJe0sWYBgHU96hw31HiY/uTar9-ueTmWEg7qB-h6Jcw.webp?size=large"
---

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# Can anyone help me identify what’s going on with my Avocado tree? Dr.…

_Posted by Rob Brenner on 2026-07-01_

Can anyone help me identify what’s going on with my Avocado tree? Dr. Planta said it was both overwatering and underwatering…😖 other AI said it was spider mites or Fungus…

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gLwsS9zGv4u6YKgxnuZ2uQsYJe0sWYBgHU96hw31HiY/uTar9-ueTmWEg7qB-h6Jcw.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gLwsS9zGv4u6YKgxnuZ2uQsYJe0sWYBgHU96hw31HiY/fXVemNj_SnaAeKZ7yYZzBQ.webp?size=large)

## 8 comments

### Vanessa commented on 2026-07-01

Looks like possible root rot to me. Unpot it and clean off the soil and take a look at the roots. Then repot it in chunky soil mix with plenty of perlite and bark. It’s likely suffocating in too dense soil.

Just curious, did you spray the leaves with anything? Horticultural oil by chance? Any pest treatment?…

#### Rob Brenner replied on 2026-07-02

Thank you Vanessa. I just pulled it out and roots look very thick and white. However it seems like they were very tightly wrapped in there making me think at least I need to get it into a bigger pot with fresh soil.

I did a few rounds of spraying the leaves with water then applying an insecticidal soap. New leaves are coming in so possibly I just need to let the old sick leaves drop off?

### Vanessa commented on 2026-07-02

Avocado leaves are sensitive to insecticidal soap (phytotoxicity). The damaged leaves will not recover. It can survive as long as there are green leaves. I would leave it for now. The damaged leaves will eventually fall off once the plant can’t use them anymore. In this situation I think it would be more traumatic to remove them right away until there is more new growth… if it bothers you then you can start removing no more than 20% at a time over the next few weeks. Be patient. For the future, avoid spraying during the day, spray at night/dusk to avoid burns from the sun. And might be best to simply rinse leaves with water and wipe with a soft microfiber cloth to remove pests. What kind of pest were you treating?

### Rob Brenner commented on 2026-07-02

Thank you! This is a really special tree (a gift from Bob Marley’s son) so I am definitely going to be patient with it at all costs.

All very helpful advice.

#### Plantingsherry replied on 2026-07-04

Oh wow you can’t let him die then! That’s special. Did you name it?

#### Rob Brenner replied on 2026-07-04

Pretty unoriginal, but we just went with Marley. 🙂

### Rob Brenner commented on 2026-07-02

I was treating for spider mites. When I looked at the undersides of the leaves, it looked like there were little bumps all over

### Rob Brenner commented on 2026-07-02

Didn’t see any webbing yet though

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