What to inspect
Check below the surface, pot weight, drainage-hole blockage, standing water, odor, and leaf-base firmness.
Choose one evidence-based action
Empty standing water and improve airflow and light safely. Inspect roots if wetness persists with decline; do not repot a stable plant without evidence.
What not to do
Do not diagnose wet soil from one mark, change several major conditions at once, or use an unlabeled treatment. Old damage may remain after the cause is corrected.
Review the outcome
Photograph the same area under similar light, record the date and intervention, then compare the boundary of damage and the quality of new growth. Escalate rapid decline or safety concerns to an appropriate professional.