Why Does My Houseplant Turn Yellow ?
You may feel like you’re doing everything right with your houseplant — and then its leaves suddenly turn yellow. What’s going on? Do you need to water more… or less? Is that plant already beyond saving?
While there are many reasons why a plant might be turning yellow, the good news is that most are treatable. Yellow leaves tend to be a warning sign that the plant is stressed, and if you can address the problem fast enough, you can reduce the risk of long-term damage. Learn to identify the problem, and you’ll be one step closer to bringing your plant back to total health.
Here’s a list of potential reasons why the leaves might be turning yellow. Note that this list is far from exhaustive — your plant may be experiencing a different issue.
Aging
Plants age just like people, and one of the signs they are getting older is yellowing leaves. There’s usually no reason to worry if the oldest growth on a plant is yellowing while the freshest leaves come in bright green. It only means that the plant is devoting fewer resources to maintaining the older growth. You can leave the leaves as-is or prune them off for a cleaner look.
Lack of Sunlight
When leaves all over are pale yellow or green, your plant might not be getting enough sunlight to produce the chlorophyll that’s responsible for the deep green coloring. One common sign is that the yellowing starts on the lowest leaves. Move the plant closer to a sunny window or add a grow light to perk things back up.
Moisture Stress
Both too much water and not enough can stress plants to the point that their leaves yellow. When water is in short supply, plants will drop their leaves to prevent them from losing moisture through them into the air in a process known as transpiration.
Likewise, too much water will oversaturate the soil to the point that the roots will drown, starving the leaves of oxygen. Avoid this problem by feeling the potting mix regularly and only watering when it is dry several inches below the surface.
Cold Air Exposure
Temperature is a significant stressor for plants, especially ones used to tropical conditions. Too much time in a drafty room or near a cold window can cause the leaves to yellow and fall off. Move afflicted plants to where they will enjoy consistent temperatures and fewer cold drafts.
Nutrient Deficiency
Without the right ratio of nutrients in their soil mix, houseplants will turn yellow. This commonly happens when there’s a nitrogen deficiency, or you are using hard water with a high calcium concentration.
This form of yellowing tends to be distinctive. It may start at the top of the plant or affect only the plant tissues while leaving the veins bright green.
Consider adding a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to affected plants. If the problem is extreme, you may want to repot the plant and replace its soil altogether.
Yellowing leaves can be a sign of stress for plant lovers, but they don’t mean you have a black thumb! Address the source of the problem fast, and the plant will go back to full health fast.