It would be really annoying when you get the leaves on your houseplant turning yellow. Some times it’s easy to spot and fix right away. But other times it’s a bit more complicated and you’ll have to keep trying different things until you see some improvement.
When you spot a completely yellow leaf on your plant, use a sterile cutting tool to take it off. Taking off the leaf will allow the plant to focus its nutrients on the healthy leaves. Yellow leaves have lost their chlorophyll, which means they won’t be able to turn green again after you take them off.
Don’t worry though, if the plant gets healthy, it’s likely that new leaves will come back in next year. Growing plants is all about patience, so try to get rid of these common causes of yellowing leaves and see what happens! Keep reading to find out why the leaves on houseplants turn yellow, how to fix them, and how to spot yellowing in different parts of the plant to figure out what’s wrong.
Moisture Stress
When your indoor plant starts to turn yellow, it’s usually because of too much water or too much water under the water line. Potted plants need to be watered only as much as they need, so check the soil to see if it’s dry or soaked. Too much water can cause the leaves to drop, and if the soil isn’t draining properly, the roots can start to die without oxygen. So, make sure to get your plant watered regularly.
Normal Aging
As plants age, their lower leaves may become yellow and fall off. This is a natural consequence of the plant’s development. If this is the case, there is no need to be concerned. However, if the plant becomes excessively leggy, it may be beneficial to trim back the main stem in order to encourage further growth and bushiness.
Cold Draft
If your tropical plants are exposed to cold drafts, they’ll turn yellow and droop. That’s different from when they’re exposed to intense cold for a short time, which can cause them to turn brown or have pale spots between their leaves. Move them to a spot with less wind in the summer or a window that’s not too cold in the winter, and keep an eye on them to see if any of the yellow leaves have spread.
You can also mist them over winter to make them more humid.
lack of light
If your plants don’t get enough sunlight, they’ll start to turn yellow on their lower leaves before they drop. If that’s the case, here’s a sign you should look out for. A plant that’s yellowing from lack of light is usually on the side of the pot that’s facing away from the source of light.
For example, if the plants near the window get all the light, but the opposite side gets none. To fix this, turn the pot around a bit every week so all sides get natural light. If that doesn’t work, move them to a sunny spot and see how they do. If you don’t get enough window light in your home, especially in the winter, you might need to install some artificial plant light.
Nutrient Deficiency
If your plants aren’t getting all the nutrients they need, they can start to turn yellow. This can happen if you use hard water with too much calcium, or if there’s a lack of nitrogen. If that’s the case, you’ll usually see the top leaves turn yellow first. If that’s not the case, you can look for an unusual pattern. For example, the veins might stay dark, while the tissue in between turns yellow. Plants need different nutrients depending on the species they come from, and some are more picky than others. If you don’t try to figure out what’s causing the yellowing, you could end up killing a plant that could otherwise be healthy. Investing in a soil test kit is a great way to make sure your plants are getting the nutrients they need.
Infection
In the event of a viral infection in a plant, symptoms may include discoloration of the leaves, deformity of the leaves and stems of the plant, and discoloration of flowers. This infection may not be curable and can spread to other susceptible plants in the vicinity. Once a sick plant is identified, it should be quarantined from all other plants.
Additionally, the neighboring plants should be checked to ensure that the spread of the virus is contained. There are various treatments for viral infections in plants, some of which may involve the use of fungicides and others may involve the removal of healthy parts and propagation.
It is important to note that if the plant is a favorite, it may be difficult to save it, and any plants that cannot be brought back to health must be discarded. Additionally, pruning tools and pots should be washed and sterilized before use.
pests
If you’re dealing with dry air inside, your plants could be dealing with pests. Aphids and spiders can suck the sap out of your leaves and turn them yellow, leaving spots of color. Look for fine webbing under the leaves, which could be a sign of pests. Use insecticide soap to get rid of the aphids and spiders.
You can also raise the humidity around your plants with a humidifier, or fill a shallow bowl or tray with some pebbles and some water and put your plants on it for extra moisture.
Re-potting
Returning a plant to its new home after re-potting can be stressful and can lead to yellowing of the leaves. This is a common symptom of the plant attempting to adapt to its new environment. Similarly, it can occur when a plant brought from the nursery is perfectly healthy and then suddenly begins to lose yellow leaves.
In this instance, the best course of action is to allow the plant time to adapt to the new environment by not fertilizing it during this period. If a new plant has been brought from the nursery, repotting should be delayed for approximately one week to allow the plant to adjust to its new home.
The cause of yellow leaf discoloration on a plant can be attributed to a variety of factors. For example, overexposure to sunlight, insufficient sunlight, excessive water or fertilizer use, or accidental exposure to pests or excessive cold drafts can all contribute to the development of yellowing foliage.
Furthermore, the reason why the leaves on your houseplant turn yellow can be difficult to find out due to the fact that the color of the discoloration may vary from plant to plant. If you have ever faced this issue, tell us in the comments how you fixed it it.
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.