GreenTenetIf your plant’s leaves are turning yellow, it means it does not like the conditions you are giving it. To keep yours safe, read about these 8 common reasons why leaves turn yellow and how to get rid of them.
We tell you how to determine the cause of yellowing leaves and how to save the plant.
Remove a completely yellow leaf from your pot using a clean cutting tool. Getting rid of diseased leaves will let the plant focus its nutrients on healthy ones. Since the yellow leaf has lost its chlorophyll pigment, it will not be able to turn green again even after the problem is fixed. If all the leaves have turned yellow, cut them off and do not worry about it; new ones will grow.
And here are 8 things you should know to keep new leaves from going yellow.
Not enough or too much moisture
It is very important to give houseplants as much water as they need. To take care of them, look online for tips.
If they are not getting enough water, they will drop their leaves to conserve moisture in the stem. Just before they fall, though, you may notice that the leaves are turning yellow, especially at the tips, and may even have brown spots. To check if your plant’s soil is dry and clean, poke it with a toothpick. If it is, proceed to water the plant more often.
When soil does not drain properly, excess water can lead to waterlogging, which in turn kills roots because they do not get enough oxygen. To check if the soil is saturated and still has soil on it, poke a toothpick into it. If it is saturated with water and there are signs of soil, water the plant less frequently.
Normal aging
It is normal for plants to lose their lower leaves as they get older and turn yellow. To be sure that you are the cause of your plant’s yellowing, you will have to watch it for a long time and rule out all other possibilities.
Cold environment
When cold air blows on tropical plants, the leaves often turn yellow and fall off. If yours is near a window or air conditioner, move it somewhere where the frosty air will not bother you.
A lack of essential nutrients
Spotting, which are yellow spots that spreads across the leaves, can be a sign of a viral infection. The leaves and stems may also change shape, and the plants may turn in a different color.
If you notice a sick plant, you should remove it from the others and make sure it is not infected with the virus. To treat the plant, you will probably need to use special chemicals, which you can get from garden centers.
Not enough light
The lower leaves of plants that do not get enough light eventually fall off. Typically, the side of the pot that faces away from the light source will be the first to turn yellow. To fix this, turn the pot slightly once a week so that all sides get some natural light. If window lighting is difficult to find in your house, especially during the winter, you might have to buy some special lamps.
A lack of essential nutrients
This can happen if the water has too much calcium (hard water) or not enough nitrogen. The upper leaves are the first to suffer when this happens.
There are different kinds of plants that need different nutrients, so it might be a good idea to buy a small soil testing kit. If you add fertilizer that the plant does not need, it will only make things worse.
Pests
Insects like spider mites and aphids can feed on flower nectar, turning leaves yellow. Look for tiny webs under the leaves—that could be a sign of pests. Use insecticidal soap to kill the mites and aphids, and make sure the area around your houseplants is humid enough to prevent them from coming back.
Transfer
If you have just repotted a cactus or any kind, it needs to adapt to the new pot and new soil. So yellow leaves in this case are a normal reaction of the plant. The best thing you can do is give it some time. And, of course, trim off completely yellowed leaves.
