It’s awful when you see signs of distress on your houseplants, isn’t it? Luckily, there are reasons behind this that don’t mean your plant is going to die! “Why are my indoor plants turning yellow?” I hear you cry. Let’s work out the answers to this problem – and the solutions.
What You'll Learn Today
Why Are My Indoor Plants Turning Yellow
There are many reasons why plants start to turn yellow. Usually, this is a sign that all is not well in the plant’s world!
Let’s have a look at why plant’s leaves change color, and check out a few things that you can do to fix that:
- Poorly draining soil. It has been argued that this is the number one reason for leaves yellowing – if the plant cannot drain away the water then its roots cannot breathe.
- Overwatering. Similar to the drainage issue, if you are constantly giving your plant water before it can absorb it, you run the risk of the roots rotting.
- Underwatering. Not enough water can also cause plants to have issues! Keep an eye on your watering schedule, and only water as much as your individual plant likes.
- Not enough light. If a plant cannot get the light it needs to photosynthesize, it will reflect this in its leaves, which will start to change color.
- Lack of nutrients. Do you ever fertilize your plants? If not, yellowing leaves may be sign that it needs more nutrients.
What Does It Mean When A Plant’s Leaves Turn Yellow?
If your plant is changing color to something other than green, it is a sign that all is not well with your plant.
Before it gets too out of hand and your plant starts to seriously suffer, you need to figure out why the leaves are turning yellow, and what you can do about it.
Yellowing leaves is known as Chlorosis, because it describes something that is interfering with your plant’s chlorophyll production.
If your plant is growing in heavy, clay based soil which doesn’t drain, you are at a high risk of chlorosis.
Make sure you choose pots with drainage holes, and go for loose, well draining soil. You can add grit or pebbles to your soil to improve the drainage.
Your plant may need repotting – if the roots are too compacted, the plant will not be able to carry nutrients around, and this can cause leaves to discolor.
Have you ever checked out the pH of your soil? Some plants like it acidic, some like it alkaline, some like it neutral.
Choose your soil based on your plants’ requirements, to allow them the best chance to grow and thrive.
Yellowing leaves are often a sign of nitrogen deficiency. If you have not been feeding your plants, chances are they are lacking in some essential minerals.
Add some all purpose fertilizer to your plant’s soil, and see if this perks them up a bit. If it does, then you’ve found the solution to the problem!
This little article will tell you everything you need to know about Chlorosis.
How To Fix Yellow Leaves On Indoor Plants?
Yellowing leaves on plants can be distressing – but don’t panic straight away, there are things that you can do!
- Check the moisture levels. Do this by poking your finger into the soil – if it is sopping wet then you should definitely stop watering to allow your plant to recover. If the soil is dry, give it a good drink and this might solve the problem.
- Look out for pests. An insect invasion can seriously damage your plant’s equilibrium; check for nibbled holes and critters in the soil. Repot in fresh soil, and consider using a natural insecticide if this is the cause of your yellow leaves.
- Give them some more light. Indoor plants, especially, can suffer for a lack of sunlight – try moving your plant into a lighter area, or pop them outside if the weather is warm enough.
- Keep them warm. Many houseplants are used to warmer climates, and if they are placed near a draughty window they can get chilled, and start to shed leaves. Try to find a warmer spot and see if this helps.
- Add some feed. Yellowing older leaves and pale green young leaves are a sure sign of a Nitrogen deficiency – try adding some fertilizer and see if you can boost that photosynthesis again.
If you want to know why your leaves are yellowing, and what you can do about it, check out this video:
Can Yellow Leaves Turn Green Again?
This is a tricky question, and I’d love for the answer to be “Yes, every time!” But sadly this is not always the case.
When a plant’s leaves start to yellow, it is a sign that the plant has cut off the nutrient supply to it, and has effectively abandoned it.
If this is the case with your plant, chances are it cannot be saved, and it will go from yellow to brown before dropping off completely.
If the yellowing is caused by a nutrient deficiency, there is some hope, however – if you spot the problem early enough!
Giving your plant a top up of the things it needs the most can help it to save leaves it thought it was going to have to sacrifice.
Should You Cut Yellow Leaves Off Plants?
Sadly, if you want to support the plant as a whole, you should be getting rid of the
leaves that have turned yellow.
Once the plant has given up on a leaf, it won’t send nutrients back to it, so that leaf is pretty much finished. It will turn yellow, then brown, then drop off!
To avoid this heartache, you can just snip off the yellow leaves as soon as you see them – this will help the plant be healthier overall, as it will not longer be trying to save a leaf that is draining it of nutrients.
If the leaf has only just started to go yellow you may be able to save it with some judicious fertilizing – but in general it is recommended to remove them.
If it has just started to turn then you will find it doesn’t want to let go of the main stem and you might have to use scissors or secateurs, but if it has been a while then you will find that the leaf just comes away in your hand.
Yellowing leaves on houseplants is not only unsightly, but it can be a sign that your plants are distressed.
Once you know better, you can do better – and hopefully you now know a little more about yellowing leaves and how to prevent them.
