Yellow leaves are the most common sign that something is off, and the most common cause is too much water. Because the cause varies, look at which leaves turn yellow and how the soil feels before changing anything.
What the pattern tells you
- Lower, older leaves yellow, the rest looks fine. Often normal ageing. Every plant sheds old leaves now and then.
- Many leaves yellow and soft, soil stays wet. Too much water, or a pot with no drainage. Roots that sit in water can't breathe.
- New leaves pale or yellow between the veins. The plant may be short of nutrients, or the water is very hard or the soil very alkaline.
- Yellow with dry, crispy patches. Too much direct sun, or the soil dried out completely too often.
- Yellow with tiny insects or sticky leaves. Pests, see our page on sticky leaves.
What to do
- Put a finger 2 inches (5 cm) into the soil. If it is wet, stop watering until the top layer is dry.
- Check the pot has a drainage hole, and empty any water left in the saucer.
- Move the plant to brighter, indirect light if it is in a dark corner.
- Remove leaves that are fully yellow. They will not turn green again.
- If the plant has been in the same pot for years, the roots may be crowded. See our page on root rot for how to check.
- Only feed a plant that is growing, and only at the strength on the label. Feeding a stressed plant can make it worse.
When to get a second opinion
If yellowing keeps spreading after a week of better watering, or the stems feel mushy, take a photo in daylight and scan it. The Plant Doctor can look at the leaf, the stem and the soil together and tell you how sure it is.