YELLOW LEAVES in PLANTS: Why They Come Out and Solutions

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One of the most common symptoms of weakness or disease in plants is that their leaves turn yellow, either in part or in whole. This symptom can hide a large number of different problems, so it is worth looking closely at the specific case that affects each plant.

This process that yellows the leaves is called chlorosis and it occurs when plants stop producing chlorophyll for some reason, which is the substance that gives the leaf its green color. If you want to learn why do yellow leaves grow on plants and what are its possible solutions, join us in this Green Ecologist article.

Why do plant leaves turn yellow: causes

This is a list of the main causes why the leaves of plants turn yellow:

• Excess irrigation.
• Lack of irrigation.
• Nutrient-poor soil.
• Need for more light.
• Excess light.
• Inadequate soil pH.
• Weather too cold.
• Too many drafts.
• Arrival of autumn.

Next, we will expose each of the causes so that you can better identify which one affects your plants and, therefore, you can determine what the yellow leaves mean in the plants. Also, do not forget to visit our article on Plant Pests and Diseases, especially if you have observed yellow spots on the leaves of the plants.

Overwatering, main cause of yellow leaves on plants

When all the leaves of the plant or a large number of them adopt a intense yellow color in a regular wayIt is very likely that we have overwatered the plant or that the substrate or soil does not offer adequate drainage. If you touch the soil and it notes wet and caked, you need to aerate the soil by stirring it and applying sandy-textured soil to the mix.

Lack of watering, cause of plants with yellow and drooping leaves

If the leaves turn yellow adopting a wrinkled texture and the whole plant seems to decay and lose strength, most likely it needs more water. When one of your plants has suffered a severe drought, don't overwater it. Instead, soak the entire planter in water for a few minutes, then let the soil drain off the excess.

Check our article on When to water plants to do it correctly and prevent their leaves from turning yellow.

Plant with yellow leaves due to poor soil

Plants need minerals and nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. When the nutrients in the pot are depleted, the plant will start to yellow. If this happens, you should either transplant it or apply compost to the soil. Discover How to make homemade organic compost for plants in this other article.

Yellow leaves on plants due to excess or lack of light

Some plants are not prepared to withstand direct exposure to the sun's rays, especially in climates where it shines very brightly. If you see that some leaves that should be dark green begin to yellow, move your plant to a shady location or where it is protected from at least the worst hours of sunshine.

It can also happen that the plant is not getting enough light and fail to photosynthesize. This case can be differentiated from the previous one in that here the leaves will adopt a color whiter than yellow. When this happens, move your plants to a brighter area or, if you can't, consider purchasing a plant lamp. In case you observe white spots on the leaves of the plants, do not hesitate to review the causes and possible solutions.

Inadequate pH and yellow leaves

Many plants need a soil with a certain level of acidity. When this is not met, the plant will not be able to absorb the iron it needs from the soil and will begin to yellow. It is possible to get strips or sets to measure soil pH and thus be able to assess what substances or materials you need to add to increase or reduce it according to the specific needs of the plant.

Cold weather, causing yellow spots on plant leaves

Some plants can experience cold spells by showing yellow spots on their leaves, even when they are in climates suitable for their species. The usual thing is that it happens, above all, in plants that are not used to these conditions for having grown up in greenhouses or more sheltered areas. If this happens but the climatic conditions remain at those recommended for the plant, don't worry, when the warm months arrive it will recover.

Yellow leaf tips dry from drafts

There are inside plants that they should not be in locations exposed to drafts on a regular basis. If this is the case, you will see that the tips of its leaves dry or yellow and the plant could lose them. So if you have observed yellow leaves on houseplants, simply change your location to another more sheltered.

Yellow leaves on plants by the arrival of autumn

If the plant is not evergreen, with the arrival of autumn its leaves will turn yellow or brown and finally end up falling. Obviously, it is a natural process That does not indicate that nothing is wrong.

If you want to read more articles similar to Yellow leaves on plants: why they come out and solutions, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.