9 Causes of Yellow Houseplant Leaves (and What to Do About It)

Find out exactly what’s causing your houseplant’s yellow leaves and how to fix them with this easy guide.

A yellowed leaf on a houseplant — Yellowing leaves on houseplants are not a death knell. They're just a sign that your plant's needs are not being met.

No one wants to find a yellow leaf on their prized monstera or pothos. But if this happens, don’t fret! There are some easy fixes that will have your plant looking good as new in no time!

Jump to:

9 causes of yellow houseplant leaves
1. Watering issues
2. Root damage
3. Lighting
4. Aging
5. Nutrient deficiencies
6. PH imbalance
7. Pests
8. Plant viruses
9. Cold drafts
Frequently asked questions
Summary

9 causes of yellow houseplant leaves

Yellowing leaves on pothos plants — There are several things that can cause leaves to yellow; many are quite simple to fix.

Yellowing leaves are one of the most common problems that may arise when keeping houseplants, and they can have a number of different causes. Below are the top 9 reasons why your houseplant may be suffering, as well as solutions to help your plant recover quickly.

1. Watering issues

Yellow plant leaves caused by overwatering — Improper watering is the most common cause for yellowing houseplant leaves. The problem can be too much, too little, or too inconsistent watering.

By far, the most common reason why houseplants turn yellow or die is due to watering issues. Both too much and too little water can stress out plants and cause yellowing leaves or patchy brown spots.

Like other living things, plants need water to grow. But if they receive too little moisture and their soil dries out, many plants will begin to develop yellowing leaves, and then those leaves will drop off in order to slow down transpiration rates (which is basically the equivalent of sweating in plants). This helps a plant conserve water a bit better so it can still support its remaining leaves.

Overwatering will also cause yellowing leaves as plant roots can be damaged by waterlogged soil. When this occurs, roots aren’t able to draw up water correctly, and so the plant essentially dries out, even when the soil is soggy.

Tropical houseplants generally need regular watering, while succulents and cacti need very minimal moisture. When purchasing new plants, it’s always a good idea to do a bit of research to determine how much water they need. Then plan out a watering schedule so you can provide a regular supply of water to the plants that need it.

If you struggle with staying on top of watering, you may want to set an alert on your phone or install a plant care app that can help you track your plants’ needs. You can also invest in a soil moisture meter, which will help you determine when your plants should be watered. Indoor drip irrigation systems or watering bulbs can also automate your watering, so you never have to worry about forgetting to water your plants again.

For gardeners that prefer lower-tech solutions, most houseplants do well when watered approximately once every 7 to 10 days during the growing season. If you’re unsure if your plant needs water, press your finger into your plant’s soil. If the top 1 to 2” of soil feels dry, it’s time to bring out your watering can!

2. Root damage

Plant roots damaged from improper watering — Damage to roots, such as root rot, is another common problem that causes leaves to yellow; its cause is often a problem with watering, too.

Plants that are severely overwatered can rapidly develop root rot, which will kill off plant roots and make them unable to draw up water. When this occurs, plants can develop yellow leaves and other signs of trouble, such as brown spots and wilting. But overwatering is not the only reason why plant roots may become damaged.

Rough handling during repotting or inadequately sized pots can also impair plant roots and make them unable to absorb water properly. This may result in yellowing leaves, stunted growth, or other issues.

If your plant shows these signs of stress, you’ll need to inspect your plant’s roots. The color of healthy plant roots can vary depending on the species; however, roots should be firm to the touch and relatively sturdy. Roots that are mushy, soggy, blackened, or fall apart in your hands are unhealthy and should be snipped away from your plant to give it a chance to recover.

3. Lighting

Yellow, burnt leaves on a houseplant — Light conditions need to match the right conditions for the plant you are growing. This, too, causes leaves to yellow, bleach, and perhaps burn.

Finding the right balance of lighting for your plant can be tricky. As with watering, both too much and too little light can affect the health of your plant and result in yellowing leaves.

Too much bright light can cause bleaching and scorching to houseplant leaves, especially with species that are light-sensitive. If your plant is receiving too much direct sun, damaged leaves will usually manifest towards the top of the plant or on the side of the plant facing the light source. Moving your plant a few inches away from a bright windowsill or adding a sheer curtain to your setup can protect delicate leaves and encourage your plant to recover.

Poor lighting can also be to blame for yellowing spots, although yellowed leaves usually occur towards the bottom of the plant or on the side of the plant that isn’t facing the light source. Plants require light to photosynthesize, so if they don’t get enough light, they basically starve to death. Turning your plants every week or two and boosting their access to light by adding a few grow lights can correct this issue.

4. Aging

An old, aging yellow houseplant leaf — Yellowed leaves may also be simply a part of the plants' life cycle. No leaf lives forever.

Leaves naturally turn yellow and fall off your plant as they age. So, if you’ve noticed just a few yellow leaves, particularly on the older sections of your plant, this may be normal. That said, if yellowing leaves are occurring in areas of your plant that are actively growing, there is probably something else going on.

5. Nutrient deficiencies

Mottled yellowing on a plant with nutrient deficiency — The right nutrients feed leaves and give them their deep, healthy green color.

Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and other minerals and nutrients are critical for the health of your houseplants. These minerals are usually present in potting mixes and soils when you first pot up your plant, but they will diminish over time as your plant uses up the nutrients in its soil. Nutrients also commonly get washed out of plant soil with watering.

Deficient soil can cause many issues with your houseplants, including yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and lack of fruit and flowers. Unlike other causes of leaf yellowing, nutrient deficiencies usually result in visible leaf veining, otherwise known as chlorosis.

A regular application of a quality organic fertilizer can help maintain nutrient levels in your plant’s soil and ward against leaf yellowing. Often, a balanced liquid fertilizer is the best option as this can be mixed into your plant’s water for very easy application.

Keep in mind that some plants require more fertilizer than others, while certain species don’t like fertilizer at all. Carnivorous plants, like Venus flytraps, are very sensitive to chemicals and should never be fertilized. Some other common houseplants, like lucky bamboo, can also be sensitive to fertilizer, and care should be taken when adding any extra nutrients to these plants.

Tip: If you have pets, stay away from granular fertilizers or fertilizer sticks. The scent of fertilizers can be very attractive to pets, who may dig up fertilizers and eat them. Since even organic fertilizers can be dangerous for your pet, it can be wise to switch to liquid fertilizers that are more difficult for your pets to get into.

6. PH imbalance

A plant suffering pH imbalance — PH levels can have profound effects on the foliage and flowers of plants, both indoors and out.

Even if your potting mix has enough nutrients in it, your plants may not be able to access those nutrients, and yellow leaves can develop. This is particularly likely to occur if the pH is imbalanced in your soil.

Most store-bought potting mixes have the appropriate pH, but homemade mixes may have different pH levels. Certain soil additives and fertilizers may also throw off the pH in your soil and make it more difficult for plants to absorb nutrients.

A simple soil test can tell you if you need to adjust your houseplant’s soil. Repotting your plant or watering it with compost tea may be enough to adjust pH levels and help your plants’ leaves recover.

7. Pests

Stippling caused by insects on a house plant — Stippling that becomes dead and dried spots is more likely to be caused by pest infestation.

Many different houseplant pests can cause leaf damage, including yellowing leaves. However, leaf damage from pests usually looks a lot different from damage caused by improper plant care.

Sap-sucking insects, like spider mites and aphids, target plant leaves and stems. When they feed, they insert their mouth parts into the plant’s tissue, and their saliva can cause a reaction in plant leaves. Affected leaves often develop a characteristic stippling pattern with lots of tiny yellow or white dots across leaf surfaces.

Checking plants over carefully can help you determine if your plant is suffering from pests. If you spot any pest activity, spray your plants well with an organic insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Then repeat the treatment every 7 to 10 days until all signs of pests are gone.

You can reduce the chances that pests occur in your grow room by carefully inspecting new plant additions for insects before bringing them into your home. Additionally, since spider mites thrive in low-humidity environments, you may want to add a humidifier near your plants, as this can make your home less hospitable to destructive mites.

8. Plant viruses

Plant virus on houseplant leaves — Viruses on houseplants can spread from one to another, so quarantine and sometimes replacement are a good idea.

Plant viruses can present as splotchy yellow areas on leaves that can expand throughout the plant. Depending on the virus, damage may also spread between plants, so it’s a good idea to quarantine plants at the first sign of illness.

It can be difficult to treat viruses, although you may have success with fungicidal sprays, repotting your plant, or other treatments. However, if your plant doesn’t seem to be recovering, you may want to replace it with a new one and start over.

9. Cold drafts

Yellowing leaves on a plant left in a cold, drafty space — Cold and drafts can harm plants' leaves and their ability to thrive.

Drafty windows and fluctuating temperatures from A/C units may also cause yellowing plant leaves and other troubles. Some plant species are more susceptible to damage from cold temperatures than others, but all plants should be protected from extreme temperature variations and chilly windows.

Move plants away from A/C units, as well as space heaters, fireplaces, or anything else that may produce extremely high and low temperatures. Sensitive plants should be removed from drafty windows, or you can try adding a sheer curtain to your setup to help buffer your plant from getting too chilled.

Frequently asked questions

A yellowed plant leaf that should be removed — Yellowed leaves are usually too far gone to benefit the plant, so remove them as you work to correct the cause. This allows the plant to put its resources to healthy leaves, and keeps your plant looking better.

Should you remove yellow leaves from houseplants?

Yes. Once leaves turn yellow, they usually won’t recover, and they should be removed from your plant. Snipping away yellow leaves will redirect your plant’s energy toward new growth and help your plant recover more quickly.

Do yellow leaves mean overwatered?

Most often, yellow leaves indicate overwatering, but they can result from other causes as well. Underwatering, too much or too little light, pests, or nutrient deficiencies are other common reasons why plant leaves turn yellow, and these issues require different treatment strategies.

Can a yellow leaf turn green again?

If a leaf turned yellow due to nutrient deficiencies, it could sometimes turn green again if the underlying cause is corrected. That said, more often than not, yellow leaves do not recover and should be snipped away from your plant so your plant can focus on growing more healthy leaves.

What is the fastest way to fix nitrogen deficiency?

Adding a nitrogen-rich or balanced fertilizer to your houseplants is the quickest way to correct a nitrogen deficiency. Liquid fertilizers are usually best for this as the nutrients in them are more readily available for rapid absorption by plants.

What fertilizer to use for leaves turning yellow?

A balanced fertilizer or compost tea are the best options for correcting leaf yellowing due to nutrient deficiencies. Without a soil test, it’s difficult to say exactly what nutrients your plants are lacking. Applying a soil additive with lots of macro- and micronutrients can ensure that your plant will get exactly the nutrient boost it needs at the right time.

How do I know if I am underwatering or overwatering my plants?

Both over- and underwatering can cause similar symptoms, like leaf yellowing, making it difficult to determine what’s ailing your plant. The best way to decide if your plants are over- or underwatered is to feel your plant soil. If it feels waterlogged and soggy, you probably need to water less.

Summary

A dead yellow, drying leaf on a houseplant — Individualize the care and maintenance of each house plant to keep it looking and living its best.

Yellowing leaves are one of the most common houseplant issues, but they can be easily fixed and prevented by understanding your plant’s individual care needs. Different houseplants have varying light, fertilizer, and watering requirements. Researching your houseplant before adding it to your collection can help you understand your plant a bit better so yellow leaves never develop in the first place.

Since watering issues are one of the most common causes of yellowing leaves, you may want to read up on self-watering planters, which can simplify your plant care and watering schedule.