Fifty Shades of Yellow

Featured Author: Francesca @­­_francine_indoorplants_

Yes! I’m going to admit that every time I see a green leaf turning yellow, or the full range of yellow colour leaf, it’s a big drama. Not because I don’t like yellow :) but it’s a sign that there is something wrong in my plant. And as a friendly reminder, a yellow leaf for an indoor plant will never turn green again (unless there is a deficit of nutrients like nitrogen, zinc and manganese which it’s easily repairable adding the minerals needed bring the green colour back).

In general, I always cut off the yellow leave (base or near the stem), even the ones turning slightly yellow because it’s allowed to get the energy to the green part of the plant and the coming new leave. There are a lot of different opinions about “cut or not cut”, however, I been doing this method since the last 5 years to my indoor plants and I never have any problem on damaging the plants.

Yellow leaves mean different things in your plants:

Overwatering

It’s the most and common problem for anyone that is new to plants. The main symptoms are yellow/brown bottom leaves, dropping leaves and fungus present on the top of the soil.   Allow the soil to dry (sometimes even for a few days if not a week!), do not leave any water on the pot basement, and let you plant breath a bit.

Underwatering

Another common mistake, happening when you give water only to the top of the soil, or basically you forget that you have plants in your house. It’s very easy to see when the plant is an underwater state: very dry soil, the leaves are turning yellow and curling at the edge. The solution is to provide water from the bottom of the pot. Leave the plant in your sink with 2-4 cm of water for 30 mins. You will see the results straight away.

Stress

This problem happens when the plants have been moved from a different habitat (for example when we buy a new plant or we change the room) or left in a space with not too much light. Try to bring back the plants in a room with sufficient light (no sun direct please) and give them the time to settle in a new environment.