Whose got yellowing plants? Raise your hand! I do, I do! Yellowing plants are the bane of my existence because there are so many reasons as to what could be causing the issue. Stop guessing when it comes to yellowing plants, and learn exactly what to do about it here!
We’ve all been there..we spend countless hours working hard on our gardens, and then one day we walk outside to discover that our beloved plant leaves are turning an ugly shade of yellow! This is enough to make any seasoned gardener a little panicked. Here are 10 reasons your plants are turning yellow, and I’ll show you how to fix them!
Overwatering
Do your plant leaves look yellow and wilted? If so, the discolored leaves could be a sign of overwatering. In some cases, this could be a result of poor soil drainage. To combat the problem, add sand to the soil of your plants, or relocate the yellowing plant to a raised garden bed.
Bugs (Yuck!)
This is one of the easiest plant problems to spot! If your plants are suffering from a pest problem, you’ll be able to spot where the insects have been munching on the leaves. Get rid of them by spraying your plants with neem oil!
Lack of Sun
When your plants are suffering from a lack of sunlight, the leaves will begin to look faded and droopy. For an easy fix, relocate your plant to a more sunny area.
Lack of Water
Leaves will begin to look dry, and they may even feel a bit crunchy when suffering from dehydration. Many plants should get at least 1 inch of water per week. Be sure to water your plants regularly and check the seed packets for more information on the watering needs of your plants.
Lack of Potassium
Plants lacking potassim are easy to spot because the tips of the leaves become yellow. Bury lemon rinds (or any other citrus fruits!) in the soil at the base of your deficient plants. Add compost for a bigger dose of nutrients.
Nitrogen Deficency
The tips and center vein of leaves will turn yellow when suffering from a nitrogen deficency. Adding organic compost (like manure!) and coffee grounds to the soil will help get your plants healthy again.
Lack of Calcium
Plant leaves become misshapen when they need a healthy dose of calcium. Test your soil to determine if it’s alkaline or acidic. Once determined, apply gypsum to alkaline soil and lime to acidic soil to solve the problem.
Lack of Iron
Leaves with an iron deficency are often a vibrant color of yellow with small green veins. Determine the PH balance of your soil, and lower the PH if necessary. The soil’s PH should be under 7.
Lack of Zinc
Plant leaves will begin to show a light discoloration between large veins. Spray with a kelp extract (directly onto the leaves!) for a quick and easy fix!
Lack of Magnesium
Leaves will begin to show signs of white stripes along the leaf veins. And any gardener knows that these white stripes aren’t nearly as cool as the band. Adding organic compost rich in magnesium will help to return the color of the leaves to normal. Sprinkling epsom salts along the base of the plant directly into the soil also works great!
Thank you so much for sharing. My roses thank you more.
So glad I could help.
All the best!
Jenny