Gardening Plant Problems

8 Reasons Why Indoor Plant Leaves Turn Yellow

Houseplants may show stress due to overwatering, viruses, pests, or other issues

Yellowing leaves on your houseplants are frustrating. Sometimes the cause is obvious, which means that you can diagnose and fix it immediately. There are other times when the problem is more of a mystery. In these cases, you'll need to try changing one thing at a time until you see improvement in your plant.

illustration showing causes of yellowing houseplants

The Spruce 

When you see an entirely yellow leaf, you should remove it from your plant using a sterile cutting tool. Removing the leaf will let the plant focus its nutrients on healthy leaves. A yellow leaf has lost its chlorophyll (pigment) and it can't turn green again even after you correct the problem. Don't worry, if the plant regains its health, it's possible that new leaves will fill in during the next growing season.

Growing plants is always a matter of patience. Do your best to eliminate these common reasons for yellowing leaves, then wait to see what happens. Read on to find out reasons why your indoor plant's leaves are turning yellow, how to fix yellowing indoor plants, and how yellowing in different areas of the plant can help diagnose what's wrong.

  • 01 of 08

    Moisture Stress

    watering a houseplant

    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle 

    Overwatering or underwatering are the most common culprits when an indoor plant's leaves turn yellow. With potted plants, it is crucial that you only water as much as the plant needs.

    If you have a plant with yellow leaves, check the soil in the pot. Is it dry? Is it soaked?

    If plants don't receive enough water, they drop leaves to prevent transpiration (essentially, a plant's way of sweating) to conserve water. Before they drop, though, the leaves will typically turn yellow, sometimes at the tips, and sometimes with brown spots. If the soil is dry and this is happening, make it a point to get the plant on a regular watering schedule.

    Too much water can be just as damaging to leaves. When the soil doesn't drain well, an overdose of water leaves the soil waterlogged and root systems can literally drown. Without oxygen, roots start to die.

  • 02 of 08

    Normal Aging

    houseplant with yellowing leaves

    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle 

    As many plants age, the lower leaves will turn yellow and drop off. This is simply a normal part of their growth.

    In this case, don't worry. If the plant becomes too leggy, consider trimming back the main stem to promote new growth and bushiness.

  • 03 of 08

    Cold Draft

    houseplant by an air vent

    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle 

    Cold drafts on tropical plants will often cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop. This is different from short periods of exposure to intense cold, which will cause outright browning on the foliage or pale, transparent spots to appear between veins.

    If your plant is near an air-conditioner vent in summer or a drafty window in winter, move it to a less turbulent place. Keep an eye on it to see if the yellow leaves spread any further. It's also a good idea to mist tropicals that you're overwintering to increase the humidity.

  • 04 of 08

    Lack of Light

    plant in a dark corner

    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle 

    Plants that receive too little light will often start to yellow on the lower leaves before those leaves drop. If this is your issue, there is a clue that you can look for.

    A plant that is yellowing from a lack of light will typically yellow on the side that is turned away from the light source. The leaves near the window, for instance, are getting all the light and blocking the opposite side. A great way to remedy this is to turn the pot a bit once a week, so all sides have access to natural light.

    If this is the case, move the plant to a sunnier location and see how it does. If window light is tough to come by in your home—especially in winter—you might need to rig up an artificial plant light or two.

    Continue to 5 of 8 below
  • 05 of 08

    Nutrient Deficiency

    adding soil to a plant pot

    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle 

    Plant leaves may also turn yellow if a plant is not receiving all of the nutrients it requires. This can be caused by too much calcium in the water if you're using hard water or by a nitrogen deficiency.

    If this is the problem, the plant's top leaves may be the first to go yellow. In other cases, you might notice an unusual pattern to the yellowing. For instance, the veins may remain dark while the tissue between them turns yellow.

    The nutrients a plant requires varies based on the species and some are pickier than others. It's important to try and diagnose the problem properly or you might kill a plant that can otherwise be brought back to health. It can be a good investment to purchase a small soil kit for at-home soil tests. Being able to accurately pinpoint the needs of your plant will greatly help. This will help keep your plants happy and healthy.

  • 06 of 08

    Viral Infection

    throwing away a sick houseplant

    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle  

    If your plant has a viral infection, it might show up as blotchy, spreading yellow patches on leaves throughout the plant. This may be accompanied by deformed leaves and stems, as well as discolored flowers.

    Viral infections in plants may not be able to be cured and can infect all susceptible plants nearby. As soon as you notice a sick plant, quarantine it from the rest of your plants. Check the neighboring plants to ensure the spread is contained. You can take steps to save the plant, but you must first attempt to identify the virus. Some remedies can involve fungicides, while others may require removing healthy parts and propagating. While it may be painful if it's a favorite, you'll have to discard any plants that you cannot bring back to health. Wash and sterilize any pruning tools or pots before using them on other plants.

  • 07 of 08

    Pests

    aphids on a houseplant

    The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong 

    If you have dry air indoors, your plants may be suffering from pests. Plant insects, such as aphids and spider mites, may be slurping the sap from your foliage and turning them yellow by leaving splotches of discoloration. Check under the leaves for any signs of fine webbing, which can indicate pests. Eliminate aphids and spider mites with insecticidal soap. You can also increase the humidity level around your houseplants with a humidifier or fill a shallow tray or bowl with pebbles and water and put plants on top of it for added moisture.

  • 08 of 08

    Repotting

    items for repotting a plant

    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

    Repotting a plant that needed a new home can stress it out and result in yellowing leaves. It's a normal way the plant shows it's trying to settle into its new surroundings. This can also happen if you repot a perfectly healthy plant you brought home from the nursery only to find that it's suddenly dropping yellow leaves. The best thing you can do in this case is to give your plant time for its roots to settle in and find its source of nutrients in the new soil. During this period, don't fertilize your plant. If you have brought home a new plant, wait about a week to repot it to give it time to adjust to your home.

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  1. Overwatering. Missouri Botanical Garden, 2020

  2. Why Houseplants Drop Leaves. University of Vermont Department of Plant and Soil Science.

  3. Diagnosing Nutrient Deficiencies. University of Missouri Extension.

  4. Preventing and Managing Plant Diseases. University of Missouri Extension.