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Check these first
- Feel the top inch of soil for dampness.
- Inspect the drainage holes for standing water.
- Check the light levels in your current spot.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The lower leaves turn yellow and feel soft or mushy to the touch. You might also notice a damp, musty smell coming from the pot.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape freely.
Low Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves lose their vibrant green color and turn a pale yellow or lime shade. Growth slows down significantly and the stems may look stretched.
What to do: Move your plant to a spot with brighter, indirect light. A location near an east or west facing window is usually ideal.
Find out what's wrong with your lesser galangal
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
It is normal for the oldest, lowest leaves to yellow and drop as the plant grows. Worry if multiple leaves yellow at once or if the stem feels soft.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and keep the plant in bright, indirect light.
Lesser Galangal: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your lesser galangal and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the yellow leaves?
- Yes, you can trim them off with clean scissors. This helps the plant focus its energy on healthy new growth.
- Can yellow leaves turn green again?
- No, once a leaf has turned yellow, it will not return to green. It is best to remove it once it is mostly yellow.
More problems with Lesser Galangal
- Why is my Lesser Galangal showing signs of root rot?
- Why does my Lesser Galangal have pests?
- Why are my Lesser Galangal's leaves getting brown tips?
- Why is my Lesser Galangal not flowering?
- Why is my Lesser Galangal drooping?
- Why is my Lesser Galangal losing its leaves?
- Why does my Lesser Galangal have spots on its leaves?
- Why is my Lesser Galangal growing so leggy?
- Why are my Lesser Galangal leaves curling?
Back to the Lesser Galangal guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.