Skip to content
Pocket Botanist
Get the app

Indian hemp · Apocynum cannabinum

Why are my Indian hemp leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves on Indian hemp usually signal that the roots are struggling with moisture levels. Check your soil moisture first to see if you are overwatering or letting the plant stay dry for too long.

Not sure it's this? Check a photo of your plant for free

yellow leaves on a plant
Photo: Trio3D, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Feel the soil depth with your finger.
  2. Check the drainage holes for blockage.
  3. Inspect the base of the stem for mushiness.

Likely causes

  1. Overwatering

    Most likely

    How to tell: The lower leaves turn yellow and feel soft or mushy to the touch. The soil stays damp for more than two weeks.

    What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 3 inches of soil dry out completely. Ensure your pot has drainage holes and never let the plant sit in a saucer of standing water.

  2. Nutrient deficiency

    Possible

    How to tell: Older leaves turn yellow while veins remain green, often occurring in late summer. This happens when the plant has exhausted the soil nutrients.

    What to do: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength once in early spring. Do not over fertilize as this plant prefers lean soil conditions.

Yellow leaves on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your indian hemp

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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

When to worry

It is normal for a few bottom leaves to yellow as the plant ages, but if the yellowing spreads rapidly to the top, act quickly.

Stopping it coming back

Stick to a strict watering schedule of 7 to 14 days and only water when the top few inches of soil are dry.

Indian hemp: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your indian hemp 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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I cut off the yellow leaves?
Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. They will not turn green again.
Does yellowing mean my plant is dying?
Not necessarily, it is usually just a sign that the plant is stressed by its environment. Adjust your watering and it should recover.

More problems with Indian hemp

Back to the Indian hemp 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.