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Italian arum · Arum italicum

Why are my Italian arum leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves on your Italian arum usually point to issues with soil moisture or drainage. Check the soil moisture level first to see if the roots are sitting in too much water.

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

Check these first

  1. Check the soil moisture by sticking your finger an inch deep.
  2. Inspect the base of the plant for signs of mushy stems.
  3. Verify that the container has adequate drainage holes.

Likely causes

  1. Overwatering

    Most likely

    How to tell: The leaves feel soft or mushy and the soil stays wet for a long time.

    What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out. Ensure your pot has drainage holes and empty the saucer after watering.

  2. Natural Dormancy

    Possible

    How to tell: The leaves turn yellow in late spring or early summer as the plant prepares to go dormant.

    What to do: This is a normal part of the plant cycle. Simply let the foliage die back naturally and reduce watering until new growth appears in autumn.

Yellow leaves on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your italian arum

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.

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When to worry

If the yellowing happens during the active growing season in winter or early spring, it is a sign of stress. If it happens as the weather warms up, your plant is just going to sleep.

Stopping it coming back

Maintain a consistent watering schedule of every 7 to 14 days and ensure the soil is well draining.

Italian arum: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your italian arum 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.

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Questions people ask

Should I cut off the yellow leaves?
Wait until they are completely brown and crispy before removing them. This allows the plant to pull back remaining nutrients into the bulb.
Does yellowing mean my plant is dying?
Not necessarily. It is often just a sign that the plant is entering its summer dormancy period.

More problems with Italian arum

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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.