Check these first
- Check the soil moisture by sticking your finger an inch deep.
- Inspect the base of the plant for signs of mushy stems.
- Verify that the container has adequate drainage holes.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow 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.
Natural Dormancy
PossibleHow 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.
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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.
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?
- 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
- How do I fix root rot in my Italian arum?
- What are these bugs on my Italian arum?
- Why are my Italian arum leaves dropping?
- Why are my Italian arum leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Italian arum drooping?
- Why does my Italian arum have spots on its leaves?
- Why is my Italian arum growing tall and leggy?
- Why are my Italian arum leaves curling?
Back to the Italian arum 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.

