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Check these first
- Inspect the undersides of the stems for webbing.
- Touch the top inch of soil to see if it is bone dry.
- Check if the pot has drainage holes.
Likely causes
Spider mites
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see fine webbing between the stems and tiny yellow stippling on the needles.
What to do: Wipe the foliage down with a damp cloth or give the plant a gentle shower. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap once a week for 3 weeks to kill any remaining mites.
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The needles feel dry and brittle to the touch and the soil pulls away from the pot edges.
What to do: Soak the root ball thoroughly in a sink of water for 15 minutes. Resume a schedule of watering every 5 to 10 days when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Find out what's wrong with your asparagus fern
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
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When to worry
If the yellowing spreads rapidly across the whole plant, it is time to act. A few yellow needles at the very base are normal as the plant ages.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the air around your fern humid and check for pests every time you water.
Asparagus fern: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your asparagus fern 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 needles?
- Yes, you can snip off yellow needles to keep the plant looking tidy. It will not turn green again.
- Can low light cause yellowing?
- Yes, if the plant is in a dark corner, it may lose its color. Move it to a spot with bright indirect light.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Asparagus fern
Back to the Asparagus fern 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.