Check these first
- Check the soil moisture with your finger.
- Inspect the drainage holes for blockages.
- Look for signs of pests on the undersides of leaves.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves look limp and yellow, and the soil feels constantly soggy to the touch.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so extra water can escape.
Nutrient Deficiency
PossibleHow to tell: Older leaves turn yellow while the plant growth slows down significantly.
What to do: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength once every 4 weeks during the growing season. Do not overfeed as this can burn the roots.
Find out what's wrong with your common orache
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
Worry if the yellowing spreads rapidly across the entire plant. It is normal for the very bottom, oldest leaves to yellow and drop as the plant matures.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and ensure the soil drains well between waterings.
Common orache: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your common orache 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 yellow leaves?
- Yes, you can trim them off with clean scissors to help the plant focus its energy on healthy growth. It will not hurt the plant.
- Does low light cause yellowing?
- Yes, since this plant loves full sun, it will struggle and yellow if kept in a dark corner. Move it to a spot with direct sunlight.
More problems with Common orache
Back to the Common orache 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.

