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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 turn yellow and feel soft or mushy. The soil stays wet for a long time.
What to do: Let the top 3 inches of soil dry out completely before watering again. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape.
Nitrogen deficiency
PossibleHow to tell: Older leaves turn pale yellow while the veins remain green. New growth may look stunted.
What to do: Apply a balanced citrus fertilizer during the growing season. Follow the package instructions for a container plant to avoid burning the roots.
Find out what's wrong with your mandarin orange
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
It is normal for a few old leaves to yellow and drop occasionally. Worry if the yellowing spreads rapidly across the entire canopy.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and feed your tree with citrus specific fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks during spring and summer.
Mandarin orange: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your mandarin orange 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 remove the yellow leaves?
- Yes, you can gently pull them off. They will not turn green again.
- Can low light cause yellow leaves?
- Yes, Mandarin oranges need full sun. If they do not get enough light, they will struggle to produce chlorophyll.
More problems with Mandarin orange
- How do I get rid of pests on my Mandarin orange?
- What are these spots on my Mandarin orange leaves?
- Why is my mandarin orange tree dropping leaves?
- Why is my mandarin orange tree not flowering?
- Why are my mandarin orange leaves curling?
- Why are my mandarin orange leaves getting brown tips?
- Why is my mandarin orange tree drooping?
- Why is my mandarin orange tree showing signs of root rot?
- Why is my mandarin orange tree looking leggy?
Back to the Mandarin orange 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.