Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Check the top inch of soil with your finger.
- Inspect the leaves for tiny pests like spider mites.
- Assess if the plant is getting enough bright, indirect light.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves turn yellow and feel soft or mushy to the touch. You might also notice the soil stays wet for more than a week.
What to do: Let the top inch of soil dry out completely before you water again. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape.
Low Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves slowly turn pale yellow and the plant looks thin or stretched out. This happens when the plant cannot produce enough energy.
What to do: Move your coffee plant to a spot with bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun, which can scorch the leaves.
Nutrient Deficiency
PossibleHow to tell: It is less common for this plant, but yellowing between the veins often points to a lack of nitrogen or magnesium. This usually happens if the plant has been in the same soil for over a year.
What to do: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength once a month during the growing season. If the soil is very old, consider repotting into fresh, nutrient rich potting mix.
Find out what's wrong with your coffee plant
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
When to worry
It is normal for the oldest, lowest leaves to turn yellow and drop as the plant grows. Worry if multiple leaves yellow at once or if the new growth is affected.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and keep the plant in a bright spot away from cold drafts.
Keep your coffee plant healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the yellow leaves?
- Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors. They will not turn green again and removing them helps the plant focus energy on healthy growth.
- Does low humidity cause yellow leaves?
- Low humidity usually causes brown, crispy tips rather than yellow leaves. If your leaves are yellow, focus on your watering habits first.
More problems with Coffee plant
- Why are my coffee plant's leaf tips turning brown?
- How do I get rid of pests on my coffee plant?
- Why is my coffee plant drooping?
- How do I fix root rot on my coffee plant?
- What are these spots on my coffee plant leaves?
- Why is my coffee plant dropping leaves?
- Why is my coffee plant not flowering?
- Why is my coffee plant getting so leggy?
- Why are my coffee plant leaves curling?
Back to the Coffee plant guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.