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Check these first
- Check the soil for excess moisture.
- Inspect the drainage holes to ensure they are not blocked.
- Look for signs of mold on the soil surface.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels soggy and the leaves may look mushy or limp.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top inch of soil dry out. Ensure the pot has good drainage and never leave the plant sitting in a saucer of water.
Natural aging
PossibleHow to tell: Only the oldest, lowest leaves are turning yellow while the rest of the plant looks healthy.
What to do: Simply snip off the yellow leaf at the base of the stem. This is a normal part of the plant life cycle.
Find out what's wrong with your purple cyclamen
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 spreads rapidly to newer leaves, you likely have a root health issue. A single yellow leaf on an otherwise healthy plant is usually nothing to worry about.
Stopping it coming back
Water only when the top layer of soil feels slightly dry and always empty the drainage tray after watering.
Purple cyclamen: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your purple cyclamen 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 fertilize a yellowing plant?
- No, avoid fertilizing until the plant is healthy again. Adding nutrients to a stressed plant can cause more harm.
- Is yellowing a sign of pests?
- Sometimes, but it is more commonly related to watering habits. Check the undersides of the leaves just to be sure.
More problems with Purple cyclamen
- Why is my purple cyclamen drooping?
- How do I deal with pests on my purple cyclamen?
- Why are there spots on my Cyclamen purpurascens leaves?
- Why is my Cyclamen purpurascens not blooming?
- How do I fix root rot in my Cyclamen purpurascens?
- Why are my Cyclamen purpurascens leaves getting brown tips?
- Why is my Cyclamen purpurascens losing its leaves?
- Why is my Cyclamen purpurascens growing so leggy?
- Why are my purple cyclamen leaves curling?
Back to the Purple cyclamen 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.