Should I cut off the yellow leaves?

Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors to help the plant focus its energy on healthy growth.

Can low light cause yellow leaves?

Yes, if the plant does not get enough bright indirect light, it may shed older leaves to compensate.

Spanish Shawl: yellow leaves, causes and fixes

Check these first

Touch the top inch of soil to see if it is wet or dry.
Check the drainage holes to ensure they are not blocked.
Look at the roots to see if they are firm and white or mushy and brown.

Likely causes

Overwatering
Most likely
How to tell: The leaves feel soft or mushy and the soil stays wet for more than a week.
What to do: Stop watering until the top inch of soil is dry. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape.
Underwatering
Most likely
How to tell: The leaves look crispy or brittle before they turn yellow and fall off.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until liquid runs out of the drainage holes. Resume your schedule of checking the soil every 3 to 7 days.

Yellow leaves on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your spanish shawl

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.

When to worry

If the yellowing spreads rapidly across the whole plant, it is likely root rot. It is normal for the oldest leaves at the base to yellow and drop occasionally.

Stopping it coming back

Stick to a consistent watering schedule and always check the soil moisture before adding more water.

Spanish Shawl: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your spanish shawl 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.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I cut off the yellow leaves?: Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors to help the plant focus its energy on healthy growth.
Can low light cause yellow leaves?: Yes, if the plant does not get enough bright indirect light, it may shed older leaves to compensate.

Guides to these causes

Dehydration

Why are my Spanish Shawl leaves turning yellow?