Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Touch the soil to feel for dampness.
- Inspect the drainage holes for blockages.
- Check the base of the stems for soft spots.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves turn yellow and feel soft or mushy to the touch. The soil stays wet for more than a few days.
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 veins remain green. This often happens in poor, sandy soil.
What to do: Apply a balanced, water soluble fertilizer at half strength. Do this once every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season.
Find out what's wrong with your black medic
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 oldest leaves at the base to yellow and drop as the plant grows.
Stopping it coming back
Only water when the top inch of soil is dry and ensure the plant gets plenty of direct sunlight.
Black medic: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your black medic 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 the yellow leaves?
- Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors. This helps the plant focus its energy on healthy growth.
- Can too much sun cause yellowing?
- Black Medic loves full sun, so it is rarely the cause of yellowing. If the leaves look bleached, it might be heat stress.
More problems with Black medic
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.