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Ivy-leaved geranium · Pelargonium peltatum

Why are my ivy-leaved geranium leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves on your ivy-leaved geranium usually signal that the plant is getting too much water or not enough light. Check the soil moisture first to see if the roots are sitting in soggy dirt.

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yellow leaves on a plant
Photo: Trio3D, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Feel the top inch of soil for dampness.
  2. Check if the pot has drainage holes.
  3. Observe the amount of daily sunlight the plant receives.

Likely causes

  1. Overwatering

    Most likely

    How to tell: The leaves turn yellow and feel soft or mushy to the touch.

    What to do: Let the top inch of soil dry out completely before watering again. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape.

  2. Low Light

    Possible

    How to tell: Leaves lose their deep green color and the plant looks stretched out.

    What to do: Move your geranium to a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If you are growing indoors, place it in a south facing window.

Yellow leaves on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your ivy-leaved geranium

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.

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When to worry

It is normal for a few older leaves at the base to yellow and drop as the plant grows. Worry if the yellowing spreads rapidly across the entire plant.

Stopping it coming back

Stick to a consistent watering schedule and keep the plant in a bright, sunny location.

Ivy-leaved geranium: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your ivy-leaved geranium 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.

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Questions people ask

Should I cut off the yellow leaves?
Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. This also helps the plant focus its energy on healthy growth.
Can fertilizer help yellow leaves?
Only if the yellowing is caused by a nutrient deficiency. If the plant is overwatered, adding fertilizer will only stress it further.

More problems with Ivy-leaved geranium

Back to the Ivy-leaved geranium 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.