Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Stick your finger one inch into the soil to check for dampness.
- Inspect the drainage holes to ensure they are not blocked.
- Look at the plant's location to see if it is getting enough light.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves feel soft or mushy and the soil stays wet for a long time. You might also notice a musty smell coming from the pot.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out completely. Ensure your pot has drainage holes and never let the plant sit in a saucer of standing water.
Low Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The yellowing happens mostly on the lower leaves or the side of the plant facing away from the window. The stems may also look stretched out.
What to do: Move your plant to a spot with brighter indirect light. If you cannot find a brighter spot, consider using a grow light for 8 to 10 hours a day.
Find out what's wrong with your spur flower
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
It is normal for the oldest bottom leaves to yellow and drop as the plant grows. Worry if the yellowing spreads rapidly across the newer growth.
Stopping it coming back
Only water when the top inch of soil is dry and keep the plant in a bright, airy location.
Spur flower: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your spur flower 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 new growth.
- Can yellow leaves turn green again?
- No, once a leaf has turned yellow, it will not return to green. It is best to remove it.
More problems with Spur flower
- Why are there white cottony bugs on my Plectranthus?
- Why is my Plectranthus wilting and the soil smells bad?
- Why is my Plectranthus growing long and sparse stems?
- Why is my Plectranthus drooping?
- Why are my Plectranthus leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Plectranthus losing its leaves?
- What are these spots on my Plectranthus leaves?
- Why is my Plectranthus not blooming?
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.