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Plant problems

Yellow leaves on plants: causes and fixes

Yellow leaves are one of the most common plant problems, and the cause is very often water: too much of it, or soil that stays wet. Light, nutrients and simple old age come next. Where the yellow starts, and how fast it spreads, tells you which one you're dealing with.

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

Check these first

  1. Push a finger into the soil up to the second knuckle. Soil that's still wet days after watering points to overwatering; dust-dry soil points to thirst.
  2. Notice which leaves turn yellow first. A few old, lower leaves yellowing one at a time is often normal aging, or a sign the plant is short of nitrogen. Yellow new growth, especially with green veins, points to iron or another trace nutrient.
  3. Look at the light. A plant far from a window, or one moved to a darker spot, often yellows its lower leaves.
  4. Think back over the last few weeks. A repot, a move or a cold draft can yellow a few leaves while the plant settles.
  5. Turn a few leaves over and check for tiny insects, fine webbing or sticky patches.

Most common causes

The causes our guides to 1,629 plants name most often.

  1. Overwatering

    Named for 1,184 plants

    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. Nutrient deficiency

    Named for 729 plants

    How to tell: Older leaves turn yellow while the veins remain green.

    What to do: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Do this once a month during the growing season.

  3. Insufficient light

    Named for 220 plants

    How to tell: The leaves lose their vibrant color and turn pale yellow. The plant may also look stretched out.

    What to do: Move the plant to a spot with brighter, indirect light. A window with morning sun is usually perfect.

  4. Underwatering

    Named for 129 plants

    How to tell: The leaves turn yellow, feel crispy, and the edges start to curl.

    What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes. Maintain a consistent schedule so the soil stays slightly damp.

  5. Nitrogen deficiency

    Named for 103 plants

    How to tell: The older leaves turn pale yellow while the plant growth slows down significantly.

    What to do: Apply a balanced, nitrogen rich fertilizer in early spring. Follow the package instructions for application rates to avoid burning the roots.

  6. Iron chlorosis

    Named for 95 plants

    How to tell: The leaves turn yellow while the veins remain green.

    What to do: Test your soil pH, as high alkalinity prevents iron uptake. Apply a chelated iron supplement to the soil according to the package instructions.

  7. Poor drainage

    Named for 94 plants

    How to tell: The soil stays soggy for days after watering and the leaves turn a dull, pale yellow.

    What to do: Improve soil drainage by amending the area with organic matter like compost. If the plant is in a pot, ensure it has drainage holes and use a well draining potting mix.

  8. Improper watering

    Named for 64 plants

    How to tell: The leaves turn yellow and may feel soft or mushy if the soil is too wet. If the soil is bone dry, the leaves may turn yellow and crispy.

    What to do: Adjust your watering to ensure the soil stays moist but not soggy. Ensure your pot has excellent drainage to prevent water from pooling at the roots.

Not sure what you're seeing? Try the free photo health check.

Plants most prone to this

Our guides rate it likely for 653 plants. Here are 48 of them, A to Z.

Find your plant

Every plant guide links to its own pages on that plant's problems. Find yours in the A to Z:

Other symptoms

Pest, disease and disorder guides

How often do the guides name each cause, across every symptom? See what goes wrong with plants, counted.

The causes on this page are drawn from our plant guides, which are generated with AI from each plant's care profile. They are general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.