Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is soggy.
- Check the drainage holes for blockages.
- Look for cold drafts near the window.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves feel soft and mushy, and the soil stays wet for a long time. The yellowing often starts on the lower, older leaves.
What to do: Let the top inch of soil dry out before watering again. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape.
Cold water damage
PossibleHow to tell: You see yellow or white spots on the leaves after watering. This happens when cold water touches the foliage.
What to do: Always use room temperature water. Pour the water directly onto the soil, avoiding the leaves entirely.
Find out what's wrong with your african violet
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
A single yellow leaf at the very bottom of the plant is just an old leaf dying off. If multiple leaves turn yellow at once, you have a problem.
Stopping it coming back
Water only when the soil feels slightly dry to the touch and always use lukewarm water.
African Violet: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your african violet 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
- Can I save a yellow leaf?
- No, once a leaf turns yellow, it will not turn green again. It is best to snip it off with clean scissors.
- Is my water too cold?
- If it feels cold to your finger, it is too cold for the plant. Let your watering can sit out for an hour to reach room temperature.
More problems with African Violet
- Why is my African Violet not flowering?
- Why are there spots on my African Violet leaves?
- Why is my African Violet drooping?
- How do I fix root rot on my African Violet?
- Why is my African Violet growing long and leggy?
- Why are my African Violet's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my African Violet losing its leaves?
- How do I get rid of pests on my African Violet?
- Why are my African Violet leaves curling?
Back to the African Violet 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.