Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Feel the soil surface with your finger.
- Check the drainage holes for blockages.
- Inspect the undersides of leaves for tiny pests.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves turn yellow and feel soft or mushy to the touch. The soil stays wet for days after watering.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out completely. Ensure your pot has drainage holes so water can escape freely.
Nutrient deficiency
PossibleHow to tell: Older leaves turn yellow while the veins stay green. This usually means the soil is short of nutrients such as magnesium, or the plant cannot take them up well, for example in poor or depleted soil.
What to do: Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers as they encourage leaves instead of flowers. Use a balanced, low strength fertilizer once every 4 to 6 weeks if growth looks stunted.
Find out what's wrong with your nasturtium
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 very oldest, lowest leaves to yellow and die as the plant grows. Worry if the yellowing spreads rapidly to new growth.
Stopping it coming back
Plant in well draining soil and only water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Nasturtium: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your nasturtium 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 to keep the plant looking tidy. This also helps you spot new yellowing more easily.
- Is my plant dying if it has a few yellow leaves?
- Not necessarily. A few yellow leaves are usually just part of the plant's natural life cycle.
More problems with Nasturtium
- Why is my nasturtium not producing any flowers?
- What are these bugs on my nasturtium?
- Why is my nasturtium drooping?
- Why is my nasturtium growing so leggy?
- Why are my nasturtium leaves getting brown tips?
- Why is my nasturtium dropping leaves?
- Why are there spots on my nasturtium leaves?
- Why is my nasturtium wilting from root rot?
- Why are my nasturtium leaves curling?
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.