Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Check if the soil is wet or soggy.
- Look for standing water in the decorative pot or saucer.
- Inspect the plant for any signs of pests like scale.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: Multiple leaves turn yellow, often starting from the bottom of the stem.
What to do: Hold off on watering until the soil is bone dry. Ensure you are not letting the plant sit in a saucer of standing water.
Natural Aging
PossibleHow to tell: Only the oldest, lowest leaves on the plant turn yellow while the rest of the plant looks healthy.
What to do: This is a normal part of the plant life cycle. Simply snip off the yellow leaf with clean scissors.
Find out what's wrong with your zz plant
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
Worry if many leaves turn yellow at once or if the stems start to droop. One or two yellow leaves at the base of an old stem is usually just aging.
Stopping it coming back
Stick to a strict watering schedule of 14 to 21 days. Always check that the soil is dry before you add more water.
ZZ Plant: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your zz plant 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 yellow leaves?
- Yes, you can trim them off with clean shears. They will not turn green again.
- Does low light cause yellow leaves?
- It can, but overwatering is much more common. If your plant is in a very dark corner, move it to a spot with brighter indirect light.
More problems with ZZ Plant
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.