Yellow Leaves on Houseplants: What's Wrong

Yellow leaves are the most common houseplant complaint and the most confusing. Yellowing can mean overwatering, underwatering, natural aging, nutrient deficiency, pest damage, or environmental stress. The key is reading the pattern: which leaves are affected, how they're yellowing and what other symptoms appear. Once you diagnose correctly the fix is usually straightforward.

For a complete troubleshooting overview, see Houseplant Troubleshooting: Common Problems and Fixes.

The Direct Answer: Yellowing Patterns

Pattern	Likely Cause	Action
Lower/older leaves yellow, drop	Natural aging or overwatering	Check soil moisture
All-over pale yellow + drooping	Overwatering/root rot	Let dry, check roots
Yellow with dry, crispy edges	Underwatering	Water thoroughly
Yellow between green veins	Nutrient deficiency	Check pH, fertilize
Random spotty yellowing	Pests or disease	Inspect closely
Yellowing after moving plant	Acclimation stress	Wait it out

The rule: The location and pattern of yellowing tells you more than the yellowing itself. Observe carefully before acting.

Overwatering: The Most Common Cause

How It Looks

Overwatering yellowing has distinct signs:

• Leaves turn pale or yellow-green first
• Affected leaves often feel soft not crispy
• Usually starts with lower leaves
• May spread upward over time
• Often accompanied by drooping

Why It Happens

Too much water damages roots:

• Waterlogged soil suffocates roots
• Roots begin to rot
• Damaged roots can't absorb nutrients
• Plant essentially starves despite wet soil
• Chlorophyll breaks down, leaves yellow

How to Confirm

Check the evidence:

• Is the soil wet or soggy?
• Has it been wet for more than a week?
• Does the pot feel heavy?
• Any mushy stems at soil level?
• Foul smell from soil?

The Fix

Act based on severity:

Mild cases:

1. Stop watering immediately
2. Let soil dry out completely
3. Improve drainage if needed
4. Water only when top 1-2 inches dry

Severe cases (root rot):

1. Remove plant from pot
2. Examine roots, trim any mushy brown ones
3. Repot in fresh, well-draining soil
4. Use a pot with drainage holes
5. Water sparingly until recovery

Learn how to save an overwatered plant.

Underwatering Yellowing

How It Looks

Different from overwatering:

• Yellowing accompanies dry, crispy edges
• Leaves may feel papery or brittle
• Often affects lower leaves first
• Soil is dry throughout the pot
• Plant may be droopy too

Why It Happens

Dehydration stresses the plant:

• Not enough water for normal function
• Plant sacrifices older leaves
• Chlorophyll breakdown releases mobile nutrients
• Leaves yellow then drop to conserve resources

The Fix

Simple to address:

1. Water thoroughly until it drains from bottom
2. Let pot sit in water for 10-15 minutes for dry soil
3. Establish more consistent watering routine
4. Consider if pot is too small (dries quickly)
5. Damaged leaves won't recover, focus on new growth

See our guide to underwatered plant signs and recovery.

Natural Leaf Aging

How It Looks

Normal and nothing to worry about:

• Only oldest leaves (usually lowest) yellow
• Happens one or two leaves at a time
• Rest of plant is healthy
• New growth continues
• Occasional not progressive

Why It Happens

All leaves have a lifespan:

• Plant reallocates resources from old leaves
• Chlorophyll breaks down
• Nutrients move to new growth
• Old leaves drop off
• Completely normal process

The Response

Just tidy up:

• Remove yellowed leaves when they detach easily
• Don't panic over occasional old leaf loss
• Monitor to ensure it's not progressive
• If many leaves yellow at once, look for other causes

Nutrient Deficiency

How It Looks

Specific patterns suggest nutrients:

• Nitrogen deficiency: Overall pale green/yellow, oldest leaves first
• Iron deficiency: Young leaves yellow between veins, veins stay green
• Magnesium deficiency: Older leaves yellow between veins
• General depletion: Gradual overall paleness

Why It Happens

Plants use up soil nutrients:

• Potting mix nutrients deplete over time
• Water flushes some nutrients out
• Rootbound plants exhaust available nutrients
• Soil pH can lock out nutrients

The Fix

Address both nutrition and conditions:

1. Resume regular fertilizing (if you've stopped)
2. Use balanced houseplant fertilizer
3. Check if plant needs repotting with fresh soil
4. Consider soil pH if issues persist
5. Don't over-fertilize, won't fix problem faster

Pest Damage

How It Looks

Irregular and localized:

• Stippled yellow spots (spider mites)
• Yellowing around clusters of insects
• Sticky residue accompanying yellowing
• Patterns don't follow typical aging

Common Culprits

Several pests cause yellowing:

• Spider mites: Fine stippling, webbing
• Aphids: Clusters on new growth
• Scale: Brown bumps on stems
• Mealybugs: White cottony masses

The Fix

Treat the pests:

1. Identify the specific pest
2. Isolate the affected plant
3. Apply appropriate treatment (soap, neem, alcohol)
4. Repeat treatments as needed
5. Monitor all nearby plants

Environmental Stress

Temperature Extremes

Causes yellowing:

• Cold drafts from windows or doors
• Near heating or AC vents
• Sudden temperature changes
• Below or above tolerance range

Fix: Move away from temperature stressors.

Light Issues

Too much or too little:

• Low light causes pale, weak growth
• Too much direct sun causes bleaching, then yellowing
• Sudden light changes stress plants

Fix: Provide appropriate light levels. Acclimate gradually when changing.

See Indoor Plant Light Guide: Where to Place Houseplants.

Acclimation After Moving

New plants often yellow temporarily:

• Changed from store/nursery conditions
• May drop some leaves while adjusting
• Usually stabilizes within weeks
• Minimize additional stress during this time

Diagnosing Your Yellow Leaves

Step-by-Step Process

Work through this checklist:

1. Which leaves are yellow? Oldest = often water/age. New = nutrients/pest.
2. What does the soil feel like? Wet = overwatering. Dry = underwatering.
3. Look at the whole pattern. All-over vs. localized tells you different things.
4. Check for pests. Look under leaves and on stems.
5. Consider recent changes. Moved plant? Changed watering? Repotted?
6. What season is it? Winter stress and dormancy are factors.

When to Worry

Take more action if:

• Yellowing spreads rapidly to many leaves
• Accompanied by mushy stems
• Bad smell from soil
• Plant is dramatically drooping
• You see visible pests

When Not to Worry

Relax if:

• One or two old leaves yellow occasionally
• Plant is otherwise healthy
• New growth looks good
• No pests visible
• Soil moisture seems appropriate

Preventing Yellow Leaves

Watering Correctly

The foundation of plant health:

• Check soil before watering, every time
• Don't water on a calendar schedule
• Ensure proper drainage
• Use pots with drainage holes
• Don't let plants sit in water

See How to Water Houseplants: The Beginner's Guide.

Maintaining Good Conditions

Environmental stability:

• Consistent temperature (avoid extremes)
• Appropriate light for the species
• Humidity for tropical plants
• Good air circulation

Regular Inspection

Catch problems early:

• Look at your plants when watering
• Check for pests monthly
• Note any changes promptly
• Early intervention is easier

Frequently Asked Questions

Will yellow leaves turn green again?

No. Once a leaf has yellowed the chlorophyll is gone and won't return. Remove yellowed leaves and focus on preventing future yellowing. New growth should be healthy.

Should I remove yellow leaves?

Yes, once they're mostly yellow. They won't recover and may attract pests. Wait until they detach easily or cut cleanly with sterile scissors.

My plant has yellow leaves AND brown tips. What's wrong?

This combination often indicates inconsistent watering the plant is stressed from alternating between too wet and too dry. Establish a consistent watering routine.

I just repotted and now leaves are yellowing. Did I do something wrong?

Some yellowing after repotting can be normal transplant shock. The plant should stabilize in a few weeks. However, if you damaged roots or changed soil type dramatically, stress may be greater.

Why do my plant's new leaves come in yellow?

Yellow new growth suggests nutrient deficiency (especially iron) or pH issues preventing nutrient uptake. Check that you're fertilizing regularly and soil hasn't become overly alkaline or acidic.

Related Guides

• Houseplant Troubleshooting: Common Problems and Fixes
• Overwatered Plant: How to Save It
• Underwatered Plant: Signs and Recovery
• How to Water Houseplants: The Beginner's Guide