When it comes to taking care of plants, whether they are located outdoors or indoors, there are certain issues that may occur. Some of them can often appear a bit hard to explain and make their owners wonder where the problem has come from.
Yellowing of leaves is a tricky issue which brings many questions and often leaves a gardener frustrated. The leaves of both indoor and outdoor plants are prone to turning yellow in some cases, which is a process that might be difficult to explain sometimes.
This is the right time to say that there are plants, which are especially hybridized to have yellow leaves. It is important for you to know that this is not a problem with the plant, so it does not require any treatment or protection. Such leaves normally turn yellow and do not come as a sign of a sickness, so they don’t need any special care or attention.
Still, if your plants are not from the species that are intentionally hybridised for having yellow leaves, then you probably have an issue here.
There are several reasons for the issue of yellowing of leaves when they should be a healthy green that every gardener has to be aware of in order to prevent their plants from turning yellow. Or, in case the leaves of a plant have already started to get yellow, it is necessary to take the correct measures as soon as possible in order to prevent the whole plant from dying.
Here is more useful information about what causes the problem and professional tips on how to treat your plants properly, so that they recover quickly. The professional garden care from HomeMates guarantees that proper treatment of this common problem.
Not Enough Water
One of the most important things about plant maintenance, is proper watering. Every plant needs to get its right amount of water per day, which depends entirely on the type of plant itself.
The lack of water is a certain factor for the yellowing of leaves. It is essential to be aware of the specific needs of your plants, in order to make sure that you take good care of them. While some plants need more water, others don’t require being watered that often. Take this into account and provide yourself with the correct information about the plants you have at home. In case your plants have started to turn yellow, touch the soil to check if it’s moisturized enough.
If you find out that the problem is the lack of water, then simply water the plant and place it in a dish, where you add some more water. In this way, the roots can get the extra amount of water they need after they absorb the water you have poured in the pot.
Over-Hydration
While the shortage of water is an issue that might lead to yellowing of leaves, watering your plants too much can be a big problem as well. Excess amounts of water can be as damaging to a plant as the lack of water and can result in over-hydration, which is also referred to as water intoxication.
By getting an overdose of water, the soil can’t drain properly, which can literally make roots drown. One of the first signs of over-hydration is the yellowing of leaves. To avoid this, you can either add sand to the soil or make raised beds for your outdoor plants, so that excess water can draw off.
Lack Of Sunlight
Just as with the lack of water, the lack of sunlight can also have a very negative impact on a plant. Different types of plants have individual needs in terms of sunlight.
Therefore, the process of yellowing of the leaves can happen much more quickly in some cases than in others. It’s important to have all the needed information in advance if you want to know the right way to care for your plants. If the leaves of your potted plant have started to turn yellow and you find the reason is the lack of sunlight, then simply move it to a sunnier spot.
If your outdoor plants don’t get enough sunlight as well, then trim the branches, if there are any. Before you add new plants to your garden, check twice if they need direct or indirect sunlight and thus find the right location for them.
Nitrogen Deficiency
Another factor for the yellowing of leaves can be the deficiency of nitrogen. Nitrogen is a very important element, which helps form the green color of plants.
Respectively, the lack of it can lead to yellowing of the leaves. Nitrogen deficiency can be a result of raw organic materials added to the soil. To de-compost such materials, micro organisms in the soil use huge amounts of nitrogen and thus lead to shortage of the element in the soil.
To prevent this from happening, don’t add uncomposted materials to your plants or simply distribute them on top of the soil as mulch. To treat a plant, which has started to yellow, add nitrogen fertilizer to the soil, such as urea or sulphate. Make sure you don’t overdose the plant.