Are your anthurium leaves turning yellow or brown? This results from water stagnation, excess sunlight, environmental factors, or diseases.
Through the medium, This post will help you understand why this happens, how to fix it, and how to prevent it in the future.
This lesson will teach you the nine most frequent reasons why anthurium leaves turn yellow.
I will start from the most common ones to the less usual ones, and you will know how to fix and resolve them individually.
I have also covered a similar topic: why Anthurium leaves are brown, spotted, or dry and how to fix them. READ NOW [link]
Why Does Anthurium Have Yellow Leaves?
The major factors contributing to yellow leaves on anthurium are overwatering, direct or too much sunlight and nutrition diffusion.
Water stagnation caused by water remaining in the soil for too long also contributes to why anthurium leaves turn yellow or brown.
This can happen due to an incorrect watering cycle or because inadequate and poorly draining soil is used.
In addition to water stagnation, numerous other causes lead anthurium to have yellow leaves, such as:
- Leaf replacement
- Compact soil
- Low ambient humidity
- Intense or poor light
- Temperature too low
- Incorrect fertilization
- Fungal infections
- Bacterial diseases
Avoid this type of issue because, most times, one reason triggers another, making it a little more difficult to understand the trigger.
For example, too dense soil retains a lot of water, which in turn can give rise to fungal diseases.
Factors causing yellow leaves on Anthuriums and how to fix them
Below is a list of the nine main causes of yellow anthurium leaves.
From the most frequent and normal to the less common and difficult to treat.
Old Leaves And Leaf Replacement
As the anthurium grows and produces new leaves and flowers, the older ones gradually turn yellow and dry out.
This process is called leaf turnover and is completely normal.
As long as the other leaves on the plant are healthy and green, there is no cause for concern if the lowest leaf is yellow or dry. The plant is just making the leaves look better.
How To Fix It
In this case, you don’t have to do anything; wait for the yellow leaf to dry and then remove it from the attachment with the collar.
Too Much Water
The most common mistake that causes anthurium to have yellow leaves is watering too frequently.
For convenience or routine, we tend to water regularly (once a week or on Saturday morning) without considering the plant’s actual needs.
Watering anthuriums should occur during periods of low soil moisture, such as winter and early summer.
For a better understanding, please read our article on how to water an anthurium. READ NOW. [link]
Suppose that insufficient time is allowed for the substrate to cure. Water restriction ensues, leading to the development of yellow leaves, root (or collar) decay, and a cascade of induced diseases.
Examine the soil a centimeter below the surface to see if the leaves have yellowed due to too much water. It will probably be muggy.
Then, observe the color of the petiole and the leaf.
Suppose the petiole is yellow and the leaf is yellowing from its attachment. In that case, you will have confirmation that the problem is due to water stagnation.
How To Fix It
If the problem is slight, it will be sufficient to let the soil dry well before watering again, ensuring that it is dry on the surface and two centimeters deep.
Suppose the anthurium has many yellow and brown leaves. In that case, the problem may have already affected the roots, causing them to rot.
In this case, you need to pot the plant to check the root system’s health to ensure there is no rot (usually due to a fungus called Pythium).
If so, clean the root system of the soil and cut off the rotten roots with sterilized scissors.
After that, repot the anthurium into a fresh container filled with clean soil and refrain from hydrating for several days.
A systemic fungicide may be required to address the plant if the issue persists despite ongoing observation.
Inadequate And Poorly Airy Soil
As long as the soil is moist and airy, the anthurium, which is an epiphytic plant, is able to grow successfully in a containerized environment.
Both smaller particles and bigger bits make up this substance.
The presence of a compact and inadequately dispersing substrate in a compost hinders the circulation of air and water, resulting in conditions similar to water stagnation.
An additional situation arises when the soil has undergone gradual degradation or when limestone accumulations have formed, resulting in increased hardness and compaction.
Whatever the cause, poor-quality soil can cause yellow leaves on the anthurium, which turn yellow from the petiole and expand towards the blade’s center.
How To Fix It
The only option to set your plans free from compacted and cold soil and poor drainage is to report your anthurium immediately.
A good substrate, drainage holes, and the right size are all important considerations when selecting a container.
You can find all the necessary information on how to repot and what soil to use on this website. Read now [link]
The Ambient Humidity Is Too Low.
Tropical plants called anthuriums thrive in conditions when humidity levels are higher than 70%.
Very low environmental humidity (<40–45%) can cause peripheral dehydration, which presents with leaves yellowing from the tip and along the edges.
As the problem worsens, brown spots appear, and the ends begin to dry.
Usually, the dry air does not compromise the entire leaf but causes the tips and edges of many scattered leaves to dry out.
In addition to causing yellow and dry leaves in anthurium, it greatly slows the plant’s growth.
It causes the plant to struggle to keep the stomata open and exchange air with the surrounding environment.
Low humidity causes symptoms similar to those caused by the accumulation of fertilizer in the soil.
You should use a hygrometer to test the level to be sure the issue is caused by U/R.
How To Fix It
There are several ways to increase the humidity near our plants, such as:
· In order to establish a microclimate between the leaves, the plants must be moved closer to one another.
· To the saucers, add some aggregates and a little mist of water, being careful not to get any on the vase.
- Place humidifiers on radiators when they are turned on.
- Move the plants to the bathroom or kitchen, usually the most humid rooms.
- Use an ultrasonic humidifier (very effective).
After the issue is resolved and the humidity is back to a manageable level (>50%), you may use sterile scissors to trim the dry or yellow sections of the anthurium leaves.
The Light Is Too Intense.
Anthurium leaves often turn yellow due to very strong lighting.
This occurs particularly in the spring and summer when you leave the plant outside in direct sunlight or areas with intense indirect light.
Unlike winter and late autumn, radiation is very intense in the warm months, especially during the central hours of the day.
Assume that at this time of year, it is still exposed to the sun. In such a scenario, if the anthurium gets direct sunlight and the days are very bright, it will start to show signs of discoloration on its yellow leaves or even burns.
The same is true for flowers or, more accurately, for spathes.
To learn more about the flowering Anthurium plant and its common problems, read now [link].
How To Fix It
If the yellowing leaves on your anthurium are a result of excessive exposure to light, make sure it stays out of direct sunlight and consider moving it to a somewhat shaded spot.
A valid alternative is to use opaque curtains to partially shield the light entering through the window.
Conversely, since the sun’s rays are less powerful during October to the month of March the plant may easily absorb all of the light that is provided to it.
The most damaged leaves, particularly those scorched by the sun, should be removed since they may serve as an access site for fungal or bacterial illnesses.
Temperature Too Low
Another very common problem that causes yellow leaves and necrotic spots in anthurium is cold.
These plants do not tolerate temperatures below 15°C or prolonged cold air currents.
A similar thing occurs when the leaves come into contact with a cold surface, such as a window during the winter.
Cold damage affects both leaves and flowers; it appears just a few days after exposure to low temperatures, making it difficult to link the source to the consequence.
Plants often suffer from cold during transit, and their leaves become yellow and stain a few days later after they have acclimatized to their new habitat.
Furthermore, temperatures that are too low have side effects, such as:
· They weakened the immunological system.
· They lower the demand for water, raising the danger of water stagnation.
· They promote the growth of fungus.
How To Fix It
To fix this, the first step is to ensure that the room temperature does not drop below 15°C and that you shield your anthurium from cold air drafts.
Following that, the plant must be maintained under observation for around 10 days.
We must understand whether it is cold damage or fungal disease.
In the first example, the condition should be resolved within ten days; however, in the case of mushrooms (as we shall see shortly), the problem persists over time.
Once we are satisfied that the cold causes the anthurium’s yellow leaves (or spots), we may relax our watch.
At this point, it will be sufficient to maintain appropriate temperatures. At the same time, damaged leaves may be removed in part or whole.
Insufficient Or Excessive Fertilization
Anthurium leaves may become yellow due to a shortage of certain nutrients such as nitrogen, iron, and sulfur.
Excess fertilizer may induce similar symptoms by accumulating salt, altering the pH of the soil, and generating absorption blockages.
In practice, the plant exhibits deficiency symptoms, while the true culprit is an excess of fertilizer.
This usually happens in three circumstances:
- You fertilize too much during the winter when the plants absorb little nutrition.
- You use more fertilizer than indicated on the label or apply it too often.
- When you fertilize a plant, you do not provide sufficient water. You should always add the amount of water and let it drain out of the drainage holes to remove the salts collected due to the previous fertilization.
Plants could suffer dehydration due to excessive salt buildup, hindering proper root water absorption.
In this instance, the anthurium leaves will not only become yellow at the margins or tips but also start to dry up.
The symptoms are similar to those due to too little humidity but worsen more quickly if the problem is not solved.
Suppose you’re interested in learning how to fertilize a pothos tree. READ NOW. [LINK]
How To Fix It
If your anthurium displays indications of nutritional deficit, you can treat it with a fertilizer designed for flowering plants.
Any fertilizer you want to buy must contain all macronutrients (NPK) and micronutrients, as the plant requires.
To achieve full blooming potential, the fertilizer must include higher levels of phosphate (P) and potassium (K).
If the problem is caused by an absorption block or a salt accumulation in the soil.
You will be required to provide significant water to the soil to eliminate any excess minerals.
Easily use double or triple the amount of water the vase can hold.
If you use a 3-liter pot, for instance, fill it with 6–9 liters of water and let the water run out of the drainage holes.
Use less fertilizer when you begin fertilizing again after the subsequent irrigation.
Remember not to fertilize during the winter or at a very low dosage.
Make sure to water with a generous amount of water (which rinses the soil).
Fungal Diseases
Anthurium is susceptible to a variety of fungal infections, some of which produce yellow leaves, brown patches, and black dots.
The most prevalent is root rot (Pythium), which is commonly caused by water stagnation and damages the roots, limiting their capacity to absorb nutrients.
The first noticeable indication is the yellowing of the leaves and petioles, which wither and dry.
Other fungi attack the leaves directly, usually entering the plant tissues through lesions or following water stagnation on the foliage or around the collar.
The way that fungal infections present varies based on the kind of fungus that causes them.
They can appear with yellow or brown dots, dark spots, or widespread yellowing.
I have also covered a similar reason why anthurium leaves are brown, spotted, or dry and how to fix them. READ NOW [link]
Usually, velvety-leaved species such as Anthurium clarinervium or crystallinum are particularly sensitive.
How To Fix It
Suppose you are concerned that the Anthurium leaves have turned yellow due to fungal diseases. In that case, it is important to act promptly.
Here’s how to fix it:
- Isolate the diseased anthurium to avoid infecting other plants.
- Remove the most affected leaves or cut the stained parts with sterilized scissors. The cut must be done where the tissues are still healthy and green.
· Verify the roots and collar are in excellent shape. If the plant’s roots are rotted, you must remove the dead branches and repot the plant in fresh soil.
· To treat the plant and stop the illness from coming back, use a systemic fungicide.
· Before putting the anthurium back where it belongs, keep it segregated and under close watch for a few weeks.
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections are fortunately not particularly frequent, but should they arise, they can cause the anthurium to die quickly.
Symptoms are yellow spots on the leaves, which look watery and smelly.
Phytophagous parasites and their high contagiousness facilitate their transmission from plant to plant.
Bacteria often settle in the plant through water stagnation on the leaves or because unsterilized scissors are used for pruning.
They increase rapidly in hot and humid environments, compromising the plant’s health within a few days if environmental conditions are unfavorable.
How To Fix It
At the collared connection, remove the yellow-stained leaves and detach the anthurium from other plants right away.
Then, spray hydrogen peroxide (or specific antibacterial products) on the leaves.
I want to be happy if I don’t introduce you to this other article on curing sick anthurium from leaf diseases and root rot.
If this interests you, click here to read it now. [link]
How Do You Care For An Anthurium With Yellow Leaves?
When you see your anthurium leaves turning yellow, first examine the plant and assess the circumstances it will be exposed to in its habitat.
Among the most important pieces of the jigsaw are the age of the plant, the temperature and humidity levels, the time of year, and the quantity of sunlight available to the plant.
If you do not initially determine the cause of the plant’s suffering, you cannot treat it.
The steps for a good “diagnosis” are:
- Notice where the yellow leaves are located.
- Try to remember how often you drank recently.
- Touch the soil to feel if it is soft, airy, or compact.
- Examine the leaves to check if the tips, edges, or stems have turned yellow.
- Measure the growth environment’s humidity and temperature.
- Think about how much and when you have fertilized recently.
This short analysis should help you better understand what is happening to your anthurium.
Perhaps now you already know what may have caused the yellow leaves.
But before drawing hasty conclusions, let’s go into the merits of the post and see the nine most common reasons why anthurium leaves turn yellow.
Conclusions
As you can see, the main reasons anthurium leaves turn yellow are watering too frequently, poor watering techniques, or inadequate substrate.
Also, a pot that is too large could cause overwatering; make sure to create a constantly humid and oxygen-poor environment.
The ideal environment for the proliferation of Pythium, a fungus that causes root rot and gives rise to many other problems.
Foliage should also not remain wet for too long to prevent fungi and bacteria from starting infections that spread quickly.
By learning these, we can identify the most serious problems.
At this stage, to preserve our anthurium from having yellow leaves again, we need to diffuse light, offer a little fertilizer, and maintain the space appropriately wet.
Have you read this article? [link]
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