Aglaonemas, also known as Chinese Evergreen plants, are popular houseplants celebrated for their lush green leaves. However, when those leaves start turning yellow, it can cause concern
Yellowing leaves on your aglaonema indicate the plant is under stress and not getting what it needs to thrive. Don’t panic – with some detective work, you can get to the root cause and nurse your plant back to health.
Common Causes of Yellowing Aglaonema Leaves
Here are the most frequent culprits behind yellowing leaves on aglaonema plants:
Improper Watering
Both overwatering and underwatering can cause yellow leaves on aglaonemas
Overwatering leads to saturated soil, leaving the roots saturated and unable to access oxygen. Without oxygen, the roots rot, preventing the plant from taking up water and nutrients.
Underwatering causes the soil to dry out completely. When the plant can’t absorb enough moisture and nutrients, its leaves yellow and dry out.
To avoid both issues, check the soil moisture before watering. Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Make sure excess water drains out the bottom of the pot.
Inadequate Lighting
Aglaonemas thrive in bright, indirect light. Too little light prevents the plant from producing enough chlorophyll, causing yellowing. Direct hot sunlight scorches the leaves, also turning them yellow.
Place your aglaonema in a north or east facing window out of direct sun. Use a sheer curtain to filter intense afternoon light from the west. Supplement with a grow light if needed. Rotate the plant occasionally so all sides get light exposure.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Without proper nutrients, aglaonema leaves can’t synthesize chlorophyll and start to yellow. These plants are light feeders but still require fertilizer to maintain health.
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength every 4 months during spring through fall. In winter, hold off fertilizing when plant growth naturally slows down.
Temperature Extremes
Aglaonemas prefer average room temperatures between 65-80°F. Prolonged exposure to hot or cold drafts stresses the plant, interfering with nutrient uptake.
Keep your plant away from heating and cooling vents. Move it to a warmer spot in winter. In summer, a pebble tray helps increase humidity around the plant when the AC runs frequently.
Pests
Spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects drain nutrients from aglaonema leaves, causing yellow spots or streaks. Check the undersides of leaves and stem joints for tiny insects. You may see webbing from spider mites.
Isolate affected plants. Remove pests with a strong spray of water or treat with insecticidal soap. Apply multiple treatments 7-10 days apart to kill newly hatched insects.
Root Bound
When the roots completely fill a pot, they choke each other, unable to take up water and nutrients efficiently. The plant becomes stressed and leaves yellow.
Carefully remove the rootball and inspect it. If the roots are tightly wound or growing out the drainage holes, it’s time to repot into a larger container. This encourages new growth.
Disease
Fungal diseases like leaf spot show up as yellow spots with dark borders on aglaonema leaves. Bacteria and other pathogens can also cause yellowing foliage.
Isolate and treat affected plants with an appropriate fungicide or bactericide. Improve air circulation to prevent future disease issues.
How to Bring an Aglaonema with Yellowing Leaves Back to Life
If you catch the yellowing early, it’s possible to nurse an aglaonema back to full green glory. Here are some tips:
- Assess watering and lighting and make adjustments as needed.
- Apply a balanced fertilizer to supply missing nutrients.
- Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to clean off dust and improve light absorption.
- Prune off heavily damaged yellow leaves so the plant can focus energy on new growth.
- Repot into fresh potting mix if root bound.
- Treat any pests or diseases. Quarantine plant from other houseplants.
- Move the plant to an area with proper temperatures and indirect sunlight.
- Be patient! It can take weeks for an aglaonema to perk back up after being stressed. New growth will signal recovery.
With some TLC and attention to its needs, it’s likely your aglaonema will regain its vibrant evergreen foliage. But if the yellowing worsens despite your efforts, the plant may be beyond saving.
When to Give Up On a Yellowing Aglaonema
At some point, severe yellowing and leaf drop means the plant is too far gone. Here are signs it’s time to replace your aglaonema:
- Majority of leaves are wilted, yellowed or falling off.
- Plant is stunted, with no new growth.
- Roots are black, mushy, or foul smelling from rot.
- The whole plant is yellowed or browning.
- Issues rapidly reappear after treatment.
Though sad, it’s best to discard a plant in irreversible decline so it doesn’t spread issues to nearby healthy plants. The good news is aglaonemas are affordable and easy to find – you can try again with a new specimen!
Avoid Future Yellowing with Proper Aglaonema Care
While yellow leaves may occasionally plague your aglaonema, you can prevent many problems by giving it proper care from the start:
- Water only when the top inch of soil is dry. Provide good drainage.
- Place in a north or east window. Supplement light as needed.
- Use room temperature water and fertilize every 4 months during growth periods.
- Keep leaves dust-free and remove spent foliage.
- Monitor for pests and treat promptly. Quarantine new plants.
- Repot when root bound into well-draining potting mix.
By understanding what causes yellow leaves in aglaonemas and adjusting your care accordingly, you can keep your Chinese evergreen thriving for years to come. Pay attention to its needs, and your plant will reward you with stunning green, glossy leaves.
The leaves on your Aglaonema could be turning yellow for a number of reasons. Let’s investigate and get to the bottom of this!
Moisture
The most common cause of yellowing leaves among Aglaonemas is improper soil moisture–in particular, overwatering. Only water your Aglaonema when 50% of the soil volume is dry. In the winter, you can allow your plant to dry out a little more between waterings.
When you do water, make sure you provide enough water so that liquid flows from the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and into the saucer. It’s extremely important to discard any excess water in the saucer, as your Aglaonema will not respond well to “wet feet,” which causes the roots to rot and the eventual death of the plant.
Providing proper and consistent soil moisture is important in caring for an Aglaonema. Alternating between bone dry and wet soil from ill-timed waterings can create stress and cause your Aglaonema to yellow.
Your humidity level
Low humidity and dry soil cause leaves to brown on their edges, later followed by entire yellowing. Misting the leaves of your Aglaonema often will increase the humidity.
Improper Light
Generally, Aglaonemas will thrive when placed in low to bright indirect sunlight. When exposed to direct sunlight for too long, the foliage will burn and can look yellow and pale. If you don’t have an ideal location for your Aglaonema, use a Grow Light.
Pests
Weakened or stressed Aglaonemas become more susceptible to insect infestations. Sap-sucking bugs like spider mites can drain your plant of moisture. This problem quickly manifests itself by yellowing leaflets and fronds. Scale, mealybugs, and spider mites occur frequently in indoor conditions. If not killed early on, these small pests proliferate and move all along frond parts into nooks and crannies. The piercing mouths of the insects exhaust your plant and accelerate yellowing, especially if your Aglaonema is already unhealthy from poor lighting, a nutrient deficiency, or improper soil moisture. Check out our Garden Pest Control Set to help treat your plants.
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FAQ
How do you fix yellow leaves on Aglaonema?
What does an overwatered Aglaonema look like?
What mineral is lacking when a plant leaves turn yellow?
What is the solution for yellow leaves in plants?
Why is my Aglaonema yellowing?
If your Aglaonema is yellowing despite providing it the best possible care, the discoloration might just be caused by the natural aging process. All plants, at some point, produce a few yellow leaves at the bottom as those leaves get older. Eventually, your plant will shed these old leaves to make way for new growth.
Do Aglaonema leaves turn yellow?
Yes, if your plant is getting too much water for an extended period of time it will begin to turn yellow. You can fix this problem by allowing the soil to dry out a bit more before watering it again. Will yellow aglaonema leaves turn green again?
Why are my Aglaonema leaves drooping?
In most cases, Aglaonema yellow leaves and drooping are normal, which is an age issue. But bear in mind that plants always show their problematic situation by turning their leaves to yellow and dropping off that you should pay attention to that.
Why are my Aglaonema leaves turning brown?
Direct sunlight or too much sunlight can burn Aglaonema’s leaves and cause them to yellow or brown. If your aglaonema is getting too much light, try putting it in a dark corner, or just relocating in general to a less sunny spot. If your aglaonema is infested with spider mites, try cleaning with a solution of 1 part alcohol to 1 part water.