Indoor plants are an important asset of our house. It not only adds elegance but also purifies the air quality of your house and offers a healthier environment. However, as a process of nature, they shed leaves over time in order to make space for new leaves. But when we notice the unnatural yellowing of leaves, we often find ourselves in distress and look out for possible measures to restore their previous greenery.
In this blog, we will discuss a few helpful steps that allow us to prevent the leaves from turning yellowish.
There are various reasons that lead to the color transformation of the lush greenery of indoor plants into a pale yellow shade. Before we delve into the precautionary measures for preventing the plants from turning yellow, it is important to understand the actual reasons behind them, such as
- Inadequate sunlight
- Improper watering
- Nutrition deficiency
- Humidity level
- Inconsistent temperature
- Use of harmful pesticides
- Root-related issues
The identification of the prime cause allows you to choose the most effective strategies that are beneficial for your indoor plants.
Selection Of An Appropriate Indoor Plant
Before buying indoor plants, the first thing to consider is that all indoor plants have their own unique requirements, and they thrive in the most appropriate environmental conditions. In the absence of an appropriate environmental condition, say, light availability, humidity level, temperature range, appropriate soil with an accurate pH level, etc. The deficit in the plants is well observed in the form of yellowness.
To avoid this, one should buy indoor plants from a certified seller that offers the best guidance regarding the selection of appropriate plants.
Offering Adequate Light To The Plants
Every indoor plant has its own requirements for sunlight. They are vulnerable to both excessive and insufficient light.
To offer adequate light to the plant, you should place your plant in a way that matches the specific light requirements. Before buying an indoor plant, one should research the specific light preference of each plant so that you can offer them the required amount of light. In addition, one can perform plant rotation so that every indoor plant receives the necessary light for its growth.
Optimizing The Watering Process
One of the prime reasons behind the yellowness of indoor plants is inadequate watering practices. Overwatering or underwatering of the plants can affect the quality and color of the leaves.
To avoid such a situation, one should check the top inch of the soil. If you feel the soil is dry, then water the plant in an adequate amount. If one is new to gardening and plants, it is always advised to use a moisture meter. In addition, it is essential to ensure that your plant is placed in a well-draining soil and pot to avoid excess water.
Addressing Nutrient Deficiencies In Plants
Indoor plants are more prone to nutrient deficiencies. They often lack nutrients such as nitrogen, iron, or magnesium, which turns out to be the reason for the plants turning yellow.
To meet the nutrient deficiencies in the plant, one should use formulated fertilizers for the indoor plant. The measured ratio of the fertilizers not only offers good health to the plants but also helps in retaining their greenery. In addition, it is important to check the quality of the soil at regular intervals to adjust the requirement for fertilizers.
Pest And Disease Management
Indoor plants are highly prone to pests and other diseases that transform green plants into yellow.
To protect your indoor plants from pests and other diseases, it is important to check the plants regularly. The underside of the leaves is considered to be the most important section of the plant to be examined. To enhance the life of the plant, it is crucial to treat the plants with effective insecticides or home remedies. If the infected plants show no sign of growth, then they should be isolated so that it doesn't affect the neighboring plants.
Cleaning and Repotting Of The Plants
Accumulated dust and stiffness of the plant's roots are also some of the agents that cause the plants to turn yellow.
It is important to clean the leaves of the plants regularly with a damp cloth or gently shower them to remove the unwanted substances so that the plant can breathe and absorb the light properly. Apart from this, it is also important to regularly trim the yellow leaves to encourage the growth of new leaves.
In addition, it is important to repot your plants to offer better water absorption spaces and shed the weed plants that are essential for providing appropriate nutrition to the indoor plants' roots.
Wapping It Up!
Indoor plants tend to turn yellow. But the unnatural turning of leaves into yellow is a serious affair for plant lovers. With the appropriate measures, one can not only save the plants from turning yellow but can also offer healthy growth to the plant.
There are a few self-inspection criteria that allow plant lovers to detect the reason for a change in the appearance of the plant.
- If the entire plant turns yellow, it might be because of waterlogged soil, which reduces the oxygen level of the soil. In this condition, one can perform repotting and thorough cleansing of the plants with insecticidal soap using cotton balls.
- If the tip of the stem turns yellow, it might be because of low iron levels in the plant. The use of houseplant fertilizers containing iron effectively addresses this issue.
- The yellowing of the lower leaves may indicate root crowding or nitrogen deficiency. This can be eliminated through repotting and the use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers.
- The yellowness of leaves near the central stem of the branching houseplant signifies low magnesium, zinc, or insufficient nitrogen. In this scenario, one can use houseplant fertilizer with a higher nitrogen ratio.
So, we have discussed various approaches to protecting your indoor plants from turning yellow. You can follow these steps and preserve the greenery of your plants.
