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Why are The Leaves of Your Pothos Turning Yellow?

pothos-yellow-leaves
pothos-yellow-leaves

Pothos or the devil’s ivy is a great houseplant. It is easy to grow and does not need a lot of care or attention. The plant has attractive leaves that look like a heart.

There can be some problems with the plant such as the leaves turning yellow. This can be a sign that the plant is not happy and you will need to take measures to fix things.

Yellow leaves may mean the plant is growing old. They may also mean there is a problem and something is wrong with the plant. If the leaves are turning yellow, measures can be taken to fix the plant. These are some reasons why the leaves of the Pothos may be turning yellow.

Issues with the Fertilizer

Most plants can use some fertilizer to help them grow. You may also choose to use a quality potting soil. If the leaves on the pothos are turning yellow, the soil can have too much or too little fertilizer.

If the soil does not have enough nutrients, the plant will not be able to grow properly. This is an easy issue to fix. Fertilizer should be used once every three months.

This will keep the levels stable and allow the plants to grow. Fertilizer can be a good thing to help the plant grow, but using too much can have the opposite effect.

Too Much Sun

Plants need light to grow but they can be harmed by too much sunlight. Pothos does not need a lot of sunlight to live. They like moderate light and can even grow in an area with low lights.

Too much sunlight will lead to the plant burning and the leaves turning yellow. The plants will do fine with indirect sunlight or even low lights. Do not place them right in the window where they will be subject to direct sunlight.

This is a plant that does not need a lot of sun so keep this in mind when finding a location to place them in your home.

Too Hot or Too Cold

The ideal temperature for a pothos is between 70 and 90 degrees. It can deal with temperatures as low as 50 degrees. If the plants get too hot or too cold the leaves will begin to turn yellow.

Do not expose them outside of this temperature range. You may have to move them around your home to find the ideal place. If the temperature is too hot, the leaves will begin to turn yellow or wilt.

If the temperature is too cold, the plant will not like this either and the leaves can begin to turn yellow.

Too Much Moisture

Overwatering the pothos can turn the leaves yellow and can even cause the root to rot. The soil will be wet and this will affect the plant.

Before adding more water to the pot, make sure the previous watering has completely absorbed into the soil and the soil is dry.

If you touch the soil and it is still wet, you do not need to water the plant. This can also lead to the growth of other things in the soil that may harm the plant.

Not Enough Water

If the plants are not getting enough water, this can be a problem too. The roots will suffer and they will not be able to get the nutrients around the plant. This will lead to a lack of proper nutrition and will cause the leaves of the pothos to turn yellow.

Be sure to check the soil to see if it is dry. If it is, then it is time to water. All plants need water to live and you need to make sure the pothos is getting the correct amount of water to stay healthy.

Spider Mites

These mites can make the leaves of the plant turn yellow. They are so tiny that they cannot be seen. If the plant has these mites, the leaves will turn yellow.

If the plant does have mites, spray it with lukewarm water. Wash the leaves down with insecticidal. This needs to be done twice a week. If the dead leaves fall off, remove them right away.

Fungus

The fungus can grow if there is too much water in the soil. It will stay moist and becomes a breeding ground for fungus. This will keep the plant from getting the proper nutrients and leading the leaves to turn yellow.

You will need to change the pot and the soil and watch how much you water the plant.

Yellow Pothos Leaves May not be Too Bad

As a pothos plant ages, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and they may fall off. This will allow new leaves to grow. If the leaves are yellowing you should not panic.

You should check the soil and the plant. There may not be a problem, the plant may be getting old. It is a natural process and will not be something that you will need to worry about.

Summing it up

Pothos are good plants to keep in the household. They are attractive due to the shape of their leaves. If the leaves begin to turn yellow or even if they start to fall, this can be a sign that something is wrong. You will need to check your plant over and take steps to fix it.

There can be several reasons why the leaves are turning yellow. Indoor plants are not at a high risk of developing bacterial diseases.

Fixing the situation can be something as simple as moving the plant to a new place in the home, changing the watering pattern, and add or reduce the amount of fertilizer you are using on the plant.

Now you have some tips and suggestions on what can be causing the yellow leaves and how you can deal with it.

Photo by Afif Kusuma from Pexels

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