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Are Pothos Leaves Turning Yellow? Here’s Why & How to Fix 

 March 22, 2022

By  admin

Pothos leaves turning yellow can be a sign that the plant is suffering from root rot. The plants’ roots will turn black and mushy, accompanied by brown spots on other parts of the leaf as well. Here are some ways to restore your potted Pothos to good health!

The “should i remove yellow leaves from pothos” is a common question that many people have. You can fix the yellow leaves by soaking them in water, or you can use a plant food to get rid of the yellow leaves.

Are Pothos Leaves Turning Yellow? Here’s Why & How to Fix

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You’ll start asking yourself a few things as soon as you see your pothos leaves turning yellow:

“What’s going on with my pothos?”

“Are there any mistakes I’m making?”

“Will the plant die?” says the narrator.

“Can you tell me how I can repair this?”

So long as there are no visible signs that it’s dying, you can figure out what’s going on, determine if it’s your fault, and rescue the pothos before it’s too late. 

Here are a few reasons to think about it, without boring you to death: 

Contents

1. Improper Light Amounts Can Harm the Pothos

The SUN IS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF A POTHOS YELLOWING AWAY.

This isn’t a plant that thrives in direct sunlight. But it’s also not a FULL SHADE plant. 

The pothos will yellow slowly but certainly if you don’t give it at least 4 hours of sunshine every day. 

AT THE SAME TIME, DO NOT LEAVE IT UNDER THE SUN FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS.

Given the delicate leaves, it is not a plant that can resist excessive sunshine. 

How do you tell whether there’s too much or not enough light?

It’s simple: 

Do the leaves have a somewhat brownish tone to them? Then there’s a problem with too much light.

Are the leaves plump and light in color? Then there’s a lack of sunshine. 

What Should I Do Now?

The process of fixing your pothos is straightforward. Follow these guidelines:

  • Allowing the pothos to remain in a gloomy location at home is not a good idea. 
  • Allow it at least 4 hours of sunshine every day. Give it roughly 6 to 8 hours if possible.
  • Don’t go above that limit. You’ll make it burn and become yellow once again.
  • In hot and arid areas, reduce the quantity of sunshine.
  • In gloomy conditions, increase the quantity of sunshine.

Within a few weeks of implementing these modifications, you should notice effects.  

2. Pothos will be harmed by insufficient water.

TOO MUCH AND TOO LITTLE WATER, like TOO MUCH AND TOO LITTLE LIGHT, may be harmful.

Overwatering, on the other hand, is the more prevalent of the two. This is often due to the plant not getting enough sunshine (so that the water does not evaporate and pool in the soil). The extra water ultimately drowns the roots, causing the upper leaves to turn yellow quickly.

But don’t be in a hurry. The leaves will also turn yellow if there isn’t enough water. This time, it occurs as a result of the plant’s dehydration. As a result, its leaves begin to fade quickly. 

Check if the soil is too damp or marshy to see whether it’s OVERWATERING. In addition, the plant’s leaves grow plump and squishy, indicating that it is drowning. 

Look for wilting, curling, and crisping leaves on DRYING pothos. The soil, on the other hand, will seem dry and rough. The plant is parched. 

Here’s how to get rid of them: 

Overwatering is a problem that has to be addressed.

The cure consists of ensuring that it does not overwater again as well as eliminating the source of the problem:

  • Make a hole in the pot it’s growing in. Alternatively, if it is growing in a garden bed, remove it and place it in a well-drained container.
  • Water only when the soil appears and feels dry. Overwatering should be avoided as a result of this.
  • Keep it in the sun to help the plant recuperate and dry off any extra moisture on the soil. 

Pothos plants recover remarkably quickly from overwatering problems, just requiring a few weeks to return to normal (a few days to show signs of improvement). 

Solve the Pothos Drying Problem 

If the pothos is drying out, the best cure is to entirely adjust your watering habits:

  • Water the pothos as soon as possible. When you water the plant after a lengthy period of time without doing so, the leaves typically migrate.
  • Continue to water the plant until the soil is wet. Water should be dripping down the pot or container. The pot should now be heavier.
  • Return the next day. If the soil seems to be dry, water it again using the same procedure. 

Keep an eye on this plant till it heals. Then you’ll see that the green leaves are sprouting again and the brown ones are dropping. 

NOTE: If you’re attempting to mend it, don’t overwater it. Maintain a moist but not muddy soil. 

3. The Pothos Doesn’t Like Extreme Temperatures

To live, every plant has to grow in a specified temperature range. Otherwise, it will have a hard time.

Pothos is in the same boat.

A temperature range of 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit is required for this plant. Anything above or below that will create problems (like yellowing leaves). 

But there’s a catch: if the temperature drops below 50 degrees and the environment is dry, the plant may survive. 

However, if the climate is humid, it begins to suffer. Because the roots aren’t drying out correctly, the leaves become yellow. As a result, the leaves become juicier and yellower. 

ALSO: If the temperature is too high, the plant will yellow, particularly if there is a lot of direct sunshine. The leaves get drier in this instance. 

What Should You Do If the Weather Isn’t Perfect?

The answer is as straightforward as you may think:

  • Maintain the plant in the warmer regions of your house if the climate is too chilly (below 70 or 50 degrees). A heater is a fantastic technique to raise the temperature in the area surrounding it.
  • Keep the plant in the darker and cooler sections of your house for longer if you live in a hot climate. This is especially true during the summer and other warm months. 

The plant usually recovers within a few days in both circumstances. This isn’t always necessary for the plant’s survival. 

4. Poor nutrition will cause the Pothos to struggle.

Don’t you feel sluggish after a day or two of not eating well?

Imagine not being able to eat properly for weeks or months at a time.

What do you believe your body’s reaction will be?

Whatever it is that you have in mind, you may relate it to a plant that is turning yellow. 

Pothos leaves become yellow in one manner or another when it does not obtain all of the necessary nutrients.

A shortage of magnesium, for example, will cause the margins of the leaves to yellow. Meanwhile, a deficiency in zinc, iron, or manganese may cause the leaf flesh to become yellow while the veins and stem remain green.

ON THE OTHER HAND, assume you’ve been eating like a pig for a month. What will your body’s reaction be?

Pothos will become yellow if it is overfed. This is due to mineral excess, and it will eventually BURN the leaves. Excess manganese, for example, can cause little yellow patches all over. 

Begin properly feeding the Pothos.

To solve both of these problems, all you have to do is feed the pothos appropriately.

Here are a few pointers to help you do so:

  • Nothing beats fertilization when it comes to nutritional insufficiency. Investing in an all-around fertilizer that delivers all nutrients would be beneficial. Concentrate on iron-rich fertilizers for the pothos.
  • Fertilizing the plant at least twice a year is recommended.
  • If your plants are overfed, consider watering them exclusively with distilled water (no minerals). 
  • You may wish to alter the soil to reduce the quantity of minerals in it. A potting mix that drains adequately would suffice. 
  • If you suspect overfeeding is due to a mineral imbalance, fertilize your plant no more than twice a year. 

As you can see, it’s largely about repairing the soil by fertilizing it or altogether replacing it. 

5. The Pothos is infested with pests 

When bugs consume pothos plants, they get stressed to the point of yellowing, much way a human becomes sick and feeble after a skin ailment.

Bugs sucking the moisture from the leaves also contributes to this. They also make it difficult for the plant to absorb nutrients in certain situations. 

Worst of all, a variety of insects might be to blame. These are some of them:

These are all sap-sucking animals ready to deplete the nutrients in your plant. Fortunately, there is an easy technique to get rid of them. 

How to Remove Pests from Your Pothos (And Prevent Them)

Before you go out and get rid of the pests, you’ll need to figure out why they’re there in the first place. After that, getting rid of the pests will be a breeze.

  • Determine if your plant is receiving too much water (humid leaves) or has insufficient ventilation (bugs attack with lack of wind). 
  • Once you’ve found the issue, take the necessary steps to resolve it. Keep the leaves as fresh as possible for maximum humidity. Also, put the plant near to a window for ventilation.
  • Now you may spray the plant leaves with insecticidal soap. This should get rid of the most of the bugs (regardless of the species).
  • After the bugs have perished or vanished, wipe the leaves with a soft, dry cloth. This should get rid of any residual eggs/larvae.

You’ll see that the plant quickly recovers. To prevent the pests from reappearing, remember to modify the circumstances that may be attracting them. 

6. Diseases are wreaking havoc on the Pothos

Plants of the genus Pothos seldom get ill. They do, though. When they do, the situation quickly deteriorates. 

Fortunately, your pothos isn’t susceptible to many ailments. You’ll find the following among the few who do:

  • Phytophthora infestans (root rot)
  • Ethylene poisoning 
  • Bacterial wilt is a kind of bacterial wilt that occurs when bacteria

For the first two, the reason is probably an improper environment (overwatering or lack of ventilation). But for Bacterial wilt is a kind of bacterial wilt that occurs when bacteria, it’s just bad luck (it travels through water and air, so it’s tricky to know the reason).

There are methods to fix the pothos before it’s too late, whatever is causing the problem. 

With These Tips, You Can Restore Your Ill Pothos

The repair technique includes removing sick leaves as well as any potentially harmful chemicals. Here’s how to get started:

  • Begin by chopping all of the afflicted leaves, both yellow and brown, particularly those that aren’t standing erect. 
  • To repair Ethylene poisoning, make sure there’s no decomposing matter around the plant. Fix this by cleaning up and taking the plant to a ventilated area. 
  • Allow the soil of the pothos to dry for a few days. If you don’t water until the soil is completely dry, you risk killing the fungus. 
  • Use neem oil if you spot any leaf spot or Bacterial wilt is a kind of bacterial wilt that occurs when bacteria on the leaves. It will stop the infection right away after you spray the oil on the leaves.
  • Finally, put the plant in a lonely location (away from pets and other plants). To strengthen, it needs at least 5 hours of daylight. 

Maintain a healthy plant by keeping it well-ventilated, well-drained, and free from rotting debris or sick plants. This should ensure that this does not happen again. 

7. The Pothos Is Having Trouble Repotting

The pothos plant, believe it or not, despises being repotted.

FEW PLANTS, in fact, like it.

When you repot Pothos, it will not respond perfectly. And it will struggle in certain circumstances.

When the leaves start to turn yellow, you start to get concerned.

What causes this to happen?

There are two primary reasons for this:

  1. Plants cease consuming nutrients in order to acclimate to the new soil. Instead, they concentrate on acclimating, which slows their metabolism and causes the leaves to yellow.
  2. The plant may begin to drop some leaves as it transitions to a dormant condition. It’s possible that they’ll become yellow as a result of the treatment.

Consider the pothos as a plant that despises repotting. That’s most likely the case if you transferred it from its original pot to a new one. 

When repotting your pothos, here’s how to avoid damaging it. 

There’s no going back after you’ve repotted. It will turn yellow or struggle for a few days/weeks before adapting to the new soil. 

However, appropriate repotting may keep the plant from becoming yellow. Here are some things to think about:

  • In the spring, Pothos begins to develop its leaves and roots FASTER. Since a result, this may be the best time to repot, as the plant will likely adapt to the new soil more quickly.
  • When the plant is healthy or has root rot, repot it. When the plant is suffering from dry soil or overwatering, don’t repot it. 
  • Wet the fresh soil and keep it damp for a while. It will be more comfortable for the pothos because of the spread humidity. As a result, it will get habituated more quickly.
  • Plant the pothos apart from other plants. Keep it to yourself. Otherwise, it will become aware of the situation and get uneasy (probably never acclimatizing to the new place).

Even if the pothos begins to yellow as a result of these suggestions, the yellowing will not stay long. This is because, although it may become yellow, repotting seldom causes it to die. However, use caution. 

Most Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the yellowing of the pothos normal?

Pothos plants, believe it or not, turn yellow from time to time, even when there is no harm. 

When new leaves begin to develop and the old ones perish, this occurs. However, just one or two leaves will dry up in this instance (not all of them). 

Check to see if the leaves turning are larger, older, and toward the bottom of the plant to see if it’s typical fading. These leaves will ultimately fall off on their own. 

Are the leaves of your pothos going brown?

This is a VERY OBVIOUS effect of a dring plant. Brown leaves indicate that they are decaying. There’s still a possibility to salvage the pothos if just a few leaves are brown. However, if the majority of the leaves are brown, you may have to say farewell. 

What should I do if my pothos leaves curl?

This is a clear symptom of excessive heat and sunshine. When this occurs, move the plant to a darker, cooler location. The curls might be gone in a week or two. 

Please don’t let your Pothos perish! 

You now know how to prevent pothos leaves from becoming yellow.

It’s past time to take action.

Quickly resolve any problems, and your plant will begin to develop again in no time.

So, are you ready to rescue the pothos from oblivion? FIX IT RIGHT NOW!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I fix yellow leaves on my pothos?

A: The best way to fix yellow leaves on your pothos is by trimming them back. If the yellowing continues, you may need to get a professional plant expert in order to help remove or address root causes for this phenomenon.

Can Yellow pothos leaves be saved?

A: Yes, they may be saved and used in other ways.

Can Yellow pothos leaves turn green again?

A: I dont know.

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Emil Schoene


Born and raised in Austin, TX I come from a background of home renovation. By helping my family in my younger years with their construction business, I learned the ropes quickly and as I grew it became my passion that I still do today. Looking to share my knowledge with others. I invite you to leave comments on any post as I know you will have questions that you are not finding anywhere else.

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