Yellow Alert: Decoding the Reasons Behind Your Succulent’s Color Change
Succulents are known for their hardiness and vibrant green hues, but sometimes, they can start turning yellow. If you find yourself asking, “Why is my succulent turning yellow?” you’re not alone. It’s a common issue, but the good news is, it’s often fixable.
The Watering Balancing Act Too much water is a usual suspect when succulents turn yellow. These desert dwellers don’t like wet feet. Overwatering can lead to root rot, which causes leaves to yellow and wilt. On the flip side, too little water can also stress them out, leading to yellowing leaves as they try to conserve water.
Sunshine: How Much is Too Much? Succulents love sunlight, but just like us, they can get sunburned. If your plant is getting too much direct light, its leaves can start to yellow and burn. But, if it’s not getting enough light, it might also start to yellow as it loses its natural color.
Nutrient Know-How Nutrient deficiencies can turn succulent leaves yellow. If your plant isn’t getting enough of the right nutrients, especially nitrogen, it can start to lose its color.
Temperature Trials Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can make succulents unhappy. If they’re too cold, they might start to yellow and drop leaves. If they’re too hot, they might also start to yellow as they get stressed.
Pests and Problems Tiny pests, like aphids and mealybugs, can stress your plant and suck the green right out of the leaves, leaving them yellow. A quick check under the leaves and in the nooks can tell you if bugs are your problem.
What to Do: Observing and Acting The first step is to observe any changes in your plant’s environment or care routine. Then, adjust one thing at a time. Change the watering schedule, move it to a different light, or give it some succulent-friendly fertilizer. With some detective work, you can usually find out why your succulent is turning yellow and fix it.
In short, yellowing succulents are telling you they need a change. With the right care adjustments, you can usually turn those yellow leaves back to their healthy green.
