What it looks like
Leaves yellow gradually, the lower ones first. They may be soft and drooping, or dry and brittle — that difference tells you the cause.
Why it happened
Soft and yellow with wet soil means overwatering. Dry and yellow with dry soil means underwatering. An even pale-yellow cast over the whole plant means low nutrients or too little light. One or two lower leaves a month is just normal ageing.
What to do
1. First push a finger into the soil — you cannot diagnose this without that. 2. If it is wet, stop watering and let it dry. Check the roots. 3. If it is bone dry, water thoroughly and check more often from now on. 4. If the soil is fine, move the plant closer to a window and feed it during the season. 5. Yellow leaves will not recover — cut them off.
How to prevent it
Check the soil before every watering. Most yellowing comes from guessing.
Most common on these species
- ZZ plant