Leaves turning yellow during flowering can be frustrating for plant owners. No one wants their flowers and plants to turn yellow at any point during their growth. Yellow leaves are an indication that the plant is not doing well. The issue gets complicated because the yellowing can be caused by many things. This post provides ideas on several issues that could be going on with your plant that you need to address to save your plant.
Watering Stress
One of the reasons that can contribute to leaves turning yellow during flowering is watering stress. The majority of the plants don’t like experiencing moisture stress. Moisture stress can be caused by either overwatering or under-watering.
Water stress is the first thing a plant owner should check when they notice the leaves turning yellow. Different plants have different levels of tolerance when it comes to water stress. Some plants are very sensitive while others can tolerate some abuse or neglect.
Plants such as succulents don’t like being overwatered or sitting in water. While others such as caladium don’t like to be under-watered.
The best way to determine when to water your plant is by checking the amount of moisture in the top layers. If you don’t have a moisture meter, you can just stick your finger in the soil. Check this post on the complete guide on how and when to water indoor plants.
Fertilization
The way you fertilize and feed your plants can also cause yellowing of leaves during flowering. Both under-fertilizing and over-fertilizing can cause the yellowing of leaves.
However, in the majority of the cases, most plant owners over-fertilize their plants. Most people including beginners and veterans know that plants require to be fed during the growing season. As a result, some people tend to overfeed when the plants are growing and flowering.
When you use too much fertilizer on your plant it creates a toxic environment that causes the leaves to turn yellow. In most of the plants, the leaves turn yellow in a strange pattern. The leaf tissue turns yellow while the leaf veins remain green.
Poor nutrition can also cause the leaves to turn yellow. Plants use a lot of energy to produce fresh flowers during the blooming process. In some cases, the plants might turn yellow if they are growing in poor soils where they lack the necessary nutrients.
Diseases and Pests
Whether you are growing plants indoor or outdoor, they can be attacked by diseases and pests. When you have leaves turning yellow during flowering, it could be caused by some pests.
Some of the common pests to look out for include thrips, scale, mites, aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies.
The majority of the pests are tiny and can go unnoticed for a while. It’s therefore important to regularly inspect the leaves of the plant every time you’re watering. By the time you’re noticing yellowing of leaves, the pests will have spread into a full-blown infestation.
The pests can be controlled using neem oil or horticultural soap. You can apply the two products as preventative measures on the plants. You can also apply them when you notice any pests.
Diseases
Diseases can also cause leaves turning yellow during flowering. The common diseases are fungal and bacteria. Root diseases are some of the biggest contributors to yellow leaves. The diseases are common in soils with poor drainage as well as plants that are root-bound.
When the roots are sick, the plant is not able to intake nutrients and water which negatively affects its health. Yellowing faded, and withering leaves are all signs of root problems.
Leaves Turning Yellow During Flowering from Lighting
Low light can also cause the plant’s leaves to turn yellow. Although some plants can tolerate low light, a majority of the plants require direct to partial light to do well.
The plants rely on light for photosynthesis to occur. When they cannot get enough light, the plants cannot conduct the process and their health deteriorates.
Light availability of often a problem for plants that are potted and are being grown indoors. Outdoor plants rarely get yellow leaves as a result of insufficient light.
Temperature
Temperature changes can also cause the leaves to turn yellow. Different plants are affected differently by temperature changes. Some plants can tolerate low or high temperatures while others don’t.
Cold temperatures and cold drafts affect tropical plants negatively and cause them to get yellow leaves. When the plants are exposed to cold temperatures for prolonged periods, the leaves turn from yellow to brown.
Stress
The leaves can also turn yellow when the plant is experiencing stress. An example is when the plant is transplanted. Some plants are more sensitive compared to others.
However, it’s not advisable to transplant plants when they are flowering. They are focusing their energy on creating new blooms and should not be subjected to any form of stress.
Solutions to Leaves Turning Yellow During Flowering
- Move the plant to a location where it is getting enough light. As stated above, one of the reasons why plants get yellow leaves is because of insufficient light. To address this problem, move the plant to a different location. This is especially important for house plants.
- If the plant is in a location where its experiencing cold temperatures you should also move it. Don’t place plants in a location where they are getting cold drafts from windows or air conditioning systems.
If the plant is outside, you might want to move it inside when the temperatures begin to drop.
Leaching Plants
Follow the recommended feeding routine. Most plants have different fertilization requirements. It’s important to stick to these requirements to avoid over-fertilizing your plant.
If the plant is already in a toxic environment, then leaching is the only solution. Leaching helps get rid of excess minerals in the soil.
To leach, the plant, place it under running water and allow the water to run through and remove the excess mineral build-up.
It’s important to note that leaching gets rid of all the nutrients. After the process gives the plant several days to settle and then apply organic or chemical fertilizer in the recommended amounts. The idea is to get a healthy balance and avoid over or underfeeding.
Repotting the plant is also an option. Just make sure to remove the majority of the soil with excess minerals.
Conclusion
Leave as yellowing during flowering can be a concern for plant owners. However, taking the ring corrective measures will help ensure that your plant recovers and becomes healthy again.
It can be difficult to pinpoint what the exact problem is. Yellow leaves can be caused by one problem of several problems. You have to figure out what is causing the problem in each particular instance and address it.
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