Dieffenbachia leaves turning yellow is one of the common and frequent problems of the Dieffenbachia plant which can break any plant keeper’s heart. this unfortunate problem can have various reasons; among them we can mention improper watering , lack of nutrient , improper light, bad temperature different houseplant diseases and some other all of which We will examine each of the reasons below and tell you how to fix the problem. Remember that this dieffenbachia toxic to cats and dogs so be careful not to put it in front of your pets..
Dieffenbachia is one of the most popular indoor plants, But if it is not cared for properly, the leaves of this plant will turn yellow and often, you can easily tell what has been done wrong in the care of the plant and resolve the problem before it gets worse, but sometimes it’s hard to tell where the problem is. so, make sure to understand how to care for dieffenbachia.
Always be aware of the leaves and stems of your indoor plants; like children, these plants do not have the language to tell their problems, and they always tell us with signs what is wrong with them; one of the common signs among plants, the yellowing of the leaves of indoor plants In some cases, this sign is a warning for the death of your apartment plants, so be very sensitive.
What is the main reason for the yellowing of Dieffenbachia leaves?
One of the main reasons for the yellowing of dieffenbachia leaves is over-watering and lack of proper drainage; always check the soil before watering your pot to see if it is 1 inch dry and then start watering. Other reasons for the yellowing of dieffenbachia leaves include too much light and low fertilization. I checked each item and the solution below, which you must read. In addition, if you do not provide the right conditions for the care of this plant, your plant will suffer from diseases.
1. Does watering cause dieffenbachia leave to turn yellow?
Over-watering in all houseplants will cause yellowing and rotting of the roots and eventually cause their death. Too much watering will not always make your plant grow better, but it will cause dieffenbachia to turn yellow and die. Before watering, check the pot’s soil and water it whenever it is 3 to 4 cm dry; in addition to watering too much, not having good drainage will also cause the yellowing of dieffenbachia leaves. After watering, check that the excess water comes out from under the pot and throw away that water unless you have made an island for the pot. When the water collects under the pot, it will gradually cause root rot and, ultimately, the death of your plant.
2. Why does over-watering cause the yellowing and falling of Dieffenbachia leaves?
When the plant’s root does not have good air circulation, and the soil becomes swampy, it will not perform properly, and it will not allow enough nutrients and water to reach the leaves, and eventually, the leaves will start to turn yellow and fall. If this process continues and you continue watering in the same way or if you do not correct the pot’s drainage, you will cause the death of your plant. This death is in the form that the roots first suffer from a fungal disease and then rot and are destroyed.
Fixing the yellowing and falling of Dieffenbachia leaves
If you detect this in the beginning, you can save the plant very easily, stop watering, do the next two irrigations using fungicide, and remove the yellowed leaves from the plant. Because the yellowing leaves of Dieffenbachia will never return to their original state, and if the amount of decay is high, remove the plant from the soil and then use a fungicide to disinfect the roots and then root in water or soil.
3. Effect of nutrient deficiency and dieffenbachia leaf yellowing
Determining the lack of nutrients in indoor plants is a bit difficult, but if you haven’t fed the plant after buying it and bringing it home, it will be one of the main reasons for the yellowing of Dieffenbachia leaves. During the growing season, from spring to summer, this plant needs to be fed every two to three weeks using fertilizers that have a significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus. Otherwise, you should see the leaves of your plant turning yellow. In some cases, you fertilize the plant, but the root cannot absorb nutrients; in this case, the amount of irrigation is high, or the soil is alkaline, and you can adjust the pH of the soil with humic acid.
Solving the problem of dieffenbachia leaves turning yellow due to lack of nutrients
Feed the plant every two to three weeks using 20-20-20 and 10-52-10 fertilizers during the growing season. You can use humic acid every three months. Using too much fertilizer can destroy your plant, so use it carefully.
4. What is the effect of low watering and yellowing of Dieffenbachia leaves?
In addition to over-watering and lack of proper drainage, low watering can also cause dieffenbachia leaves to turn yellow, with the difference that the rate of yellowing is low and the leaves will turn brown. In this case, the plant will prioritize growth and water supply to young leaves, and old and old leaves will slowly turn yellow and fall.
How to solve the problem due to low watering: put the plant in a pan of water for twenty minutes and then be careful enough to water the plant for 1 month so that Dieffenbachia returns to its normal condition. Don’t worry; the amount of damage, in this case, is far less than over-watering and not having good drainage.
5. What are the effect of storage temperature and dieffenbachia leaf fall?
Houseplants are sensitive to temperature fluctuations and movement and tend to be kept in the same conditions; the Dieffenbachia plant is no exception to this rule, this plant is one of the resistant plants, but it likes to be kept at a temperature between 64 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is below 59 degrees Fahrenheit, you must move the plant inside; otherwise, the plant will weaken and start turning yellow. In addition, the higher the temperature, the higher the watering and the humidity; otherwise, you will see the yellowing and falling of the leaves, which is the same as low watering.
6. Attacks by ticks, weevils and aphids cause the yellowing of Dieffenbachia
Pests and diseases such as mites and mealybugs feed on the stem and leaves of the plant, and after some time, the leaves will start to turn yellow. You should check the back of the plant’s leaves and stems once a week, and if you see a pest, spray it with systemic poisons, note that it is better to spray outside the house and on the terrace or yard.
7. Does fungal disease cause Dieffenbachia to turn yellow?
Fungal disease can cause yellowing of the leaves and death of the plant in the roots and leaves. If your plant suffers from root rot or fungal disease in the trunk and roots, you should immediately start spraying. Also, the infection manifests on the leaves by creating yellow and brown spots, and it will cause Dieffenbachia to turn yellow. Try to kill your plant by using poisons like Carbendazim.
8. Does low or high light affect the yellowing of Dieffenbachia leaves?
The amount and intensity of received light do not directly affect the yellowing of Dieffenbachia. If the light received is too high and intense, leaves may be burned. If less light is received, the plant may experience yellowing and discoloration of the leaves, which will solve the problem by changing the plant’s location. It is better to provide your plant with at least 6 to 8 hours of filtered light daily.
Yellowing of the lower leaves of Dieffenbachia
If the process of yellowing of the lower leaves of Dieffenbachia is slow, it is due to the lack of nutrients that the plant has left its energy for the young leaves; If it quickly spreads to the young leaves, it means that the amount of irrigation is too much and it has a root problem, and you should fix the problem immediately.
9. Aging and leaf senescence
Dieffenbachia is one of the most resistant houseplants because it survives for a long time under any conditions. But we must remember that this plant, like any other living creature, gradually ages, and usually, the lower leaves of this plant turn yellow and fall. In this case, there is no need to worry, and you can prune the leaves so that the nutrients reach the other leaves. As a result, aging can be the reason for the yellowing of Dieffenbachia leaves.
Summary of the cause of dieffenbachia leaf yellowing
In most cases, the yellowing of Dieffenbachia is due to excessive watering and lack of proper drainage. This houseplant problem can eventually lead to the death of the plant, which you must immediately fix the problem. In addition to this case, pest attacks, disease and not feeding the plant are among the reasons for this problem, and it is very easy to restore the plant to its original state, but it takes about 1-2 months.
What problems do you face in keeping Dieffenbachia? Has dieffenbachia leaf yellowing happened to your plant? Be sure to write your comments and experiences in the comment section.