Having indoor succulents can add an appealing aesthetic to your home. However, a common issue that can cause your indoor succulent garden to lose its allure is when these delightful, hardy plants start turning yellow. Understanding what’s happening behind the scenes, identifying the causes, and knowing the appropriate remedial steps can go a long way in addressing this horticultural dilemma.
Observing that your succulents are turning yellow can be rather disconcerting. They suddenly appear to be weary, and left unchecked, this can bring about the death of your once-healthy green succulents. But what does turning yellow signify? Yellowing is usually a sign that your succulent is undergoing stress. This change can be due to a variety of reasons, including watering issues, exposure to extreme temperatures, improper lighting, pest infestation, or being planted in the wrong soil.
##Excessive Watering and Succulents
Perhaps one of the most common causes of succulents turning yellow is overwatering. Succulents, unlike most other houseplants, have adapted to survive harsh, arid climates where water is scarce. Therefore, they have evolved the capacity to store water in their tissues and can go long periods without watering. They are quite sensitive to excess water, and overwatering can cause their cells to take in more water than they can handle, thus leading to cell burst. Consequently, this tends to result in a yellow, soggy, and almost translucent appearance, followed by blackening as the succulent begins to rot.
To prevent this, ensure you water your succulents using the “soak and dry” method. Here, you completely wet the succulent’s soil, then allow it to dry out completely before watering again. Ensuring good soil drainage will also aid in preventing waterlogging. You may also schedule your watering frequency depending on the humidity and temperature levels in your home.
##Temperature Extremes and Succulents
Like all plants, succulents have their preferred temperature range – which is generally between 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit. When exposed to temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit or over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, your succulents can experience stress that can lead to yellowing.
Cold temperatures can lead to frostbite in succulents, making them turn yellow, soft, and mushy. Alternatively, high temperatures can cause your succulents to become sunburned, leading the leaves to become white or yellow in patches. Therefore, it is important to establish the perfect environmental temperature for your particular succulent species. This could mean moving your succulents to a warmer location during winter, or providing some shade during the hot summer months.
##Improper Lighting and Succulents
Succulents love light! In fact, most species require at least six hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day to thrive. Lack of adequate lighting can cause your succulents to become ‘etiolated’ or stretched out as they seek out more light. This usually accompanies a color change to yellow or even white as chlorophyll, the pigment for photosynthesis, becomes less efficient due to limited light. On the other extreme, direct sunlight all day can scorch the succulents, leading to yellow or white, sunburned spots.
To combat this, finding the right balance is key. Place your succulents in a bright location where they will receive plenty of indirect sunlight, but also offer some shade during the harshest midday sun.
##Pest Infestation and Succulents
Succulents are not immune to pests. They can be invaded by aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs that feed on the plant juices, causing yellowing and overall poor health. In many cases, you might notice the pests themselves, or the sticky residue they often leave on the plants and nearby surfaces.
Depending upon the severity of the infestation, you can treat your succulent with an appropriate pesticide or insecticidal soap. In the case of mild infestations, physically removing the pests or using a water jet may suffice.
##Soil and Nutrient Issues
Last but not least, the type of soil and nutrients available for your succulents can impact their color. Succulents need a fast-draining and slightly acidic to neutral soil. Under use of soil that retains too much moisture, or whose pH is too high or low, can hinder the plant’s ability to take up essential nutrients, causing yellowing.
Furthermore, a deficiency of essential nutrients can lead to discolored leaves, most likely yellow, as the plant struggles to make up for what it’s missing.
Make sure you use succulent or cactus mix soil, enriched with a slow-release granular fertilizer, to provide your plants with a balanced diet. Also, testing your soil regularly can help you keep tabs on the pH levels and nutrient levels.
In summary, it’s important to remember that although each succulent is a unique type of plant with idiosyncratic needs, the vast majority of yellowing problems can be solved by paying attention to these five areas: watering habits, temperature, light exposure, predators, and soil composition. Being an informed succulent owner will help you quickly diagnose your plant’s health status and take the necessary steps to restore its vibrancy. Indeed, observing and providing the right environment will keep your succulents in top shape, and your indoor plant display will continue to captivate every sight.
