Knowledgebase
Problem with house plant #926089
Asked March 16, 2026, 10:29 AM EDT
Addison County Vermont
Expert Response
Hello Anne,
Thank you for reaching out to the EMG Helpline and for including photos with your inquiry! Sorry to hear you've been having a problem with your houseplant. There are a few different reasons this could be happening and it could be too much or too little for each of these items:
1. Watering - What are your current watering habits? Does the plant have good drainage? Too much water is the more likely the cause than too little water. If the soil feels wet or heavy, let it dry out almost completely before watering again. Check to make sure the pot has drainage holes that are not clogged. Water only when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. It winter, watering needs usually drop significantly.
2. Lighting - Have you moved the location of the plant or any lighting around it? Do the leaves look smaller than before or is the growth of the plant leggy? Those could be signs of too little light.
Less likely, but still possible causes:
3. Fertilizing - When was the plant last fertilized and what was it fertilized with?
4. Potting conditions - Has the plant recently been repotted? What kind of soil or substrate is it planted in? Do you have a build up of salt on the surface of the soil?
5. Temperature - has the plant been exposed to cooler temperatures or drafts?
Please feel free to reply with answers to the above items so we can try to narrow down the source of yellow leaves further. I'm also including links to two resources, which may also be helpful.
University Missouri houseplant care guide https://www.uvm.edu/d10-files/documents/2024-10/Caring_for_Houseplants.pdf
This guide from the Maryland extension office is my go to reference for houseplant issues and may be helpful for future issues. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/diagnose-indoor-plant-problems/