Is yellowing normal in plants? If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this question, I would probably have enough money to buy the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid.
It’s okay, just kidding. Not enough people asked this question to win $200,000, but you get the idea. And yes, this orchid is on my wish list as I head to the Old Pine Bonsaii.
But back to the main question: is yellowing of plants normal? Should you expect your air plant to turn yellow at some point? Yes and no.
Yes, because aging is a normal part of the growth process, and older leaves will inevitably die to make way for new growth. And no, because turning yellow is usually a call for help.
If aging is not the cause of the color change, the yellowing of your air plant is most likely due to too much light, poor watering regimes due to over watering, over fertilizing, heat stress or even poisoning.
To solve this problem, you must identify the problem and then correct your care practices.
I’ll show you some of the reasons why your plant may be yellowing and what you can do about it before your air plant dies.
Why are the leaves of my air plants turning yellow?
A yellowing overhead plant is not pretty to look at. After all, no one feeds these beauties just to see them turn yellow, wither and die.
Can you do something about this? Certainly! The first is to discover the causes of the yellowing in order to prevent this problem from recurring.
And the second is to find out how (and if) the effects of the causative agent can be reversed. Let’s start:
1) excess water
What happens if you give an air plant too much water? Well, the roots suffer the consequences of this action.
They absorb more water than necessary and soon the plant no longer needs to absorb moisture around the roots. Thus the saturated plant uses what it has, and the roots are therefore in humidity.
After a while, this moist environment becomes the perfect breeding ground for mold growth. And soon root rot sets in, damaging the roots and hampering the plant’s ability to produce food.
This is when you start to notice physical changes in the plant, including yellowing, mold on the surface of the plant, and an awful stench.
Unfortunately, root rot spreads quickly and by the time you see the yellowing, the damage is quite extensive.
So what causes excess water? There are two main reasons for such a result:
- You water the plant more than it needs, hence the root drowns, or
- You place the plant in a damp room where there is insufficient air circulation, causing moisture to build up.
Do you resonate with any of these causes?
Dealing with excess water
Of all the causes I’m going to cover in this guide, I want you to be careful about overwatering, as it’s a known plant killer, not just for air plants but other species as well. So how can you fix this problem for good?
- Trim damaged plant parts Assess your air plant and see how badly it has suffered from the effects of root rot. Then cut off the parts with water-soaked roots with a sharp, sterilized tool.
- Apply a fungicide to the cut sections to prevent fungal growth, as this can cause further root rot.
- Leave the plant in a sunny spot, making sure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight to allow excess water to evaporate into the atmosphere.
- Return the plant to its original location and change the watering schedule to water once a week.
Hacking an irrigation schedule is easier said than done. I know it takes trial and error to balance watering with the humidity in your region.
To water the air plant, you need to consider the species and choose an appropriate watering method. Options include:
1) Immerse air installation
If your plant can survive with a little water, i.e. it is xeric, then this method will work. Fill a container with water and dip the plant in the water one at a time. This way he can survive another week.
2) Soak the plant
Plants that need more water (green and mesic air plants) are best soaked in water for about 15 minutes. Still, you should limit soaking to once a week to avoid overwatering.
Only dip the plant twice if the plant develops dry buds, starts to brown or seems to wither away. These are signs of drying out and if the plant is not exposed to direct sunlight, the problem could be a lack of water.
3) Spraying the air installation
You may have heard of nebulization. But have you encountered syringes? It’s a thing ! Using a spray bottle, spray the plant with water until the excess moisture drains from the plant.
This is exactly what the plant would get if it rained. However, water can settle in the air of plant cover, promoting root rot. So it’s not exactly a popular way to water these plants.
4) Spray the plant
Misting is like an additional irrigation technique. You shouldn’t rely on that alone. Instead, you should use it in addition to soaking or soaking.
And this is necessary only when the humidity is so low that the plant can suffer. Use it between your main watering technique.
Remember to make sure the plant has enough circulation so water doesn’t sit on the plant. In this sense, let’s analyze another crucial factor that could be the cause of the yellowing of the plant: poor lighting.
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2) Direct exposure to sunlight
Air plants grow in habitats where they receive filtered light that passes through the leaves and branches of larger species before reaching them.
So you imagine that indoors they do not like direct exposure to the sun. How does the sun damage these plants? Its leaves are not designed to receive direct sunlight.
Thus, the light eventually damages the leaves, making it difficult for the leaves to photosynthesise.
And without enough food to provide energy for the plant’s activities, the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow, making it difficult for the air plant to produce food. And if you don’t intervene and do nothing, the plant will eventually die.
How to solve lighting problems?
The most important thing to remember is that air plants do well in bright, indirect light. This type of light casts a medium shadow on an object.
And you can place it near (not against) an east- or west-facing window. You can also place the plant in a south-facing room, making sure to put sheer curtains on the windows to keep out direct sunlight.
Keep in mind that these plants do not do well in low light. Do not place them out of direct sunlight in a dark hallway, bathroom, or other dimly lit area.
In such conditions, they cannot produce enough food. Also, they would be more susceptible to root rot, and we all know how that ends.
Consider using artificial light if you can’t find a place with bright, balanced indirect light. These additional lamps work just as well as the sun’s rays.
Keep them for about 12 hours a day if the plant does not receive outside light. Or, calculate the difference between natural and artificial exposure and let the lights burn for the same amount of time.
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3) Overfertilization
Outdoors, air plants do not need additional fertilizer because they can access moisture and nutrients from their surroundings. But inside, they do not enjoy this luxury.
As such, you must intervene to feed them once a month with an air plant fertilizer. Or you can water them with rainwater, which would be enough to give them what they need to thrive.
The latter is the safest option because it does not cause the accumulation of salts that can damage plant roots and negatively affect moisture and nutrient uptake.
You have to be careful with the fertilizer; otherwise you can use so much that it kills the plant.
How should the air plant be powered?
Many air plant fertilizers contain copper, and copper poisoning can damage the roots, which will show as yellowing of the plant. Feed the plant only once a month during watering, according to the fertilizing instructions.
Keep in mind that other houseplant fertilizers are not suitable for air plants because they are epiphytic, so the solution goes directly to the plants.
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4) Thermal stress
On the plus side, air plants are very adaptable and can do well in a variety of temperatures. Ideally, you should set your home temperature between 55 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
If it is above this range, the plant can still survive, but it needs more water to stay hydrated. But temperatures below this range can shock the plant, especially if they approach freezing point.
And the plant may respond by showing yellow leaves, indicating its inability to produce food under the given conditions.
Can you save your air plant?
Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to get an air plant out of shock. But you can save a plant partially exposed to frost or cold drafts.
So if you notice yellowing due to cold drafts, move the plant to a warmer location and cut off the damaged parts.
final thoughts
With these tips you will be weeks, months or years away from seeing your plant flourish.
It’s a touching experience that gives birth to more puppies, opening up another experience for you. Happy gardening!