Yellowing leaves are one of the first signs that a plant is stressed and could indicate a more serious problem with your plant’s health.
Identifying the problem early is key to helping your plant recover fully.
Read on to find out why your Peperomia plant leaves are turning yellow and find out what you can do to keep your plant happy!
So why is my Peperomia plant turning yellow?
The leaves of your Peperomia plant can turn yellow for a variety of reasons, but the most likely causes are overwatering and poor drainage, which can lead to root rot. Peperomia leaves can also turn yellow due to irregular watering, pests, insufficient sunlight and nutrient deficiencies.
Let’s dive into the details and see how we can fix the issues.
Contents
Causes of Yellowing Peperomia
Watching your Peperomia plant turn yellow can be distressing, but don’t worry – your plant is just telling you that it needs a little more care.
Once you have determined the cause of the plant’s distress, you can return it to its former happy state. Let’s look at the possible reasons for yellowing and how to treat it.
excess water
Overwatering is the main cause of yellowing leaves in Peperomia plants. Due to their thick leaves, Peperomia plants retain a lot of moisture and can go without water for a long time.
However, its ability to hold water can be a problem for overzealous gardeners. If overwatered, the leaves of peperomia plants may turn yellow.
This article takes a closer look at how to save Peperomia with excess water and shares some of the best tips to save the plant and avoid watering mistakes.
How to solve excess water problems
It’s a fairly simple solution. If you notice your plant’s leaves turning yellow, it may be time to cut back on watering.
Water your Peperomia plant only when the top 50-75% of the soil is completely dry. For indoor plants, it’s usually every 7-10 days.
poor drainage
Another problem that can cause yellowing is poor drainage. Water should flow freely through the soil and out of the pot to allow room for air.
If the soil is constantly soggy, it cannot hold the oxygen the plant needs, which can cause the leaves to turn yellow.
How to Fix a Bad Drain
A drainage hole in the bottom of the pot is needed to allow water to flow freely through the soil to make room for oxygen.
If your pot doesn’t have drainage holes, you can drill your own or transfer your plant to a pot with a hole in the bottom.
Water the plant until water runs out of the drainage holes, making sure to discard any water that runs into the dish below.
Adding a drainage layer is another way to drain excess water from the roots.
Try adding a layer of activated carbon to the pot under the soil, as it can absorb excess water and prevent it from building up in the soil.
Activated carbon also has microbial properties, which can protect your plant against fungal and bacterial diseases.
Heavily compacted soil can also limit water runoff. Soil particles are small and dense, which means water moves slowly through the soil.
If you notice the water draining very slowly, try switching to a new potting mix that contains equal parts perlite and potting soil.
You may also be interested in: Why Do Monstera Leaves Curl? (And how to fix it)
rotten root
A combination of poor drainage and overwatering can lead to root rot, a fungus that can kill plants.
Root rot occurs when plants are grown in constantly soggy soil. Once a plant’s roots rot, they can no longer absorb water from the soil, which can lead to the death of the plant.
Yellowing leaves can also be a warning sign of root rot, which is caused by both poor drainage and excess water.
If you notice your Peperomia plant’s leaves turning yellow, the first thing to check is to see if root rot has occurred.
And if so, remove any infected roots so the fungus doesn’t spread.
A telltale sign of root rot is a musty smell. You will also notice that the soil is soggy and the roots look rotten.
But don’t panic just yet: if the root rot hasn’t progressed too far, you can still save the plant.
How to Fix Root Rot
Break up as much of the soggy soil as possible and remove any rotten roots.
Be sure to use sterile scissors to remove diseased roots to prevent the fungus from spreading.
Once you’ve removed the diseased roots, transfer the plant to a new, clean pot and plant it in sterile soil.
After transplanting, water very little then wait about a week before watering again. Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
irregular watering
Watering your Peperomia inconsistently can cause stress. Most plants get used to their conditions and sudden changes can cause stress.
If your plant is no longer underwater but suddenly receives too much water, it can wilt and turn yellow. In extreme cases, your peperomia leaves may turn black.
Although it is important to let the topsoil dry out before watering, the soil should not be completely dry.
Going from completely dry soil to wet soil can cause water stress and lead to yellowing.
How to Fix Inconsistent Watering
It’s a good idea to maintain a regular watering schedule, aiming to water every seven to 10 days.
Try putting a weekly notification on your calendar to remind you to check your Peperomia plant’s moisture level and record the last time you watered.
harmful
Like other houseplants, peperomias are vulnerable to pests. Sometimes an insect attack also causes the symptom of yellowing.
Some common pests that can cause leaves to turn yellow include:
- Red spiders: extremely small insects that suck sap and drain moisture from the plant, causing the leaves to turn yellow. An early sign of spider mites are light colored spots on the plant and an overall discolored appearance. Another sign of the spider mite is small holes in the leaves of the plant.
- aphids: small insects that often feed on new leaves or the underside of the plant. Aphids feed on plant sap, causing leaves to turn yellow and distort. When aphids feed, they leave behind a material called honeydew that coats the leaves with a shiny, sticky coating.
- Whitefly: Powdery white insects that look like small moths. The damage they cause is similar to that of aphids: they also secrete honeydew and can turn the leaves of the plant yellow.
- Woodlouse: pink insects covered with a white fluffy substance. Feeding them weakens the plant and can cause yellowing. Look for clumps of fuzzy white threads to check for scale insects. Mealybugs also sometimes feed on the roots of plants. A sign of mealybug root infestation are fluffy white masses near drainage holes.
How to Solve Insect Problems
To deal with infestations, flush the plant with water and prune the affected leaves.
Clean the insects with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
If the roots are infested with scale insects, take a cutting and start a new plant in a clean pot and sterile potting soil.
You can also spray the plant with a commercial insecticide spray or neem oil.
Insecticidal soap only works if it comes into direct contact with insects and once it dries it is no longer effective.
If non-chemical methods haven’t worked, you may need to use a stronger pesticide.
When selecting a chemical pesticide, be sure to identify the pest and verify that the type of pesticide is safe for your plant.
Next, take precautions to prevent future infestations. Stressed plants are more vulnerable to plant damage, so provide your plant with the best possible growing conditions.
Check the plant and container for pests before buying a new plant or bringing one indoors.
Isolation of new plants for a period of about six weeks also helps limit the potential for pest spread.
Sunshine levels
Another reason your Peperomia plant leaves are turning yellow may be that they are not getting enough natural light.
If your Peperomia plant is in a shady area, try moving it to a location that gets more natural light and see how it performs.
Excessive sunlight can also be a cause of yellowing. Direct indirect sunlight is ideal for Peperomia plants.
In their natural habitat in tropical and subtropical forests, peperomia plants are found under a canopy of scattered sunlight.
For this reason, they like warm environments but prefer indirect light.
You can tell a peperomia plant is getting too much sun if the leaves look discolored and yellow all over.
Sometimes only the tops and edges of the leaves look burnt.
Troubleshooting Sunshine Levels
Your first step is to determine if the plant is getting too much or too little sun.
If you’re in a shady corner or near a window with the curtains drawn, try giving it more natural light.
If the plant is sensitive, it may be difficult to adapt to the sudden change.
Monitor the plant after moving it and if you notice any signs of stress, gradually expose your Peperomia to more sun over several weeks.
If your plant is in an area with direct sunlight, move it to an area with less direct sunlight.
Be careful, however, not to move it into an area that is too shady; remember that indirect sunlight is ideal!
A nutrient deficiency
Another possible cause of yellowing is a nutrient deficiency. Yellow leaves indicate that the plant does not have enough chlorophyll.
Low chlorophyll can be a sign of a nutrient deficiency, usually a lack of nitrogen or potassium.
Source: University of Florida, IFAS
How to remedy a nutrient deficiency
If you catch the problem early and give your plant the right fertilizer, your Peperomia can fully recover.
Look for store-bought fertilizers that are high in nitrogen and potassium, or try making your own.
Coffee grounds are an excellent nitrogen-rich fertilizer, and hair ash provides your Peperomia with much-needed potassium.
Have you tried any of these methods and did they help revive your Peperomia? What are your strategies for dealing with a yellowing houseplant?
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