Anthurium Yellow Leaves: Causes & Easy Fixes

Anthuriums are known for their unique and glossy leaves set. It is heartwrenching to see the very leaves turn yellow.

So, here is what my experience with Anthurium leaves yellowing taught me!

Is It Normal or Anthurium to Turn Yellow?

Owing to a normal life cycle of a plant, gradual discoloration in a few bottom-tire leaves should not make you worry.

It is common for old Painter’s palette leaves to become dry, yellow-brownish, and brittle.

These perennials will regenerate their beautiful foliage.

However, if yellowing starts from new twigs, it’s a sign that something is bothering the plant.

Anthurium leaves turning yellow could result from irrational external factors (temperature, moisture, nutrients, lighting, etc.), primarily when grown in a container. 

Why are my Anthurium Leaves Yellowing?

Knowing why the Anthurium leaves are donning that ugly yellow color is equally important to restore them to a healthy life. 

Let’s continue the article for the same.

1. Overwatering Issues

Anthurium doesn’t require heavy watering. The possibility of overwatering is much higher in indoor plants than in underwatering.

However, the requirements might fluctuate slightly depending on the varieties.

The soil should be moist, not sloppy. When you swamp your plant, it creates additional stress on them. 

Excessive watering leads to improper water absorption and poor aeration, making it harder for plants to absorb what they want.

Water every few days a week once the topsoil becomes dry.

The water fills in the pores of the soil, limiting its airflow. It eventually initiates root rot.

Furthermore, root rot extends into improper absorption of nutrients by the plant resulting in yellowing and fading of leaf color. 

Immediate Steps of Revival 

• Move your plant under bright, direct sunlight to let it soak natural warmth.
• If the situation doesn’t ease, take the plant out of the container and repot the plant in a terracotta pot with some well-draining potting mixture.
• Let a kitchen towel or a newspaper absorb excessive moisture from the plant.
• Remove any rotting roots leaving the healthy ones intact to plant.
• Repot the plant in a terracotta pot with some well-draining potting mixture.

2. Humidity and Temperature Stress

Anthurium loves high humidity and warm temperature due to its tropical roots.

If you are confident about properly watering them, then the fluctuation in temperature and humidity issues could be causing Anthurium’s yellow leaves.

Anthurium requires a steady temperature of 22-32°C. Similarly, the humidity requirement is around 60-70% inside a room. 

Chilly and dry days persuades stress in Anthurium edging to chlorosis. It extends to droopy, spotted leaves, wrinkling and yellowing of leaves, and stunted growth.

Lower humidity affects stomatal opening, further leading to reduced growth of plants due to inactive photosynthesis. 

High humidity favors plant growth. However, when uncontrolled, it fosters fungus and discolored leaves.

Immediate Steps of Revival

• Immediately relocate the plant away from hot radiators and air conditioning vents.
• Use a sprayer to mist the plant during dry, humid days. 
• You can use an indoor thermometer and a hygrometer to monitor your plants’ temperature and humidity shifts.
• To boost humidity, group your indoor plants, creating a mini micro-climate.
• Keep the pot over a humidity tray to maintain air moisture.
• Install a humidifier for constant moist air around the plant.

3. Exposure to Harsh Sunlight

The type of light and its amount is crucial for Anthurium’s flower.

Anthurium naturally thrives under a vast canopy of trees, receiving 10-12 hours of bright indirect sunlight, depending on the season. 

Direct exposure to the sun burns and scorches the leaves and flowers. In contrast, low light calls for slower growth, dull colors, and fewer flowers. 

It can survive in low light but doesn’t flower well.  

Similarly, a light-derived Anthurium is leggy and lean with slow, stunted growth. It is in response to the lack of photosynthesis.

Immediate Steps of Revival 

• Relocate the pot to a shady area under direct sunlight or a bright spot.
• Position your Anthurium over three feet from a site where it possibly receives direct sunlight.
• For indoor settings, place the plant in an east-fronting window to provide it with substantial sunlight.
• Keep a UV-protected film or install shading nets or curtains for a south-facing window that allows direct sunlight.
• Use fluorescent lights for 10-12 hours daily to artificially fulfill the light requirements in winter.
• Try rotating the plant so all the foliage gets equal sunlight.

4. Excessive Fertilizers

Anthurium doesn’t have massive fertilizer requirements.

Fertilize the Anthurium once every month with phosphorous-rich (NPK 1:2:1) water-soluble fertilizers for glossy spadix during the summer or spring during its active growing seasons.  

If you are looking for the plant’s overall health, balanced NPK ( 10-10-10) does magics.

While the proper amount of fertilizer enhances the lush pink foliage and leaves, feed your plant sparingly.

It is because the soluble salt in commercial fertilizers builds up in the soil over time blocking absorption by the roots.

Over-feeding symptoms can look like under-watering, i.e., yellowing and wilting of lower leaves with brittle edges.

Immediate Steps of Revival 

• Confirm whether it’s over or under-fertilization symptoms, checking if the soil has a white salt-like residue.
• Flush them when overfertilized. Place the pot under filtered or distilled water, allowing excess water to f ow out.
• If the symptoms prevail, further consider repotting. Use a well-draining potting mixture.
• Repot the plant in 1-2 years, even under normal conditions.
• Increase the frequency of fertilization to once every 2-3 weeks if required.
• Dilute the fertilizer before its use. Preferably use a water-soluble fertilizer or bone meal.

5. Repotting Stress

Anthurium can undergo repotting shock causing the leaves to turn yellow, eventually costing its life.

Generally, taking no notice of pot size, soil mixture, entangled roots, plants growth stage, and harsh weather while repotting creates distress, gravitating towards blemished leaves, discoloration eventually frailing them.

We set upon repotting the plant to revive it from other stress.

However, amateur gardeners and even experienced ones tend to go overboard in enthusiasm to repot a plant, which has more harm than good.

Immediate Steps of Revival 

• Reposition the pot from harsh light conditions to a shaded place.
• Avert immediate repotting of a newly bought plant. 
• Always take a larger pot while replanting for the roots to have enough space.

• Loosen up the hardened root mass so that new roots branch out. 
• Remove any unnecessary stones and gravel from the bottom of the pot for proper drainage. 
• Avoid repotting at the dormant phase while the flowers appear.

6. Pest Invasion

Anthurium’s heart-shaped spathe and shiny leaves are constantly exposed to imminent risk of pest attack.

Pest invasion is prevalent during active growing periods in summer or spring. These nasty extrinsic feeds on the essential juices from the plant, sucking on the sap and turning Anthurium leaves yellow.

The Anthurium’s new growth is deformed due to the pest’s attack.

Here are some Anthurium plant pests, including their symptoms.

Common Pests	Problems
Aphids	Aphids are red ,green, or brown coloured hiding underneath the leaves. They suck the sap, turninng the leaves yellow spotted and discoloured.
Spider mite	They appear during dry condition. Causes white marks extending to webbed dry leaves
Scales	They are tiny, waxy pests that infest on leaves. Yellow or rust-colored spots develop on the leaves, and the sap dries up.
Mealybug	Mealybug are white fuzzy covering the foliage with dandruff like powdery dust. Feeds on the sap causing them to appear droopy and yellow.

Immediate Steps of Revival 

• Set the infested Anthurium apart from other plants immediately to ward off the spread.
• Remove the affected leaves to prevent further damage.
• Use a water hose to wash off the pests from the underside of the plant if the infestation is moderate.
• Take a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol and manually rub it on the leaves.
• Dab neem oil mixed with horticulture soap to suffocate and smother the insects.
• Try using sticky traps against hovering insects.
• Let the treatments work before considering re-application.
• Use pesticides only as a last resort.

7. Horticultural Diseases

Bacterial and fungal growth in Anthurium might be the repercussion of overwatering and high humidity.

Primarily, fungal infection and bacterial disease weaken the stem and roots of the Anthurium plants, which could later cost its life.

Identifying the disease’s symptoms is vital to save your plant before mishaps strike your Anthurium. 

I’d like you to know the diseases better from the table below.

Disease	Causative Agent	Indicator
Root Rot	Rhizoctonia solani	The dormant fungi spores, under right condition (eg waterlogging) attacks roots to base stems. Brown and soggy roots with fishy odour fails to uptake nutrients and water from the soil. It leads to yellow curled leaves , weak stem and wilting of entire plant.
Bacterial Blight	Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae	This bacteria invades the pores near margin along which yellow watery spots appear. Yellow lessions changes into black or brown with v-shapes cuts.
Bacterial Wilt	Ralstonia solanacearum	Choloris (yellowing of leaves) is the primary symptoms . Bacteria further spreads into the vascular system browing theleaves and stem. Under extreme condition tinted slime ooze out from stem cuts.

Immediate Steps of Revival 

• Open vents for air circulation to immediately halt bacterial growth, lowering humidity and temperature.
• Keep the infected plant separated from healthy plants to prevent disease transfer.
• Trim off the diseased part using clippers to promote healthy growth.
• In case of severe infection, use broadspectrum bactericides and fungicides.
• Remember to use sterilized tools while repotting and pruning to avoid disease transmission.
• Avoid water-logging on the soil to prevent the growth of diseases.

Should  I Cut the Yellow Leaves off the Anthurium?

Yellow leaves on your flamingo flowers are dull, unappealing, and burdensome. It is better to cut them off.

Snipping them off simply deviates the plant’s total energy to generate fresh blossoms and leaves.

Rather than just waiting for the aged yellow leaves to revive, pruning creates room for new growth.

To cut the yellow leaves off, grab a pair of clippers, isopropyl alcohol, and a spray bottle and follow the steps below.

• Begin to manually snip off the yellow and wilting leaves from the point of attachment.
• Trim them without injuring the stem using clippers if the leaves do not come away easily.
• Be careful not to stress the plant by removing more than 3-4 leaves at a time.
• Carry on the process every alternate day until your plant appears green and healthy.
• Lightly water or mist the plant to help with pruning stress.

How to Prevent Anthurium Yellow Leaves?

Arthurium’s resilience is ensured when its primary care requirements are taken care of. 

So instead of regretting over spent Anthurium’s yellow leaves, it’s better to follow these quick tips.

• Place the plant under bright, indirect light for at least 6 hours daily.
• Keep your Anthurium at a constant temperature of 21-29°C for better growth.
• Ensure their 60-70% humidity requirement is fulfilled.
• Remember to not over-water your plant; lightly mist them whenever the soil appears dry.

• Ensure the soil is well-draining and its ph level is between 5-6.
• Consider repotting them when root-bound with the nutrient-rich medium. For potting mixture, combine peat, perlite, and pine bark in equal parts.
• During the active growing season, fertilize once every month using water-soluble fertilizer diluted to 1/4 strength.
• Flush the soil 4-5 times when fertilizer accumulates on the soil.
• Prune the dead foliage once it appears to promote new growth.