Syngonium, also known as arrowhead vine or nephthytis, is a popular houseplant prized for its lush, trailing foliage. Its arrow-shaped leaves add a distinctive tropical flair to indoor spaces. However, a frustrating issue syngonium owners often face is leaves turning yellow.
Yellowing leaves are usually a sign of stress and indicate underlying problems with care or environment. If left unchecked, ongoing leaf yellowing can lead to leaf drop, declining health, and potentially death of the plant. So it’s important to get to the bottom of the causes and take corrective action.
Through some detective work and process of elimination, you can pinpoint the reasons behind the yellowing leaves on your syngonium. Here are the most common causes and solutions to restore your plant to vibrant health.
Overwatering
Excessive watering is the number one reason syngonium leaves turn yellow. Syngoniums prefer moist, but not saturated soil. When overwatered, the roots are unable to get oxygen This leads to root rot, which causes the leaves to yellow and drop
Signs of Overwatering:
- Yellow lower leaves
- Mushy stems
- Foul odor from the soil
- Wilting despite wet soil
Solutions for Overwatering:
- Allow the soil to partially dry out between waterings
- Water less frequently
- Improve drainage by adding perlite to the soil
- Repot in fresh, well-draining soil
- Cut back on watering to allow soil to dry out
Underwatering
While syngoniums prefer moist soil, allowing the soil to completely dry out for too long can also cause leaves to yellow and wilt.
Signs of Underwatering:
- Yellowing leaf tips and edges
- Dry, crinkly leaves
- Wiltiness
- Soil pulling away from pot edges
Solutions for Underwatering:
- Water more frequently
- Water thoroughly until water drains from the pot
- Check soil moisture before watering
- Use soil moisture probes to monitor
- Increase humidity to reduce water needs
Low Humidity
Syngoniums thrive in humid conditions. In dry air, the leaves lose moisture faster than the roots can absorb it. This leads the leaves to dry out and yellow.
Signs of Low Humidity:
- Curled, yellowing leaves
- Brown leaf edges
- Increased leaf drop
Solutions for Low Humidity:
- Mist the plant frequently
- Use a pebble tray
- Place a humidifier nearby
- Group plants together to increase humidity
Too Much or Too Little Light
Inadequate light leads to chlorosis – a loss of chlorophyll that causes yellowing. Too much light can scorch the leaves.
Signs of Light Stress:
- Yellowing mainly on one side (too much light)
- Pale yellow leaves all over (too little light)
- Leggy growth and fewer leaves (insufficient light)
Solutions for Light Issues:
- Move to bright, indirect light
- Filter harsh direct light
- Provide artificial lighting if needed
- Rotate the plant to even out light exposure
Nutrient Deficiencies
Lack of essential nutrients like nitrogen, iron, magnesium, and manganese can cause yellowing. Each deficiency causes unique patterns.
Solutions for Nutrient Deficiencies:
- Fertilize regularly with a balanced fertilizer
- Repot in fresh soil to replenish nutrients
- Identify and treat specific deficiencies based on patterns
Root Damage
Root issues like rot, restriction, or transplant shock affect the roots’ ability to take up water and nutrients. This stresses the plant and causes yellowing.
Solutions for Root Problems:
- Rule out and address root rot
- Loosen restrictive roots
- Allow it to recover from transplanting
- Promote new root growth in fresh soil
Pests
Sucking pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and scale drain fluids from the leaves, causing yellowing and curling.
Solutions for Pests:
- Isolate affected plants
- Remove pests manually
- Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil
- Use sticky traps to monitor and catch pests
Diseases
Fungal and bacterial diseases can lead to leaf yellowing, spots, and wilting.
Solutions for Diseases:
- Improve air circulation
- Isolate and dispose of infected plants
- Apply appropriate fungicides or bactericides
Age-Related Yellowing
As syngoniums mature and produce new leaves, old leaves naturally yellow and drop off. This is normal, especially for lower leaves. Remove them to keep your plant looking fresh.
The key to keeping your syngonium green and healthy is vigilant monitoring to spot early signs of trouble. Inspect soil moisture, humidity, light, and pests regularly. Respond quickly at the first hint of yellowing to get your plant back on track. With the right care regimen tailored to its needs, your syngonium will reward you with vigorous growth for years to come!
The leaves on your Arrowhead Plant could be turning yellow for a number of reasons. Let’s investigate and get to the bottom of this!
Moisture
The most common cause of yellowing leaves among Arrowhead Plants is improper soil moisture–in particular, overwatering. Only water your Arrowhead when 50% of the soil volume is dry. You will know your Arrowhead Plant needs a drink when the leaves start to wilt slightly.
When you water your Arrowhead Plant, make sure you provide enough water so that liquid flows from the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and into the saucer. It’s extremely important to discard any excess water in the saucer and not to let your plant sit in any standing water. Your Arrowhead Plant will not respond well to “wet feet,” which will cause the roots to rot and lead to the eventual death of the plant. Yellow leaves are the first sign that root rot may be occurring.
Providing proper and consistent soil moisture is important in caring for an Arrowhead Plant. Alternating between bone-dry and wet soil from ill-timed watering can create stress and cause your plant to yellow.
Humidity Level
Low humidity and dry soil cause leaves to droop and brown on their edges, later followed by entire yellowing, browning, and shriveling. Your Arrowhead Plant will appreciate a boost in humidity from regular misting, a humidifier, or pebble tray.
Improper Light
Arrowhead Plants grow best when placed in bright indirect sunlight, but they will tolerate lower light. When exposed to direct sunlight for too long, the foliage will burn. While Arrowhead Plants can adapt to low light areas, their growth may slow. If placed in very low light, yellow leaves may develop.
Pests
A weakened or stressed Arrowhead Plant is more susceptible to insect infestations. Sap-sucking bugs like spider mites can drain your plant of moisture. This problem quickly manifests itself by yellowing leaflets and fronds. Scale, mealybugs, and spider mites occur frequently in indoor conditions. If not killed early on, these small pests proliferate and move all along frond parts into nooks and crannies. The piercing mouths of the insects exhaust your plant and accelerate yellowing, especially if your Arrowhead is already unhealthy from poor lighting, a nutrient deficiency or improper soil moisture.
Natural Yellowing
Is your Arrowhead Plant pushing out new growth? If there is new growth on your plant and the yellowing leaves are older, particularly at the bottom of the plant, this yellowing is natural. Your plant sheds its old leaves and sends energy to new growth.
Syngonium Arrowhead, Help, Care Tips, and Problem Investigation
FAQ
Why is my Syngonium yellowing?
Nutrient deficiencies, overwatering, and poor root health can cause yellowing leaves in Pink Syngonium. Propagation, especially stem cuttings, can address yellowing leaves due to root problems. Light and temperature stress can also lead to leaf discoloration and yellowing.
Can a yellow leaf turn green again?
Generally, no, a yellow leaf will not turn green again. Once a leaf’s chlorophyll is lost, it cannot be regained, and the leaf is essentially dying.
How often should I water my Syngonium?
Syngoniums, also known as Arrowhead plants, generally prefer to dry out slightly between waterings. Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch, but avoid letting the soil dry out completely or become waterlogged. During the growing season (spring and summer), you may need to water more frequently, potentially several times a week, especially if the plant is in a smaller pot or exposed to warm temperatures.
How to save dying Syngonium?
Remove any dead or damaged leaves to promote new growth. If any branches or stems become too long and leggy, cut them back to encourage bushy growth. WARNING – Syngonium are poisonous if eaten – keep them away from pets and children.