Parsley is a versatile herb that adds bright, fresh flavor to many dishes. Its curly green leaves are a familiar garnish on plates in restaurants across the world. However those vibrant leaves can suddenly turn yellow which is not a good sign for the health of your parsley plant.
A parsley plant with yellowing leaves indicates the plant is stressed and unhealthy Without intervention, the problem will worsen, and you’ll eventually lose the plant The good news is that with a little detective work, you can usually determine the cause and take action to restore the parsley plant’s health.
In this article, we’ll cover the most common reasons for yellow parsley leaves and what you can do to fix each underlying issue. With some TLC, your parsley can once again produce an abundance of green leaves for your cooking.
Causes of Yellow Parsley Leaves
Here are the most frequent culprits behind yellow parsley leaves:
Under or Overwatering
Irregular watering is one of the top reasons parsley leaves turn yellow. Parsley needs consistent moisture, but soggy soil can be just as damaging as dry soil.
Overwatering depletes soil oxygenparsley roots need to thrive. It also increases the risk of fungal root rot diseases. On the other hand, letting the soil dry out too much stresses the plant.
Container grown parsley is especially prone to yellowing if underwatered. The limited soil volume dries out faster than in-ground plants. Hot, windy weather exacerbates moisture loss.
Poor Drainage
Excess moisture due to poor drainage has the same effect as overwatering. Parsley prefers soil that drains well.
Planting in containers without drainage holes or heavy, dense garden soil prevents water from percolating down through the soil. The roots sit in soggy conditions and can rot.
Excessive Sun Exposure
Parsley appreciates full sun, but intense afternoon sun combined with high temperatures can scorch and dry out the leaves. Container plants are more susceptible because the soil heats up more than the ground does.
Transplant Shock
Parsley has a long taproot that’s easily damaged when transplanting seedlings. This shocks the plant and causes stress that can result in yellowing leaves as the plant recovers.
Root Bound
If left in a small pot or cell pack for too long, parsley becomes root bound. The crowded roots can’t take up enough moisture and nutrients to support all the plant’s leaves. The outermost leaves turn yellow first.
Insufficient Nutrients
Parsley needs nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for healthy growth. Depleted or infertile soil that lacks these essential nutrients causes deficiency symptoms like yellowing leaves.
Container plants are prone to nutrient deficiencies since they have limited soil and a confined root zone.
Pests
Several common garden pests attack parsley and can cause the leaves to yellow and wilt. Aphids suck plant sap. Carrot rust flies and parsleyworms munch on the leaves. Spider mites suck juices from individual leaf cells, leaving yellow speckles.
Insufficient Light
Parsley thrives in full sun. Too much shade, especially indoors where light is limited, reduces growth. The plant drops some of the leaves it can’t support to focus energy on new growth.
How to Fix Yellow Parsley Leaves
Now that you know what causes parsley leaves to turn yellow, here are solutions to remedy each situation:
Adjust the Watering
Check soil moisture before watering. Stick your finger 1-2 inches into the soil to see if it is dry or still damp.
Water thoroughly when the top few inches of soil are dry. Apply enough water so it runs out the container drainage holes or percolates deeply into in-ground soil.
Reduce watering frequency and amount if soil stays soggy. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Add mulch to garden beds to retain moisture longer. Group container plants to create shade and slow moisture loss.
Move containers to a shady spot during hot, dry weather. Parsley may need daily watering in extreme heat.
Improve Drainage
Repot parsley in containers with drainage holes. Add a drainage layer of gravel, clay balls, or wood chips at the bottom before refilling with potting mix.
Mix compost into dense garden soil to improve drainage and aeration. Build raised beds for improved drainage.
Filter Sunlight
Place translucent shade cloth over parsley plants or move the container to a shady spot during the hottest parts of the day.
Choose a site that gets morning sun but afternoon shade. Dappled sunlight filtering through tree branches is ideal.
Reduce Transplant Shock
Buy young parsley plants with roots filling but not emerging from the pot. Older root bound plants transplant poorly.
Water plants well before and after transplanting. Carefully dig up the entire root ball and plant at the same level it was growing before.
Pinch off any yellow leaves, but leave the rest of the plant intact to recover and produce new growth.
Repot Root Bound Plants
Gently remove the root ball from the pot and loosen any circled, matted roots.
Replant in a container 2-4 inches larger. Fill with fresh potting mix enriched with compost or worm castings.
Boost Nutrients
Replenish nutrients in garden beds each season with aged compost. Side dress growing plants with compost or organic fertilizer.
Repot container plants in fresh potting mix. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks according to label directions.
Control Pests
Check for pests like aphids on the undersides of leaves. Knock them off with a strong spray of water.
Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to control heavy infestations. Remove badly damaged leaves.
Use row covers as a barrier to carrot rust flies. Hand pick large parsleyworm caterpillars.
Introduce ladybugs and lacewings to control aphids and mites. Apply horticultural oil for mite control.
Move to a Sunnier Spot
Gradually acclimate indoor parsley to increased outdoor sun before planting.
Pinch back some leaves to reduce demand on the plant. Prioritize sunlight for your most valuable parsley plants first.
Supplement natural light with full spectrum grow lights. LED grow light panels work well for herbs.
Don’t Give Up on Your Parsley!
Parsley is one of the more finicky herbs to grow, but also one of the most useful in the kitchen. Now that you know what causes yellow leaves and how to fix each issue, you can take action at the first sign of trouble. Catching problems early and adjusting care prevents minor issues from escalating into lost plants.
While you may lose some leaves in the process, your parsley will bounce back surprisingly quickly once you remedy the underlying problem. Just a few weeks of proper care and your plants will again have vibrant deep green foliage perfect for sprinkling on recipes.
Her Parlsey leaves started turning Yellow, so i did this..
FAQ
What to do when parsley leaves turn yellow?
If the soil is poor and cannot draw up the resources it needs and its roots have no room to grow, then your plant leaves will turn yellow. Tip : Sow your parsley in rich, fresh soil . To stimulate growth, it is also advisable to prune the parsley by cutting it in half throughout the first year.
How often should I water parsley?
How do you fix yellow leaves on plants?
Solution: Establish a regular watering schedule and ensure you water thoroughly when the top inch of the soil feels dry. Be mindful not to let your plants sit in standing water. Yellowing leaves can indicate nutrient deficiencies, particularly a lack of essential nutrients like nitrogen, iron, or magnesium.
Why do parsley leaves turn yellow?
During summer, there is another deficiency in parsley leaves that makes the leaves turn yellow: nitrogen deficiency in the plants. Moreover, there are rare instances when the leaves turn red. This happens due to stress on the plants that are caused due to carrot fly infestation, nematodes, and even waterlogging.
How do you fix a yellow parsley plant?
Wash your pot with a 2:1 water and bleach solution and dispose of any remaining soil. Dip the roots of your plant into the fungicide and replant it in your clean pot, preferably with compost or fertilizer. The last common causes of a yellowing parsley plant are bugs.
Why are my parsley leaves turning purple?
Aphids bring a virus that causes yellow to purple leaves. These little parasites often hide between the jagged leaves of curled parsley so that you do not readily notice them. Often, it is already too late before you can take action. These insects are mainly active during the summer months.
Why is my parsley shedding leaves?
If you garden in clay soil, or the soil in your container is really dense, the parsley’s taproot may have difficulty growing into the soil and pulling up nutrients needed for the leaves. This may cause the parsley plant to shed leaves that can’t be supported by the restricted root growth.
Why is my parsley drooping?
Parsley prefers moist soil with plenty of organic matter that allows for good drainage. In soil that is saturated or boggy (as opposed to just moist) there is more risk of fungal diseases such as root rot and crown rot both of which result in the leaves of parsley turning yellow and the stems tend to droop downwards.
Why are my green leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves happen because the plant is responding to stress or normal aging by diverting energy away from certain leaves, causing them to turn yellow. Once this happens, the leaf cannot regain its green color. But when you treat the underlying stress factor, the plant will start growing new, healthy green leaves.