Yellowing (chlorosis) is a plant’s most common distress signal — but causes can be opposite: too much water, or too little. Diagnose first, then treat.
9 common causes
Overwatering (most common: soft/mushy leaves, soil wet for days, foul smell, heavy pot); underwatering (dry soil, crisp drooping leaves); insufficient light (interior side yellows, leggy growth); nitrogen deficiency (older leaves first); iron/magnesium deficiency (interveinal chlorosis); pests (spider mites/aphids — speckling, webbing); root rot (brown, mushy, smelly roots); natural ageing (bottom leaves); sudden environment change / direct air-con draft.
Step-by-step diagnosis
Feel the soil; check drainage; check placement (light, vent distance); inspect roots (cut brown soft roots, repot fresh free-draining mix); consider pH/feeding (interveinal = iron/magnesium).
Hong Kong note: Slow-drying soil and direct air-con drafts are common local culprits. Already-yellow leaves won’t turn green — save the new growth.
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