Seeing a yellow tinge on your pothos leaves can be a worrying moment. You’ve probably figured out by now that yellow leaves are a sign your plant is unhappy.
But there is good news. Yellow leaves usually point to a specific issue that can be fixed. So stay calm.
Take my friends case – her pothos started yellowing after she moved it to a new apartment. The problem turned out to be a heating vent directly above the plant. All she had to do was move it somewhere else and it quickly recovered.
So this guide will take you through ways to figure out what’s causing the yellow leaves on your pothos and what you can do to get its lovely green leaves back.
Root Health
Most pothos problems start at the roots. I had a golden pothos that began to turn yellow even though I was watering it properly.
It turned out the decorative pot I’d chosen had poor drainage. It meant the roots were getting waterlogged and rotting.
The solution wasn’t just about watering less. Instead I had to lift the plant out of its pot, check the roots and make some changes.
Black for brown and mushy roots need immediate attention. Trim away the affected areas before letting the roots dry out.
Then repot it in fresh soil. I now use a chunky potting mix that has added perlite.
Watering
Overwatering
Pothos plants like their soil to dry out between each of the times you water. If the soil is always soggy and wet it can lead to the roots rotting. This in turn will stop them from being able to take up the oxygen they need and this makes the leaves yellow.
Signs of Overwatering:
- Yellow leaves that usually starts with the lower ones.
- Wilting even though the soil is moist.
- Moldy surface of the soil.
Solution:
- Let the top 2 to 3 inches of the soil dry out fully before you water them again.
- The pot your pothos is in must have drainage holes so the water doesn’t build up or sit.
- If you are worried about root rot then take the plant out of its pot, trim away any black or mushy roots and then repot it using fresh soil.
Underwatering
Too little water can also stress your pothos and cause yellow leaves.
Signs of Underwatering:
- Yellow that starts at the edges of the leaves.
- Dry and crispy tips of the leaves.
- Soil that pulls away at the edges of the pot.
Solution:
- Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry.
- Make sure you’re watering evenly so all the roots are getting enough.
- Be consistent with how you’re watering and make sure you’re adjusting for the seasons.
Light and Location
There’s a sweet spot that every pothos likes. And it’s not about finding the beignets spot as pothos actually do well in bright indirect light (as it’s what their natural habitat would have been like).
A few feet away from a south facing window is usually perfect. Or near to an east facing window where they can get gentle morning sun. Watch out for signs like leggy growth or its variegations fading as this will tell you your plant isn’t happy with its light and it needs changing.
Signs of Inadequate Lighting:
- Yellow leaves, particularly on the shaded side.
- Leggy growth with lots of space between the leaves.
Solution:
- Move your plant to a spot with bright, indirect light.
- Don’t put your plant in direct sunlight as it can burn the leaves.
- Rotate the plant from time to time so every side gets it’s fair share of light.
The Impacts of Your Home Environment
Your home and the environment your pothos lives in will affect it in ways you might not expect. During the winter when we turn heaters on it can dry the air out and this can dry the leaves and soil after than they normally would.
You know what’s a surprising reason for yellow leaves you probably wouldn’t ever think about? The minerals in tap water.
My pothos showed a noticeable improvement when I switched to using rainwater I collected myself or letting the tap water sit out overnight (so the chemicals evaporated).
The temperature fluctuating due to the heat from windows or doors opening and closing can also shock your pothos. The best thing you can do in this case is move your plants away from the drafty windows in the winter and keep them away from the air conditioning in the summer.
A stable temperature of between 65 to 80°F should be what you’re aiming for.
Nutrition and Growth Patterns
As to it pothos grows what it needs in the way of nutrition will change. Yellow leaves can be a sign your plant is hungry, especially if the new leaves that are growing are smaller than usual.
But before you start fertilizing it like crazy think about your pothos growing cycle. The yellow leaf at the bottom could be your plants way of sending energy to newer growth.
When the plant is actively growing (during the spring and summer), I give my pothos a fertilizer diluted to half strength once a month. It’s a more gentle approach but works because it gives enough nutrients without any risk of fertilizer burn.
If you see any sudden yellowing after fertilizing, quickly flush the soil through with water and it should get rid of any minerals that have built up.
Signs of Nutrient Deficiency:
- Uniform yellowing of older leaves.
- Slowed growth or smaller new leaves.
Solution:
- Use a lbalanced fertilizer during the growing season (spring and summer).
- Follow the instructions and dosage guide on the packaging so you don’t overfertilize.
- Every now and again it’s a good idea to flush the soil so salts don’t build up from fertilizing.
Dealing with Pests
Sometimes yellow leaves can show you your pothos has pests. Spider mites, for instance, create tiny yellow specks you’ll see on the leaves. Mealybugs leave marks along the stems and leaf joints.
So it’s advisable to get into the habit of checking your plant regularly. Look in areas and spaces that are tight and only tiny bugs could get in to (that’s where they like to hire). I keep a magnifying glass near my plant shelf so I can take a quick look every week or so.
If you spot any pests then quickly isolate your plant. One infested plant, be it pothos or something else, can easily spread to the rest.
A simple solution of water and soap works well. Just wipe it on both sides of the leaves and it should deal with smaller infestations. If you’ve got bigger problems then something like neem oil is going to be your best bet.
Signs of Pest Infestation:
- Yellow spots on the leaves.
- Webbing (spider mites) or white, cotton like clumps (mealybugs).
Solution:
- Isolate the affected plant so the pests can’t spread.
- Wipe the leaves with a mix of water and soap.
- For more severe infestations then neem oil or insecticidal soap or neem oil will probably be needed.
Root Bound
If you’ve found your pothos isn’t growing as fast or well as it was before it could be a sign it’s running out of room. A root bound pothos will show you it’s struggling with a few obvious signs beyond yellow leaves.
Watch for:
- Roots pushing out of the drainage holes
- Water that runs all the way through the pot without being absorbed
- Plant looking unstable
- Slowed growth even during the growing season
You should be moving it to a bigger pot and giving it more space. But also gives the roots a fresh start in new soil.
When I repotted my oversized pothos I untangled the roots, trimmed the most tightly wound ones and divided it into two.
Both of those divisions went on to do well in their new pots that had lots of room for the roots to grow and stretch out. Choose a pot that is just 1 to 2 inches larger than the current one. If you give it too much space it can lead to problems with overwatering.
Transplant Shock
Moving homes is stressful for anyone – including plants. Transplant shock is a natural reaction pothos and other plants have when their roots are disturbed or the environment changes.
Signs of Transplant Shock:
- Leaves that begin to turn yellow soon after being repotted or moved to another spot.
- Droopy or limp stems.
Solution:
- Be patient and give your plant time to adjust.
- Keep the conditions stable for it. That means good watering and the right lighting.
- Don’t fertilize right after repotting as this can stress your plant even more.
Contamination
Something as simple as using unclean scissors when you prune can introduce problems to your pothos. I made this mistake myself. Yellow spots started appearing ok the edges of where I’d cut my pothos.
The solution wasn’t about treating the leaves. It was about stopping the issue from happening in the first place.
Creating a Plant Care Kit:
Keep these essentials clean and ready to be used:
- Pruning shears (clean between each plant)
- Isopropyl alcohol wipes so you can quickly clean your tools
- Fresh pots or used ones that you’ve cleaned fully
- Separate watering cans for different plant groups
So before you begin any maintenance on your pothos clean the tools you’re going to use with rubbing alcohol or a 10% bleach solution. If you’re going to reuse pots then soak them in hot and soapy water beforehand. Then disinfect them with bleach.
Then let them dry out fully before using them. It may seem like extra hassle but the few hours it takes for them to dry out can stop fungus from growing later on that will lead to yellow leaves.
A Professional’s Cleaning Schedule:
Daily: Wipe tools after use
Weekly: Deep clean the items you use the most
Monthly: Sanitize all the pots and tools
Seasonally: Replace or clean plant saucers and humidity trays
Water Quality
The type of water you use for your pothos can play a bit role in how healthy it is. Tap water, especially if it’s high in chlorine or fluoride, can cause yellow leaves if you use it over time.
Signs of Water Quality Issues:
- Random yellow across the plant.
- Brown edges or tips that develop at the same time as the yellowing.
Solution:
- Let tap water sit out for 24 hours before using it to let chemicals to dissipate.
- Switch to using filtered or rainwater.
- If you think salts may have built up then flush the soil with fresh water occasionally and it will get rid of them.
Naturally Aging Leaves
Sometimes yellowing leaves are nothing more than your pothos ageing naturally. The older leaves will sometimes turn yellow and fall off as newer ones come through.
Signs of Natural Aging:
- Only a few lower leaves are yellowing.
- The plant is healthy apart from this.
Solution:
- Just trim off the yellow leaves so your pothos looks tidy.
- Don’t worry about the odd yellow leaf and focus instead on keeping your plant healthy.
Bringing Your Pothos Back to Health
The Recovery Process
Every pothos bounces back differently. So once you’ve dealt with whatever the underlying issue was causing yellow leaves you’ll want to give it some time to adjust.
New growth is the best sign it’s recovering. So keep an eye out for bright new leaves growing from the stems.
You might need to trim away some yellow leaves but don’t get rid of them all at once if there’s still some green left.
Prevention Tips
- Create a diary of how you’re caring for your pothos so can track things like the watering dates and how it reacted
- Photograph your plant every month so you will see any gradual changes
- Mark your calendar for the times to change how you’re caring depending on the season
- Keep basic supplies (fresh soil, clean scissors, neem oil) close by
- Build a relationship with your plant through watching it
Recovery Steps That Work:
Instead of the usual care routine change what you’ve being doing for the first few weeks after you’ve repotted it:
- Don’t fertilizer for at least a month
- Keep the humidity a little higher
- Keep light levels consistent but slightly lower than usual
- Wait for the soil to become quite dry before your water for the first time after transplanting it
One trick I’ve found that works really well is making a humidity tent with plastic bags. Just add some small holes and it will raise the humidity if your plant needs it.
It will reduce moisture loss while the roots begin to regrow. After a week slowly take the tent away so you don’t shock the plant again.
Remember, yellow leaves aren’t always a crisis. Sometimes they’re just your pothos letting you know it need something.
If you pay attention and give them the right care then these tough plants usually recover and return to green again.