Finding it hard to keep your cyclamen plant alive? Read this article to learn what to do when the leaves on your plant start to turn yellow and fall off.
If you’ve noticed the leaves of your cyclamen plant turning yellow, don’t panic! Yellowing leaves are a common issue cyclamen owners face, but the causes are usually easy to identify and reverse. In this article, we’ll walk through the top reasons cyclamen foliage turns yellow and simple fixes to get your plant thriving again.
What Causes Yellow Leaves in Cyclamen Plants?
There are a few key factors that can lead to yellow cyclamen leaves:
Overwatering
Too much moisture causes root rot and oxygen deprivation Leaves yellow and get limp or droopy
Underwatering
Lack of water stresses the plant. Leaves yellow and shrivel or get crunchy.
High Temperatures
Above 70°F forces dormancy. Yellowing shows the plant is shutting down.
Low Light
Insufficient brightness makes it hard to photosynthesize, Older leaves yellow from inside out
Pests
Insects like mites, aphids, and thrips damage leaves and suck out moisture.
Diseases
Fungal or bacterial issues can spread through the vascular system, blocking water.
Old Age
As leaves naturally age, the cells lose chlorophyll and turn yellow.
How to Fix Yellowing Cyclamen Leaves
Now that you have an idea of what factors cause yellowing, here are some tips to get your cyclamen back to its beautiful self:
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Check soil moisture – Stick a finger in the soil. If bone dry, give a thorough soak. If soggy, allow to dry out before watering again.
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Monitor temperature – Keep the plant between 50-70°F. Move away from heat vents or drafty areas.
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Increase light – Find a spot with 4-6 hours of bright, indirect sun if leaves are yellowing from the inside out.
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Treat pests – Look for signs of insects on leaves and stems. Wipe off with alcohol or use insecticidal soap.
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Improve air circulation – Crowded conditions increase risk of diseases. Space plants out with a small fan to keep air moving.
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Remove old leaves – Prune any yellowed, wrinkled leaves to focus the plant’s energy on new growth.
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Avoid overfertilizing – Excess salts and nutrients can burn roots and lead to yellowing.
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Repot annually – Refresh the potting mix and prune roots to prevent diseases and improve drainage.
When to Worry About Yellow Cyclamen Leaves
As long as you can identify the cause and make suitable adjustments, minor yellowing of a few older leaves is not too concerning. However, if many leaves rapidly turn yellow or you notice these other symptoms, it likely indicates a serious underlying issue:
- Wilting or drooping leaves
- Mushy, translucent leaves
- Webbing, honeydew, or visible insects
- Sudden plant decline
- Foul odor from the soil
At the first signs of any severe problems, isolate the cyclamen to prevent spreading issues to other plants. Wipe the leaves with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap to kill pathogens. Remove the plant from its pot and wash the roots to inspect for rot. Replant in fresh, sterile potting mix and discard any unsalvageable parts.
With quick intervention, you can often revive a declining cyclamen. But if problems persist without improvement over time, the safest option is to discard the plant entirely.
Preventing Future Yellow Leaves
While the occasional yellow leaf is normal, you can take proactive care steps to keep your cyclamen foliage lush and green long-term:
- Water only when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry
- Provide bright, indirect light without direct sun
- Maintain temps between 60-70°F
- Allow air circulation around the foliage
- Stake heavy flower stems for support
- Clean pruning shears before each use
- Check for pests weekly
- Avoid reusing old potting soil
Frequency of Entities:
url: 2
leaves: 15
yellow: 15
cyclamen: 12
water: 5
soil: 5
light: 4
temperature: 3
pests: 3
plants: 2
old: 2
Why are My Cyclamen Leaves Going Yellow?
It could be normal. Cyclamens come from Mediterranean countries, where winters are mild and summers are extremely dry. Many plants in the Mediterranean bloom in the winter and sleep in the summer so they don’t have to work hard to stay alive in the dry climate. If cyclamen leaves turn yellow as summer approaches, it could just mean that the plant is getting ready to go to sleep for the summer. It’s hard to get a cyclamen to bloom again after a long summer nap. If you want to save the plant over the summer, leave the leaves on until they fall off on their own. This allows the tuber to absorb nutrients from the dying leaves. Place the pot in the coolest room in the house for the summer months. Lots of sunlight helps. In the fall, repot the tuber into fresh potting soil. Bury it so that a little of the top remains above the soil. Water lightly until leaves begin to appear, then keep the soil lightly moist at all times. Feed with a houseplant fertilizer designed for flowering plants according to the package instructions.
What to Look For
•Check temperature and water. Warm temperatures and improper watering can also cause yellow leaves on cyclamen plants. Cyclamen plants like daytime temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit (15-18 C. ) and night temperatures around 50 degrees F. (10 C. ). The blossoms last longer when the plant is kept cool. •Check the soil. Cyclamen likes a moderately moist soil. It should be moist to touch, but never soggy. Water around the sides of the pot or from the bottom to prevent rot. Drain for 20 minutes and then discard the excess water. •Insect pests may be to blame. Cyclamen is susceptible to the usual houseplant insects, all of which can cause some degree of yellowing. Spider mites, aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs can all be treated with insecticidal soap spray. Cyclamen mites are particularly nasty insects, and you probably won’t be able to get rid of them. Discard infested plants to keep the insect from spreading to other houseplants.
Cyclamen plant leaves turning yellow – What to do? Top tips to cure yellow leaves on Cyclamen plant
FAQ
Should I remove yellow leaves from cyclamen?
What does an overwatered cyclamen look like?
How often should you water a cyclamen?
Do cyclamen like sun or shade?
Why are my cyclamen leaves turning yellow?
Cyclamen like it cool, so temperatures above 70°F can be another cause of yellowing leaves. Heating vents, windows that receive direct sunlight, or other hot areas of the house or garden can expose them to more warmth than they prefer. 4. Too much sun Too much sun, and the temperature increase that comes with it, can also be a factor.
How do you keep cyclamen leaves from turning yellow?
The best way to keep cyclamen leaves from turning yellow is to maintain proper watering, temperature, and light exposure throughout the year. However, as they go dormant it is unavoidable and very natural. Yellow leaves are a common issue that cyclamen plant owners face.
Why are my cyclamen leaves turning brown?
Inspect the cyclamen pot carefully to see if this might be a problem. These tiny pests are usually seen turning the plant’s newly emerging leaves yellow, and then causing dead flowers and dying leaves to drop off or turn brown.
Why are my cyclamen leaves curling?
Curling leaves on cyclamen can be caused by a lack of moisture or exposure to high heat. It is important to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged and to avoid exposing the plant to temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Why is my potted cyclamen experiencing yellowing leaves?
