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.
You can figure out why the leaves on your syngonium are turning yellow by using the method of elimination and detective work. Here are the most common reasons why plants get sick and how to get them healthy again.
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
Syngoniums like it when the soil is damp, but if you let it dry out for too long, the leaves will turn 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
Yellowing can happen when plants don’t get enough nitrogen, iron, magnesium, or manganese. 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 problems like rot, root entrapment, or transplant shock make it hard for the roots to take in water and food. 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!
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.
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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 give it enough so that water flows into the saucer from the hole in the bottom of the pot. It is very important to get rid of any extra water in the saucer and keep your plant from sitting in 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 make the edges of leaves droop and turn brown. Later, the leaves turn yellow, brown, and shrink all the way through. 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 the plant more often, maybe even several times a week. This is especially true if it is in a small pot or is outside where it is warm.
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.
