What To Do About Yellow-Brown Leaves
Photo by Léon & George
Is your plant showing some yellowing and/or browning on its leaves or tips? Plants are living things just like us, and far from perfect! Before you begin to worry if something may be wrong, read on for reasons why your plant might be doing this, and what can be done about it.
Why do plants get yellow-brown leaves?
As plants age, it’s natural for them to have occasional yellow-brown leaves or tips. While sad-looking leaves can sometimes mean there’s something off with its care, it doesn’t always mean the plant is in distress. Here are a few reasons why your plant might be showing yellow or brown leaves or tips:
It’s just that leaf’s time to go. If you see just one or two leaves that are yellow and brown, but the rest of the plant looks perfectly healthy— rest assured that absolutely nothing is wrong! It’s just the end of that leaf’s life cycle.
Overwatering or underwatering. If you see multiple brown or yellow leaves or a pattern, it’s possible your watering routine needs some tweaking. Make sure to read the instructions carefully for your plant (all Léon & George plants come with simple instructions) and water accordingly.
More or less light is needed. Brown or yellow leaves could also mean that your plant needs more or less light. This can often go hand in hand with watering, and striking the right balance for your specific plant is an art that we are certain you will master, even if it takes a little trial and error. Remember that plants are resilient, so don’t be afraid to try out new things!
Nutrient deficiency or overdose. If it’s been a long time since you repotted or fertilized your plant, it’s possible that it’s time to give your plant a little bit of extra nutrients either by repotting or feeding it natural plant food. As for an overdose, fertilizing your plants too much can lead to fertilizer burn either on your plants leaves or tips.
What to do about yellow-brown leaves
Here are some ways you can improve the appearance of your plant. Note that it doesn’t always mean cutting the leaf off entirely!
Shape: maintain the ideal size and shape for your space by trimming off unruly stems and yellow-brown leaves. Cut close to the base of the stem, or remove completely if possible. Maintaining a lean and balanced structure also prevents future tilting.
Shave: Shave off imperfect edges and re-shape the tips to match the other leaves. Make sure to leave a sliver of brown just before the green. Plants don’t like to be nicked while shaving and cutting into a healthy part of the leaf can create an open wound.
Shed: like any diet, it’s important not to go overboard. When pruning your plants, be careful not to shed more than ¼ of its foliage at any given time. Over pruning can be detrimental to future growth.
*Pro-tip* While pruning off yellow and brown leaves can make your plant simply look nicer, it’s also beneficial for their health: well-kept and well-pruned plants attract less pests, and also have more energy to spend on their new growth.
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