Why Is My Calla Lily Leaves Turning Yellow


When you begin growing Calla Lily plants, you have to prepare for anything. If something goes wrong, there is a chance that you’re going to notice yellowing leaves. Act quickly so you can prevent this problem from killing your plant.

However, you first have to identify the source of the problem.

Calla Lily leaves turn yellow due to a nutrient deficiency in the soil, you might’ve overwatered the plant, or you might’ve underwatered the plant. Finding out why you’re experiencing this problem is vital for fixing the problem before it worsens.

The primary reasons for a Calla Lily’s leaves to turn yellow can be found in the comprehensive guide below.

Insufficient Light

The Calla Lily that you’re going to grow in your home needs to have sufficient sunlight. Light is essential for plants because it helps the photosynthesis process.

If the plant doesn’t receive enough light, its leaves are likely going to begin fading. One thing to remember is that each plant is different.

While some can tolerate eight hours of sunlight each day, others require half of that. Calla lilies prefer full sunlight or partial shade.

During cooler, summer weather, it is a good idea to provide the plant with full sun. During hotter weather, the plant needs some shade. When your city experiences hotter temperatures, you’ll also need to pay closer attention to the soil.

Be careful and be sure that your calla lily receives at least six hours of sunlight each day. It will grow at the optimum speed with six hours of daily sunlight.

[Related Article: Why Is My Dwarf Umbrella Tree Dying]

Not Enough Water

Whether you’re growing a calla lily or another plant, you need to go above and beyond to ensure it receives enough water. It is important because the plant absorbs vital nutrients through the soil and water.

With this in mind, you need to water the plant regularly and carefully. Otherwise, you may overdo it and give the plant too much water. Your plant will begin displaying signs of this problem very early.

It doesn’t require a drought or weeks without water for the plant to suffer.

After a few extremely hot days, the soil might become too dry. The plant will start losing moisture through its leaves while the roots cannot absorb enough moisture.

As this happens, the leaves are going to turn yellow. When watering your calla lily, do so slowly to ensure that the water is evenly distributed. If the soil is too dry, make sure water runs through the drain holes before stopping.

Too Much Water

As mentioned above, too much water can lead to issues as well. If you’ve overwatered your plant, you may experience yellowing leaves, brown leaves, and more issues.

It is common for new growers to overwater their plants without realizing it. First, make sure that your soil drains properly. Otherwise, the soil may get waterlogged after heavy rainfall.

As this happens, the plant will be cut off from oxygen. Don’t be surprised when all the leaves begin yellowing.

If you’re going to grow your calla lily in a pot, make sure it has pebbles or rocks at the bottom.

In extreme cases of overwatering, you can move the plant to a new pot. Just remember that the plant may experience transplant shock after this.

When you notice signs of problems, reduce the water provided to the plant. Let the first inch of soil dry before watering your plant again.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Your body needs certain nutrients. Your plant needs nutrients as well. For instance, the plant needs zinc, manganese, and iron. If the soil has a lack of nutrients, you may experience yellowing leaves and other issues.

Once you’ve become accustomed to this issue, you can likely determine which nutrient is needed depending on the color of the foliage. Until then, you should try testing the soil.

The results can help you determine what needs to happen to save your plant.

You can easily add more nutrients to the soil by using additives. For instance, you can use plant food or fertilizer to add nutrients to the soil.

Don’t wait too long because a nutrient deficiency could kill your plant before you know it.

Transplant Stress

Depending on the circumstances, there is a chance that you’ll have to transplant your Calla Lily at some point. The initial pot might’ve been too small or you might’ve overwatered it.

If this happens, you’ll probably move the plant to a bigger pot to ensure it has more room to grow. While this is a proven technique that can help you recover from past mistakes, it could lead to potential issues.

For instance, there is a risk that your plant is going to experience transplant shock.

It is common for this to happen when any plant has been transplanted. It will take time for the root system to adapt to the new location. Once this happens, you will need to eliminate any leaves that have yellowed.

Remove the yellow leaves to ensure they’re not unnecessarily consuming vital nutrients.

Too Much Wind

Your Calla Lily plant may experience yellowing leaves due to excess wind. When growing this plant inside, you likely won’t have to worry about this too much.

Don’t turn on your fan at full speed and turn it toward the plant. Doing so could cause the leaves to droop and yellow. The issue is the fact that winds can cause the soil to dry rapidly.

It can also cause stress. Once the wind speeds decrease, the plant should return to normal.

If you didn’t catch this early enough, you should remove the yellow leaves.

Overall

Calla lily leaves can turn yellow for many reasons. Your soil’s pH level may be too high. It might be experiencing a fertilizer or pesticide burn.

Regardless, the key is to know how to identify and rectify such problems immediately.

Waiting too long will cause the yellow leaves to turn brown. Before you know it, the plant will begin dying.

With experience, you’ll learn how to diagnose and deal with these problems much easier.

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