Why are Plant Leaves Turning Yellow: Causes and Treatment

A bothersome problem that frequently affects some varieties of houseplants is leaf-tip browning. Particularly vulnerable plants with long, strappy leaves, spider plants, and tropical plants. The biggest challenge in dealing with leaf-tip burn is remembering that it's a symptom, not a condition, of a bigger issue, usually a cultural one. There is no way to undo the damage once your plant has scorched the tips or margins of its leaves. The only option is to fix the underlying issue and hope that the plant keeps growing normally.

Identifying which of the potential causes of a leaf-tip burn may be problematic. The water, perhaps? How do you fertilize? Exactly how humid is it? The best course of action is to start with the most likely scenario, make any necessary changes, and then wait to see what transpires because you might not know right away. You'll know if the searing stops or if new growth is unaffected. If it persists, go on to the following issue and focus on that.

The ideal situation is to identify leaf-tip burn early enough to prevent the plant's look from being totally damaged.

The following elements have the potential to result in leaf-tip burn:

Watering Problems

A sign of inconsistent or insufficient watering or low humidity may be scorched leaves. This is especially true for tropical plants, which detest the dry winter air found in the majority of centrally heated homes. These plants have evolved to enjoy humidity levels in their native rainforests that range from 60 to 100 percent. The humidity in a winter residence can easily reach 20%, which can scorch leaves. Raising the humidity is the answer; you can do this by misting the plants, using a pebble tray, or moving the plant to a location with higher humidity, such as the kitchen or bathroom. Additionally, keep in mind that plants with strappy leaves find it more difficult to get water from the roots to the extremities of the leaves, which makes it more probable that these plants may exhibit leaf-tip scorching sooner than plants with shorter leaves. Finally, think about obtaining a more neutral water source if you think your water is very alkaline (has a pH above seven). A somewhat acidic atmosphere is what plants prefer.

Potassium Deficiency

If the cause is a lack of potassium and is often the main cause of plant leaves turning yellow, you should use banana and potato peels, cut them and put them in a bottle filled with water, and keep the bottle in a dark place for 3 days, then filter the water and irrigate the burned plants once a week.

Issues with Fertilizer

Salts from fertilizers can scorch leaves, especially when fertilizer is applied in excessive quantities. Following a hefty fertilizer feeding, if you detect scorching on your plants, there may be an issue with your fertilizer. To get rid of accumulated fertilizer salts, repeatedly flush the soil with clean water. Also, take extra care in the future.

Sun Damage

Typically, sun damage manifests as burnt areas on the leaves or even whole leaf browning. However, this could be a problem if your plant has lately had a change in the amount of direct light it is receiving. Due to the window's capacity to intensify and radiate heat, placing plant leaves next to it might also result in leaf blistering.

Cold Damage

Many houseplants aren't accustomed to cold, drafty surroundings, which is closely related to water stress (by a winter window, for instance). The leaf margins and leaf tips are typically the first places where cold damage manifests itself. Try to elevate the warmth (and humidity, most likely) surrounding your tropical plants if they experience leaf blistering throughout the winter.

Chemical Damage

Leaf scorching is less likely to be caused by chemical damage, although it is still a possibility. Be cautious when using household insecticides and cleaning agents on your plants because they sometimes cause plant burns.

In the end, a burnt leaf tip is virtually always a cultural issue; bacterial and fungal infections frequently affect the stem as well as the leaf surface and are typically more pervasive. Therefore, the best strategy to treat leaf-tip burn and margin scorching is to identify any potential underlying cultural issues and work to address them.