Help
Help! My #Syngonium leaves are yellowing and crispy and a chunk just broke off at the base. What am I doing Wrong?
4” pot without drainage
Last watered 2 years ago
4
@SteamyBegonia Hello Elizabeth!
The yellowing of the leaves is due to overwatering. Since your pot doesn’t have drainage the roots could be sitting in water.
1) Watering Issues
Proper watering is crucial for the health of your arrowhead plant. Overwatering or underwatering can both lead to yellow leaves. Arrowhead plants prefer slightly moist soil, but they don’t like to sit in either dry or waterlogged conditions.
Under waterings
Underwatering can be detrimental to your plant’s health, and one of the first signs of underwatering is yellowing, dry leaves. If you notice your arrowhead plant’s leaves turning yellow and feeling dry or crispy, it may need more water.
Check the moisture level of the soil by sticking your finger or a moisture meter into the soil – if it feels dry or reads as a low level of moisture, then it’s time to give your plant a drink. When a plant’s soil is really dry, it’s recommended to bottom-water the plant, allowing it to soak up as much water as it needs.
To do this, place your plant’s pot (with drainage holes) inside a bowl or sink filled with a few inches of water. Leave it there for about 30 minutes, checking the soil every 10 minutes or so. Once you feel wet soil closer to the roots, your plant has likely had enough to “drink” and can be taken out of the water to drain the excess moisture. Keep a close eye on your plant for a few days to determine if it needs another soak to recover from being under-watered.
Overwatering
Overwatering can be just as bad for your Arrowhead plant. One of the first signs of frequent overwatering is droopy, soft leaves. When the soil around a plant’s roots is constantly soggy, it does a couple of things. First, it leaves no room for air to get to the roots, starving them of the oxygen they need to bring up to the plant. Next, it creates the perfect environment for harmful bacteria to grow, which can further damage your beautiful plant.
To fix overwatering issues, you will want to repot your plant in new soil, and inspect the roots for signs of rot. If any rot is present, you’ll need to prune it off before potting it up in new soil. Lessen your watering schedule, and keep a close eye on your plant in the few weeks after repotting it. It will be more susceptible to root rot if you continue overwatering it after this!
2) Lack of Humidity
Another possible reason for yellowing leaves could be a lack of humidity in the air. Arrowhead plants are native to tropical regions where they thrive in high humidity environments. When grown indoors, however, the dry air can cause their leaves to lose moisture and turn yellow. A lack of humidity makes it difficult for the plants to retain adequate moisture through their leaves, leading to dehydration and stress, resulting in yellowing foliage.
To remedy this issue, try increasing the humidity around your arrowhead plant. You can do this by placing a humidifier near the plant or creating a humidity tray filled with water next to or underneath its pot. Just don’t let the pot sit in the water as this could lead to waterlogged soil. Grouping several houseplants together can also help create a microclimate of higher humidity.
3) Poor Light Conditions
As they are tropical, Arrowhead plants thrive in bright, indirect light, and if they are not receiving enough light, their leaves can turn yellow. If your arrowhead plant is placed in a dark corner or far away from a window, it may not be getting sufficient sunlight. Lack of natural light can hinder the plant’s ability to photosynthesize and produce energy, which can manifest as yellowing leaves.
To fix this issue, try moving your arrowhead plant to a brighter location with indirect sunlight. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight as this can scorch its delicate foliage. If you notice that the yellowing only occurs on one side of the plant, rotate it regularly to ensure all parts receive equal exposure to light.
In some cases, artificial lighting such as fluorescent lights or grow lights can also provide adequate illumination for Arrowhead plants. Consider supplementing natural light with these artificial sources if necessary.
When I check the soils moisture level I use a chop stick that is made for Kabobs. If it comes out with no soil it time to water, if it comes out with soil still on it just hit the snooze button. When it comes out with soil on it I always check to see how moist it is. If it’s just barely moist I will water it but I don’t give it the recommended water amount.
The yellowing of the leaves is due to overwatering. Since your pot doesn’t have drainage the roots could be sitting in water.
1) Watering Issues
Proper watering is crucial for the health of your arrowhead plant. Overwatering or underwatering can both lead to yellow leaves. Arrowhead plants prefer slightly moist soil, but they don’t like to sit in either dry or waterlogged conditions.
Under waterings
Underwatering can be detrimental to your plant’s health, and one of the first signs of underwatering is yellowing, dry leaves. If you notice your arrowhead plant’s leaves turning yellow and feeling dry or crispy, it may need more water.
Check the moisture level of the soil by sticking your finger or a moisture meter into the soil – if it feels dry or reads as a low level of moisture, then it’s time to give your plant a drink. When a plant’s soil is really dry, it’s recommended to bottom-water the plant, allowing it to soak up as much water as it needs.
To do this, place your plant’s pot (with drainage holes) inside a bowl or sink filled with a few inches of water. Leave it there for about 30 minutes, checking the soil every 10 minutes or so. Once you feel wet soil closer to the roots, your plant has likely had enough to “drink” and can be taken out of the water to drain the excess moisture. Keep a close eye on your plant for a few days to determine if it needs another soak to recover from being under-watered.
Overwatering
Overwatering can be just as bad for your Arrowhead plant. One of the first signs of frequent overwatering is droopy, soft leaves. When the soil around a plant’s roots is constantly soggy, it does a couple of things. First, it leaves no room for air to get to the roots, starving them of the oxygen they need to bring up to the plant. Next, it creates the perfect environment for harmful bacteria to grow, which can further damage your beautiful plant.
To fix overwatering issues, you will want to repot your plant in new soil, and inspect the roots for signs of rot. If any rot is present, you’ll need to prune it off before potting it up in new soil. Lessen your watering schedule, and keep a close eye on your plant in the few weeks after repotting it. It will be more susceptible to root rot if you continue overwatering it after this!
2) Lack of Humidity
Another possible reason for yellowing leaves could be a lack of humidity in the air. Arrowhead plants are native to tropical regions where they thrive in high humidity environments. When grown indoors, however, the dry air can cause their leaves to lose moisture and turn yellow. A lack of humidity makes it difficult for the plants to retain adequate moisture through their leaves, leading to dehydration and stress, resulting in yellowing foliage.
To remedy this issue, try increasing the humidity around your arrowhead plant. You can do this by placing a humidifier near the plant or creating a humidity tray filled with water next to or underneath its pot. Just don’t let the pot sit in the water as this could lead to waterlogged soil. Grouping several houseplants together can also help create a microclimate of higher humidity.
3) Poor Light Conditions
As they are tropical, Arrowhead plants thrive in bright, indirect light, and if they are not receiving enough light, their leaves can turn yellow. If your arrowhead plant is placed in a dark corner or far away from a window, it may not be getting sufficient sunlight. Lack of natural light can hinder the plant’s ability to photosynthesize and produce energy, which can manifest as yellowing leaves.
To fix this issue, try moving your arrowhead plant to a brighter location with indirect sunlight. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight as this can scorch its delicate foliage. If you notice that the yellowing only occurs on one side of the plant, rotate it regularly to ensure all parts receive equal exposure to light.
In some cases, artificial lighting such as fluorescent lights or grow lights can also provide adequate illumination for Arrowhead plants. Consider supplementing natural light with these artificial sources if necessary.
When I check the soils moisture level I use a chop stick that is made for Kabobs. If it comes out with no soil it time to water, if it comes out with soil still on it just hit the snooze button. When it comes out with soil on it I always check to see how moist it is. If it’s just barely moist I will water it but I don’t give it the recommended water amount.
@SteamyBegonia I also recommend getting a new pot that has drainage or you always drill a hole at the bottom. @Sassylimey is all about drilling holes.
Always use pots with drainage I agree with @TwistedThreads the roots probably sat in water too long and developed some rot
Drain its overwatered and give it some nutrients