Why are my cebu blue pothos's leaves turning yellow?
My cebu blue pothos is hanging in a corner with a grow light about 20 inches away. Grow light is placed lower than plant as the plant is hanging. I was watering it once a week before I noticed it frequently had yellow leaves. I was worried I was over watering so I skipped watering it for a week and then it started wilting. It perked back up when I gave it some water but it's leaves have continued to yellow. Any ideas on why it is doing this or how to make it happy? #pothospack #cebubluepothos #yellowing #planthelp #pothoshelp
7
Best Answer
@MasculineFord70 Hi Amelia, I’d like to help. When you say the grow light is placed LOWER than the plant does that mean there isn’t any light from the grow light shining on the leaves? If that’s the case, the grow light being 20 inches away AND not shining on the plant means that your cebu blue isn’t able to make much food at all. The light needs to be shining on the leaves from about 8”-24” inches depending on the light itself and how strong it is. Stronger ones can be farther away, around 24 inches, and weaker ones need to be much closer. What brand of grow light is it?
If your plant isn’t getting much light, then that means they don’t need that much water either. They will use water at a much slower rate.
I’d like you to throw any notions of watering on a set schedule out the window. Even a very stable plant that regularly drinks a lot of water won’t go through the same amount every week. There are a lot of variables that influence water intake, such as weather changes, humidity changes, air flow changes…etc. So the best way to decide if your plant needs water is by checking if the soil is dry or not. One of the easiest and most reliable ways is to touch it with your bare hands. Touch the top of the soil—is it wet feeling or cool? Then it’s not time to water and you can check again in 2-3 days.
If the top of the soil feels dry or warm/room temperature then you have one more thing to check. Put a finger or knuckle against one of the bottom drainage holes of your pot. Is it wet or cool feeling THERE? Then it’s still not time to water. Check again in 2-3 days. BUT if the top of the soil feels dry AND the soil on the bottom of the pot feels dry, IT IS TIME TO WATER 💦 🙌
Your leaves are most likely yellowing from watering inconsistencies eg. watering when they don’t need it yet, or watering too late when they’re extremely bone dry. Once you start getting in sync with your plant, checking and watering only when the pot is dry, and when it’s in a good amount of light, the yellow leaves should be fewer and fewer. But they’re not going to stop immediately. Plants operate much more slowly than we do, and it takes them longer to show whether or not your changes have brought improvement.
But do please, if you can, tell me what kind of grow light, and if possible show me some pictures of the grow light in relation to where your plant is 🤗
If your plant isn’t getting much light, then that means they don’t need that much water either. They will use water at a much slower rate.
I’d like you to throw any notions of watering on a set schedule out the window. Even a very stable plant that regularly drinks a lot of water won’t go through the same amount every week. There are a lot of variables that influence water intake, such as weather changes, humidity changes, air flow changes…etc. So the best way to decide if your plant needs water is by checking if the soil is dry or not. One of the easiest and most reliable ways is to touch it with your bare hands. Touch the top of the soil—is it wet feeling or cool? Then it’s not time to water and you can check again in 2-3 days.
If the top of the soil feels dry or warm/room temperature then you have one more thing to check. Put a finger or knuckle against one of the bottom drainage holes of your pot. Is it wet or cool feeling THERE? Then it’s still not time to water. Check again in 2-3 days. BUT if the top of the soil feels dry AND the soil on the bottom of the pot feels dry, IT IS TIME TO WATER 💦 🙌
Your leaves are most likely yellowing from watering inconsistencies eg. watering when they don’t need it yet, or watering too late when they’re extremely bone dry. Once you start getting in sync with your plant, checking and watering only when the pot is dry, and when it’s in a good amount of light, the yellow leaves should be fewer and fewer. But they’re not going to stop immediately. Plants operate much more slowly than we do, and it takes them longer to show whether or not your changes have brought improvement.
But do please, if you can, tell me what kind of grow light, and if possible show me some pictures of the grow light in relation to where your plant is 🤗
@MasculineFord70 whoops, never mind that last part, I didn’t see your third picture, which is exactly what I was wanting to see. You will need to either get another grow light to hang above your plant, (they do make lights with a clamp to clamp above or a stake for the pot) or hang your Cebu blue closer and lower to where it is now.
@DreamMachine
Thank you so much for the suggestions! I will definitely move it lower down until i can figure out the grow light situation. And thank you for the tips on watering!
Do you have any recommendations for good clip on grow lights? I couldn't find the package for the grow light I currently have in my lamp but I've had it a few years. I also purchased 2 A19 led grow bulbs from Walmart that I haven't used yet.
Thank you so much for the suggestions! I will definitely move it lower down until i can figure out the grow light situation. And thank you for the tips on watering!
Do you have any recommendations for good clip on grow lights? I couldn't find the package for the grow light I currently have in my lamp but I've had it a few years. I also purchased 2 A19 led grow bulbs from Walmart that I haven't used yet.
@MasculineFord70 I hope it helps! And I sure do have recommendations for grow lights 😅 I really like both Sansi and Barrina brand. They have options for all budgets, and they are reputable companies that have good products and good customer service. There are so many cheap products out there from sellers that promise lifetime warranty, only to have disappeared three months later when your light is broken. I use the Sansi gooseneck clamp lamps with standard sockets on the ends. You can also just buy empty clamp lamps and put a Sansi bulb in them, I use the Sansi 10W a19/e26 grow bulbs the most.
There was something else I was going to say 🤔 I’ve forgotten 🫠 I might be back if I remember 😆
There was something else I was going to say 🤔 I’ve forgotten 🫠 I might be back if I remember 😆
@MasculineFord70 of course I just had to post that comment to remember 😂 I stay away from USB cables on my lights! Standard plugs 🔌 for the win! The USB ones are just so much weaker in general, although I do see Sansi makes a usb pot clip LED light. I have not tried that one.
Also if you ever want to nerd out on lighting, and go more in depth with your understanding, I highly recommend this book by Leslie F. Halleck
