The is a space to take care of the plants but also of yourself, however, there can be moments of worry when the plants turn yellow and we simply don’t know why. Called chlorosis, it is a symptom that we commonly see appear in garden plants when something is not going well. This can indicate a variety of health problems in plants, here we will explore some of them.
What is chlorosis and why do plants turn yellow?
Plants are characterized by having a family of. This is present in all organisms that have chloroplasts, so it can be found in all plants in addition to algae. The role of chlorophyll in plants is crucial, since it is basically the process by which they store solar energy and obtain their food.
But when the health of the plant is stressed for some reason or another, chlorophyll becomes scarce, producing chlorosis, which makes the plants turn yellowish. Taking into account that it is precisely chlorophyll that allows these beings to produce their food, when plants turn yellow they may not survive if the source of the chlorosis is not addressed.
At first glance, a yellowed leaf may not seem to contain many clues about the source of the chlorosis, but if you look closely, it is possible to find the reason for the lack of chlorophyll and, in this way, provide the plant with what it needs to thrive. don’t die
Nutrient deficiency
One of the most common reasons that plants turn yellow is poor nutrition and therefore a deficiency of what is present in the soil. Not only do they require hydrogen and carbon, but the substrate must be rich in other types of elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesiumall of which enter through the roots to then feed the entire plant.
A soil test is the best way to know if the habitat in which our plants are located lacks the necessary nutrients for their survival. Although if you don’t have this option, a quick look at the leaves also helps us recognize if this is the reason for the chlorosis.
Nutrient-deficient plants often exhibit distinctive yellowing patterns. Most common is a pattern of green veins with yellow tissue in between, which first appears on specific leaves before spreading throughout the plant.
There is another way plants turn yellow that also indicates nutrient deficiency. When the oldest leaves are the first to turn yellowish, the plant indicates a deficiency of ‘mobile’ nutrients. Otherwise, where the youngest leaves are the ones that dry out while the old foliage remains green, then it indicates a ‘immobile’ nutrient deficiency.
Within the ‘mobile’ we have nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and nickel. While the ‘immobile’ nutrients are calcium, boron, copper, manganese and zinc. This way you can get an idea of which nutrients are missing in your substrate.
Pests, irrigation and sunlight
If it is not a nutrient deficiency, the remaining reasons why plants turn yellow include pests, and sunlight. Make sure you are caring for your plants properly, not all plants are the same and many of them prefer indirect light or heavier watering than others. Try to look up the specifications of the species in question and adapt your care practices to be able to give each of them what they need.