Asparagus Fern Turning Yellow – Have you seen your asparagus fern turning yellow lately? Are you unsure why this is happening and what you can do to help it stay healthy and vibrant? Fortunately, there are a few things that might be causing the discoloration in your asparagus fern. The good news is that it can easily be solved with proper care! In this blog post, we’ll look at why your asparagus fern may be turning yellow, what you can do to help solve the problem, and tips on how to keep it looking its best all year round. Read on to get your leafy green back in top condition!
Causes Of An Asparagus Fern Turning Yellow
With the Asparagus genus, some of its plants are referred to as “Asparagus Ferns”. Although their appearances vary slightly, they all have almost identical care needs. Here’s a list of these species that fall in this category:
- Asparagus setaceus
- Asparagus densiflorus
- Asparagus retrofractus
- Asparagus plumosa
In this article, you will learn about the root causes of yellowing foliage for all species discussed.
The Asparagus Fern may appear fragile, but it’s surprisingly hardy when kept as a houseplant. If your fern has been afflicted with yellow leaves, don’t worry–we can help you get your plant looking and feeling better! Let’s examine the common causes of yellow foliage in Asparagus Ferns so that we can restore the beauty and health of your greenery.
Overwatering
An Asparagus Fern can swiftly become yellow if it is overwatered, as this damages the roots and in turn affects its foliage. This is an unfortunately common occurrence among plant owners – so be sure to watch your watering habits!
If you’re in the habit of pampering your plant with too much water, or if it is planted in soil that doesn’t drain well without proper drainage holes, then issues related to overwatering will inevitably surface. Similarly, during winter when its water requirements are lower or under low light conditions; this can also give rise to similar problems.
Why Does Overwatering Cause Asparagus Ferns To Turn Yellow?
Too much water can lead to yellowing of the leaves in Asparagus Ferns due to a lack of necessary oxygen for their roots. For effective and healthy functioning, these roots need air flow through soil pores which provides access to vital oxygen; when soggy soils are constantly present, however, this process is interrupted and an insufficient amount of air reaches the root system.
Consequently, the plant’s roots become unable to access essential nutrients and water. This triggers indications of stress in the plants – usually involving a yellowing of all its foliage that starts from lower areas first.
How To Know If My Asparagus Fern Is Turning Yellow Due To Overwatering?
If you begin to notice your Asparagus Fern turning a yellowish hue, inspect the following and solve any problems that need resolving;
When caring for an Asparagus Fern, inspect the soil it resides in. An ideal mixture consists of 60% peat, 30% perlite and 10% compost to provide good drainage while still retaining enough moisture after watering. If there is a noticeable delay before water drains away from your plant’s container after being watered, then you should consider repotting with this specific blend of components.
When selecting a pot for your plant, ensure it is not too big; otherwise the soil will take much longer to dry between watering. Additionally, make sure there are adequate drainage holes present. Consider the pot material carefully as well – terracotta pots are porous and allow for faster drying compared to plastic or ceramic options.
Providing optimal care for your Asparagus Fern is essential to ensure it thrives. The plant should be placed in bright, indirect light and kept at moderate temperatures as well as humidity levels; low lighting will cause the fern to grow slowly and use minimal water, resulting in soil that stays overly wet which can eventually lead to yellowing of the foliage due to overwatering.
How To Fix My Asparagus Fern Turning Yellow Due To Overwatering?
If you notice the signs of overwatering early on and your plants’ leaves are just beginning to yellow, then quick action can be taken to save it. Curb down on watering and let things dry out a bit before assessing if your potting needs are being met correctly. For more detailed information, please refer to my article on how to mend an overwatered plant.
If the condition of your plant has deteriorated and root rot is present, reviving it may be a difficult process. You will notice brown or black mushy roots that are easily breakable, as well as an unpleasant odor from the soil if you look closely enough.
To save your precious plant, you must repot it right away and carefully snip off all the infected roots with a sterilized pair of pruners. To gain more knowledge on how to spot, treat, as well as avoid root rot in plants going forward, be sure to read my article!
Underwatering
Despite their delicate appearance, Asparagus Ferns are remarkably resistant to drought – thanks in part to their tuberous roots which store water for future use. This means that they can survive through periods of dryness and remain healthy and vibrant.
If you don’t water your Asparagus Fern frequently or consistently, its leaves will begin to yellow and turn brown. The outer foliage and tips of the leaves are usually first to show signs of distress; however, if neglected for too long, more parts of the plant can suffer as well.
When deprived of water, foliage may turn a yellowish-brown hue and become dry and brittle to the touch.
Determining an issue with your plant should be a breeze since the soil will feel extremely dry. Additionally, you could use how long it has been since you last provided water to your plants as another indication of potential distress.
How To Fix An Asparagus Fern Turning Yellow Due To Underwatering
If your Asparagus Fern’s foliage has become yellow with underwatering, it likely won’t recover. Nevertheless, you can still replace the affected leaves by pruning them off and allowing new growth to come in. This allows you to revive the aesthetic of your fern while giving it an opportunity to thrive!
Remember, there are a few conditions that can lead to underwatering and cause your Asparagus Ferns to become yellow;
Very low humidity levels.
If your Asparagus Fern is planted in a pot that’s too small, it will quickly absorb all the water you give it.
Low Light
Yellowing of an Asparagus Fern is usually due to inadequate light exposure. This issue develops gradually, as the plant struggles in lighting that can’t meet its needs. The fern will become widespread and slim with yellow coloring spread out evenly throughout its leaves.
Finding the perfect location for your Asparagus Fern can be a difficult task; many houseplants need more light than people usually imagine. You must ensure that it receives bright, indirect lighting to guarantee its proper growth and development – this is key!
To make sure that your Asparagus Fern is getting enough light, try this simple trick! Place your hand near the wall or floor where your plant sits and observe the shadow of it. If you see a distinct outline with some fuzziness around it, then congratulations – you have found adequate lighting for your plant friend. However if no shadows appear at all or they are extremely faint, this means that there isn’t sufficient lighting in its current environment.
On the other hand, you can easily download a light meter App to your smartphone. This app will depend on your camera and give an approximate reading of how much lighting is present. Typically, bright indirect light ranges from 800-2000 foot candles.
How To Fix An Asparagus Fern Turning Yellow Due To Low Light
To bring your plant back to health, ensure you place it in a space where adequate light is available. Search for a spot within your home that has regular access to the necessary lighting.
Remember that the amount of light your plant needs to thrive changes with the season, time of day, and even based on weather conditions. For instance, you’ll need to place your plant in a brighter spot during wintertime or provide it shade from direct sunlight during summer months.
Excessive Light
Too much lighting, however, can damage the foliage of your Asparagus Fern, as evidenced by its leaves becoming scorched and turning yellow or brown.
Asparagus Ferns are far more comfortable in indirect sunlight, so keep yours away from windows that receive a lot of direct sun. A north or east-facing window is ideal for these plants, but you may need to move them further back during the hot summer months if there’s too much light coming through. Ideally, your Asparagus Fern should not be exposed to more than 1-2 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Modify the lighting and wait for new growth to sprout before trimming away any damaged foliage.
Fertilizer Problems
For optimal health and growth, Asparagus Ferns require consistent fertilizing. I suggest using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every three to four weeks when the plant is in its developmental stages. To avoid overfertilizing and damaging your fern, dilute the strength of the fertilizer to half that recommended for outdoor plants. This will ensure healthy growth without any issues arising from excessive nutrients!
An inadequate amount of fertilizer will cause an Asparagus Fern to appear as if it’s struggling, and its leaves will transition into a more faded hue with overall yellowing.
If you have used too much fertilizer on your Asparagus Fern, the tips will become brown and there may be signs of salt buildup visible on top of the soil.
How To Fix An Asparagus Fern Turning Yellow Due To Fertilizer Problems
If it’s been a while since you’ve given your Asparagus Fern fertilizer, start following the steps listed above to ensure that it gets all of the nutrients it needs.
If you suspect your Asparagus Fern might be yellowing due to overfertilization, stop fertilizing and flush the soil. Make sure to let fresh water run through it for several minutes as this will dissolve any excess fertilizer salts that may have been left behind and wash them away from the soil. Refrain from using any kind of fertilizer on your Asparagus Fern for a few months before resuming with more moderate doses when needed.
Tips for Proper Fertilization of Asparagus Fern
- Every month, apply the half-strength fertilizer formula to your garden for optimal growth and nutrition.
- Unless you’re using liquid fertilizer, be sure to supply dry soil with the necessary fertilizer.
- During its dormancy period, refrain from fertilizing your plant during the winter season to ensure optimal growth.
Pests
If an Asparagus Fern becomes infested with spider mites, mealybugs, or scale insects it can cause its foliage to yellow drastically. These three pests are some of the most common nuisances that affect this delicate plant.
All of these bugs feed on sap, draining the vitality and vital water from your plants. As they grow in numbers, their presence causes patchy yellowing that eventually becomes widespread if left unchecked. When this happens, it weakens the plant’s ability to thrive or even survive.
How To Fix An Asparagus Fern Turning Yellow Due To Pests
To keep your Asparagus Fern looking its best, make sure to thoroughly check for any pesky visitors on a regular basis. Don’t forget that spider mites are microscopic in size, so you’ll need to be extra observant during inspection. If you have trouble identifying or treating common houseplant pests don’t worry – my article provides all the information and advice needed!
When introducing a new plant to your home, it is essential to quarantine the Asparagus Fern for 7-10 days. This allows you to inspect and monitor any possible pests before they can spread and damage existing plants in your home. By taking this precautionary step, you are ensuring that all of your houseplants remain healthy!
Acclimation
Although Asparagus Ferns may have been nurtured in ideal conditions in the plant nursery, it can be complicated to replicate those same circumstances at home. Consequently, your Asparagus Fern might need some time for adaptation once you bring it home; in fact, there could possibly be yellowing or browning of certain leaves over the initial few weeks after its arrival.
Don’t stress too much about this. As long as you give your new plant the appropriate conditions, things should settle down and it will begin to develop healthy foliage soon. Prune off any damaged leaves and then enjoy all that your beautiful plant has to offer!
The Asparagus Fern is particularly sensitive to cold temperatures, which often causes its leaves to become yellow. To ensure its optimal growth and health, this plant thrives when kept in warm environments.
For optimal growth, the plant requires a temperature of at least 13°C. However, if it is exposed to colder temperatures for an extended amount of time, it could die; however with seasonal changes come new opportunities as these plants can regrow from their roots when warmer weather arrives.
Tips to Maintain Warmer Temperature
- To protect your plant from the extreme cold of winter, bring it inside and keep it safe.
- To protect the health of your plant, be sure to keep it away from cooling equipment such as fans, air conditioners and vents. The cool air can cause a negative impact on the wellbeing of plants.
- To ensure that your plants flourish, it is best to position them in an area with indirect sunlight for maximum brightness.
- If the topsoil appears dry, be sure to give the plant some water.
- Locate your plant away from any drafty or breezy areas, as well as heating and cooling vents like radiators. Doing so will ensure its longevity and health!
- To keep them cozy in the winter, you can also use heating pads.
- Utilizing transparent plastic to create a greenhouse effect is an efficient way of protecting the plant from cold weather.
Transplant Stress
Generally, when you move a plant from one environment to the next it experiences stress. Take for instance buying an Asparagus Fern at a greenhouse and taking it home; the plant will have to adjust to its new surroundings before being fully comfortable.
Consequently, relocating a plant could cause its foliage to turn yellow.
When the leaves turn yellow, it is an indication that the plant isn’t acclimating well to its environment. This can happen often when a new tree or shrub has just been planted; as they become used to their surroundings, some discoloration of foliage usually shows up during the first couple weeks.
To protect your plant from transplant shock, it’s important to keep the conditions consistent with what it was previously accustomed to. Additionally, make sure that you are not placing the plant in a colder environment as this will only worsen the issue. Lastly, remember: with patience and proper care, your plant can recover from these issues over time!
Should I Remove the Yellow leaves?
Absolutely, plucking out the yellow twigs or trimming them with sterilized scissors is highly recommended. Doing so will clear much-needed room for new growth and ensure your plant’s longevity. If the entire bush has turned a yellow hue, simply cut away any leaves that have wilted or discolored in order to allow other parts of the shrub to flourish!
To ensure that your plant is healthy, consider removing all the leaves since they will not become green again.
Though it may take a bit of time, you’ll soon begin to witness the development of healthy leaves from its stems. If your desire is for an emerald green fern plant, then all that’s needed is patience until new foliage appears.
Additionally, make sure to check if your pot is able to efficiently drain the water.
Last Word
If you find your Asparagus Fern becoming more yellow than usual, the first two things to consider are watering and lighting issues. With a careful examination of the plant itself, it’s likely that the underlying cause will become obvious in no time!
Taking care of houseplants is a never-ending adventure, and the occasional yellow leaf or imperfection shouldn’t take away from the pleasure of cultivating them. In my experience, I’ve found that nothing compares to the feeling of accomplishment when you manage to improve a plant’s condition – even if they don’t always stay perfect.
