Plumeria yellow leaves are a common problem. If your plant has a few yellow leaves that show up after the growing season. Then it is totally normal because your plant is entering the dormancy stage.
But if plumeria leaves are turning yellow before the time. Then it is an alarming situation for you. There are many causes that trigger plumeria leaf problems.
Plumeria leaves turning yellow due to Overwatering, underwatering, fungal disease, nutrient deficiencies can be fixed easily.
Sometimes it is too late to save yellow plumeria. So, once you see yellow leaves you need to quickly find the problem and fix it.
For that, you should be aware of all all-possible causes that turn green plumeria leave into yellow color.
In this article, I will explain every single cause behind the yellow leaves of plumeria with the solution.
Let’s start
Plumeria leaves are turning yellow (Causes and Solutions)
The following are the main reasons responsible for the yellow leaves or other leaf problems. Identify the problem with your plumeria and follow the solution. Your plant will start producing green happy leaves once you take appropriate actions to fix the issue.
Without wasting time let’s jump to the main course.
Overwatering + Root rot
Overwatering and root rot are two connected problems. Extra water in potting soil leads to root rot in a few days.
Our plumeria plant likes to thrive in moist soil but it can also handle a little bit of drought.
When you give a high amount of water to your plumeria plants. The soil of the pot becomes wet, soggy, and heavy.
This blocks the air pockets in the soil and in the plant pot. This results in a lack of fresh air in the root zone. This invites fungal disease and you see yellow leaves in your plants.
Root rot is also triggered by the infected soil. If the soil you use already has fungal bacteria. The root of the potted plant surely gets infected by root fungus.
What is the solution?
In the first step, stop watering your plant and take it out of the pot and check the root condition. In 98% of the cases overwatering results in root rot.
If the roots are brown and smell unpleasant, they are 100% infected by the fungus.
Take the sharp shears and cut the damaged part. Then place the plant on the towel paper and take out the soil from the pot.
Inspect the soil if you feel the soil has an algae-like substance in it then you need to change the soil.
If the soil is safe to use then pat it with newspaper. Because the paper will absorb the extra moisture from the soil.
Then plant your plumeria back in the same pot with some potting soil.
Note: You should use well-draining lightweight soil for growing plumeria plants. In case of contaminated soil use fresh high quality ready-to-use potting mix.
The material of the pot also plays important role in saving your plant from overwatering. Porous pots like terracotta have tiny pores in them. This allows the extra water to drain through the pores and through the bottom hole.
Pots made from porous material also allow fresh air to enter into the root zone and dry them in case of extra water.
The only drawback of these pots is you have to water your plant frequently. Because the water evaporation rate is high in these plant pots. For me which is a good thing if there is a costly plant in the pot.
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Underwatering
Less water in the potting soil also causes plumeria yellow leaves. This also makes a healthy plant weak and lifeless.
Because the plants absorb nutrients from the soil along with water. When there is no water in the soil plants cannot absorb given nutrients.
They signal the roots to search water and roots work hard to absorb every single drop of water from the soil. This increases the workload of plant roots and they get damaged.
Plants with damaged roots automatically develop yellow leaves. The first symptom of less watering is the curling of leaves.
How to fix it?
To save your plant from completely turning yellow. Immediately give it a good amount of water. For watering, it uses the deep watering technique.
In this method, we continue to water the plants until the water comes out of the draining hole. Then stop and put the plant pot in a shady and less bright place for few days.
Because the bright light will increase the soil temperature and it starts losing water in the form of water vapors.
Also, change your watering routine to prevent plumeria leaves from turning yellow.
Increase the number of watering applications. But before that make sure the draining system of the plant pot is working properly. If there is not draining hole then take a drill and make some.
Do not try to change the plant pot when it is suffering from yellow leaves due to less watering.
High pH
The pH of the soil regulates the functioning of roots. When you give nutrients to plants it absorbs only a specific type. This disturbs the soil pH level.
If there is good quality soil then it can manage with it. If there is already high alkaline soil in the plant pot. Then this results in yellow leaves.
Because it further blocks water absorption and your plant becomes dehydrated. Dehydration results in yellow leaves in plumeria plants.
The Solution
The only solution is to buy a soil pH testing kit and use it to measure the pH of the soil before planting your costly plants.
Iron sulfate, acidifying nitrogen is commonly used to lower the pH of the soil. There are others products too that are very useful in correcting the soil pH. If you like to know about them and like their result, you can use them.
For hydroponic systems use pH up and pH down solutions.
Fungal diseases
Leaf fungal disease is another reason why plumeria leaves turning yellow before time.
There is a plant leaf fungus called Coleosporium plumeria pat. This fungus sucks the juice of the plant leaves and makes them light yellow. In some cases where the infection is in its advanced stage, there it produces clusters on the leaves.
It is also known as leaf rust.
How to fix it?
To fix plumeria leaf rust, firstly remove the infected leaves and through them in the garbage. Do not through them in the compost or in your garden.
- This will infect all plants in your garden including your lawn grass.
- It is best to destroy them and put them in the garbage.
- Separate the plant from other happy plants and use copper fungicides.
- Use it according to the instruction manual. In the first use, it will kill 90 to 95 % of the pathogens.
- You need two applications to kill rust-spreading pathogens.
Nutrient deficiencies
Deficiencies of iron and nitrogen cause the yellowing of plumeria leaves. When plumeria does not get enough food to maintain its health. It cannot stay active and green.
To fix this issue,
Firstly, correct the soil pH. It must be in between 6.3 to 6.7 for the right absorption of all essential nutrients. Sometimes the soil has enough nutrients but the incorrect pH does not let the roots absorb them.
In the second step give a good amount of nutrients to your growing plants. The green part of the plant needs a high amount of nitrogen.
Use water-soluble nutrients that are easy for the plants to absorb from the soil.
Heavy water
Heavy water is such water that contains hard minerals that are not necessary for plant growth. They are also called extra nutrients.
When you give such water to your plants the minerals in the hard water start collecting at the base of the plant.
This blocks the draining hole and also the water absorption and reduces the respiratory rate.
This will burn the plant leaves in the starting days you will see yellow leaves.
How to fix it?
The first solution is to flush the potting soil with a good amount of fresh water. Take the plant out of its pot and put it separately.
Then move the pot under the tap water and let the water run through it. This will flush out all-unnecessary nutrients and minerals.
Then clean the bottom hole and pat the soil with a clean paper towel.
Then plant the plumeria back in it and give some clean drinkable water. The plumeria leaf problem will get solved in a few days.
At last, if the soil gets completely contaminated and it is not possible to flush the heavy minerals from it.
Then the only solution is repotting the plant in new potting soil and using filtered water for watering plants.
Over neutralization
Overfertilization means giving an extra boost of nutrients to the plants.
Fertilizer plumeria is only in its active stage which is spring and summer. Never use fertilizers in the winter season this will result in many problems.
Plumeria leaves turning yellow are one of them. Every nutrient bottle contains three basic nutrients NPK. The high dosage of the phosphorous burn the plant leaves.
The solution
Flush the soil with water so that the extra nutrients come out through the bottom draining hole. After that put the plant pot in a bright light location to prevent overwatering issues.
The bright light helps the soil to evaporate the extra moisture.
Stop fertilizing the plants and if possible, change the soil. Use new soil to grow the current plant that is turning yellow due to overfertilization.
Cold air
In winter when the room temperature drops below 44 degrees F. The leaves of plumeria start turning yellow.
Because the cold air and cold weather damage the plant cells. Damaged cells cannot receive sufficient food from the plant. This turns then into yellow color.
In the summer season when you put a plant pot next to the air conditioner. Then the cool air of the AC damage the leaf tissues.
Damaged tissues mean they are unable to absorb light and produce chlorophyll. This turns their yellow color.
How to fix it?
Change the location of the plant on winter days. Bring it inside and let it enjoy the warm condition.
You can also insulate the plant pot by covering it with a cotton cloth.
The motive is to protect the plant from freezing temperatures.
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Humidity
Because plumeria is a tropical plant it needs high humidity. It is the presence of moisture in the air that keeps the plant hydrating and leaves it green.
Plumeria leaves turning yellow due to low humidity can be fixed by increasing it.
Actually, the plants also absorb moisture from the air through their leaves. This keeps them hydrated and green.
In low humid conditions, they lose the moisture stored in their leaves and turn yellow.
How to fix it?
To fix low-humidity plumeria leaf problems use a water spray bottle. Spray a good amount of water on plant leaves.
Secondly, place all the plant pots together. This will create a humidity balloon around the plants.
In this last step use an electric plant humidifier, this device is used to increase the room humidity in a few minutes.
Place it close to the plant, fill its reservoir with water and turn it ON.
It starts misting water vapors which increases the room humidity.
Tightly packed roots
Plumeria plants do not like bounded roots. This means they need a sufficient amount of space to grow. When you do not repot them on time the roots become overcrowded in a plant pot.
This blocks the functioning of roots and leads to plumeria yellow leaves.
How to fix it?
Do not prune the roots, it is best to repot it in the big size pot.
Take the plant out of its pot and cut the unwanted roots.
Then plant it in the big size pot and give it some water.
Use fresh soil at the time of repotting.
Pest problems
If everything is good but still your plumeria leaves are turning yellow. Then you should check for pest infestation.
Sap-sucking pests like Scales. Thrips, Spider mites drink the plant juice and inject a fungal hormone into leaves.
This makes plumeria leaves weak and turns them yellow from bright green.
How to fix it?
Use rubbing alcohol and a cotton cloth to wipe the pests.
Rubbing alcohol also kill beneficial pests like ladybugs. Therefore, you need to use it carefully.
After using it, wash your plant with clean water and inspect the underside of the leaves. If you find any colony of pests repeat the process the second time.
Once you are sure that there are no more pests left then spray neem oil on the plumeria yellow leaves. This will prevent pest attacks and keep your plant safe.
Less fertile soil
If you use your garden soil in the plant pot it becomes unhealthy or less fertile in a few months. You need to refill it with nutrients.
For best possible care use commercially made potting soil.
Such soil is made to grow houseplants in pots.
How to fix it?
Repot the plant in fresh high-grade potting soil.
Add organic nutrients to the soil at the time of repotting. Organic material nourishes the soil and keeps it well fertile for many years.
How to prevent the yellowing of plumeria plants?
To stop plumeria leaves from turning yellow you need to follow the below practices.
Give your plant a good amount of bright light but protect it from direct sunlight.
Use the right number of fertilizers to prevent fertilizer burn and avoid nutrient deficiencies in plants.
Keep the growing area well humid, if necessary, use a plant grouping technique or electric humidifier.
Follow the best watering routine and use clean drinkable water for watering plumeria plants.
Mist water on plumeria leaves in low humid conditions.
Inspect your plants in every watering session and look for pest infestation.
This is all about the plumeria leaves turning yellow, their causes, and their solutions. I hope now you can identify the cause of your yellow plumeria leaves.
If you still feel uncomfortable in identifying why your plumeria leaves turning yellow. Feel free to write us. We will help you to solve your problem.
