It’s okay to be concerned when the vibrant green foliage of your baby tears plant starts to turn yellow. There are many possible causes of yellowing leaves. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what may cause your baby’s tears to turn yellow and what you can do to help it recover.
Reasons Baby Tears Plant turns Yellow
Baby tears plants turning yellow is usually a sign of overwatering, too much direct sunlight, or a nutrient deficiency. Overwatering can cause root rot, which can cause the yellowing of the leaves. Too much direct sunlight can also cause the leaves to turn yellow. Lastly, a nutrient deficiency can cause the yellowing of the leaves.
Low humidity
The Baby Tears Plant native to the Mediterranean region. These plants thrive in warm, humid environments. This plant can be very sensitive to low humidity. This is because the Baby Tears Plant has a shallow, fibrous root system that requires plenty of moisture to stay healthy.
Baby Tears plants start yellowing when the humidity levels are too low. This is because the plant leaves need moisture to stay healthy and vibrant. When the humidity levels drop below 40%, the leaves will start to yellow due to a lack of water. The yellowing is caused by the plant losing its chlorophyll, which is responsible for giving the leaves green color.
Solution: You can take several steps to keep your Baby Tears Plant healthy in low-humidity environments. Here’s what you need to do:
- Mist Your Plant Regularly: When humidity levels are low, you must mist your plant several times a week to keep it hydrated. When misting, use lukewarm water to avoid shocking the plant.
- Use a Humidifier: A humidifier is a great way to ensure your Baby Tears Plant gets the moisture it needs. Position the humidifier close to the plant to maximize its effectiveness.
- Group Your Plants: Grouping your plants can help increase the humidity around them. This is because plants release moisture into the air through their leaves, raising the humidity in the immediate area.
- Use a Tray of Pebbles: You can also use a shallow tray of water and pebbles to increase the humidity around your Baby Tears Plant. Place the tray near the plant and fill it with water until it covers the pebbles. As the water evaporates, it will help raise the humidity levels around the plant.
Overwatering
Overwatering is one of the leading causes of the yellowing of Baby Tears. When Baby Tears plants are overwatered, the water causes the roots to become waterlogged and the plant is unable to absorb the excess moisture. This causes the leaves to become yellow and the plant to die eventually.
When soil is too wet, it can’t hold enough oxygen, essential for the plant’s growth. The yellowing leaves indicate that the plant is not getting enough oxygen.
Solution: To avoid overwatering yellowing leaves, check the soil’s moisture levels regularly. If the soil feels dry, it is time to water. But be sure only to water enough to moisten the top few inches of soil. As the plant grows, it will need more water, but it is best to err on caution and water less than more.
you should only water your plants when the soil is dry to the touch. If you are unsure if the soil is dry, you can use a finger to test the moisture level. If the soil feels slightly damp, then it’s time to water.
Incorrect Lighting
One of the most common causes of yellowing Baby Tears Plants is incorrect lighting. Baby Tears plants prefer bright, indirect light, such as that found in a south-facing window or under artificial lighting of sufficient intensity. If the plant is not exposed to enough light, it will begin to yellow and its growth rate will slow.
Solution: In too much direct sunlight, the leaves can become scorched and dry out, leading to yellowing leaves. If your plant is getting too little light, it can also cause the leaves to turn yellow. In both cases, the best way to prevent the leaves from turning yellow is to move your plant to a location that receives more indirect light.
Fertilizer Burn
I have experienced firsthand the consequences of over-fertilizing my plants. Unfortunately, one of the most common victims of over-fertilizing is the Baby Tears Plant, whose leaves turn yellow from fertilizer burn.
Fertilizer burn occurs when too much fertilizer is applied to the plant. A large amount of fertilizer salts can build up in the soil, causing an imbalance of essential nutrients and minerals and a toxic buildup of soluble salt. This can cause the leaves to turn yellow, discolored and eventually die off.
Solution: If you find your baby’s tears turning yellow after applying fertilizer, you need to remove the plant from planters or terrariums.
The excess fertilizer needs to be flushed out of the soil. To do this, I removed the plant from the planter. Then placed it in a water bowl and waited for the water to become murky. This indicated that the excess fertilizer had been washed away.
Once I had done this, I repotted the plant and gave it a good watering with plain water (no fertilizer). I also reduced the amount of fertilizer I was giving it and gave it a weaker dose every other month.
Water With Chlorine
Chlorine is a chemical used to disinfect water and make it safe to drink. Unfortunately, it can also damage plants and cause them to turn yellow. This is because chlorine is a strong oxidizing agent, which means it breaks down the delicate chloroplasts in the leaves of the Baby Tears Plant. As a result, the leaves start to lose their green pigment and turn yellow.
Solution: If you suspect the chlorine levels in your tap water might be too high for your Baby Tears Plant, there are a few easy solutions. The first is to buy a filter for your tap that will reduce the amount of chlorine in the water. This is an excellent solution for anyone wanting to avoid investing in expensive water filtration systems.
Another solution is to collect rainwater to use for your plants. This is an excellent option as it is free and is usually much lower in chlorine content than our tap water. Ensure not to use the water sitting in the barrel for too long!
Nutrient deficiency
Yellow leaves on baby tears can indicate a nutrient deficiency. The most common nutrient deficiency in baby tears plants is nitrogen deficiency. Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, and when it is lacking, the leaves will begin to yellow.
To determine if the plant has a nutrient deficiency, it is important to examine the leaves closely. If the yellowing is limited to the tips of the leaves or the edges, it is likely a nitrogen deficiency. If the leaves are yellowing throughout, it is likely a broader nutrient deficiency problem.
Solution: The best course of action to take once the yellowing of the baby tears plant has been identified is to provide the plant with the necessary nutrients. This can be done by applying a balanced fertilizer that contains nitrogen and other essential nutrients.
Wrap Up
The baby tears plant turning yellow can be caused by a variety of factors, including over-watering, lack of light, improper soil pH, and nutrient deficiencies. The best way to prevent the yellowing of baby tears plants is to ensure they get the right amount of light, water, and nutrients to remain healthy. Following these simple guidelines ensures that your baby tears plants will remain vibrant and healthy green.
