Colorful foliage on houseplants is a pleasant sight to have in your home.
Some houseplants have naturally occurring yellow spots, along with other colors on the foliage, depending on the plant.
However, yellow spots that turn up all of a sudden on fully green foliage can be a cause of concern for houseplant owners.
Yellow spots are caused due to a lack of or a surplus of some substance.
This issue can be easily rectified.
In the following guide, let's learn more about the houseplants with yellow spots.
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Why Does My Plant Have Yellow Spots?
As suggested above, yellow spots on houseplants can be caused by several factors.
These spots are a sign that your plant is lacking something and needs immediate attention so that it does deteriorate further.
Here are a few reasons why your plant leaves may have yellow spots:
1. Water
Watering too much or too little can impact plants negatively.
This, along with a lack of nutrients such as iron, magnesium, and nitrogen, can cause these yellow spots to show on the leaves.
Water and nutrients combined can determine how well a plant is.
The soil absorbs nutrients depending on how much water is present in the soil.
Houseplants, especially, do not receive as many nutrients as outdoor plants too, which is why it is recommended to fertilize houseplants once in a while.
2. Light
When plants do not get enough light, the plant cells called chloroplasts do not produce enough chlorophyll to keep the plant green.
Lack of light then causes the leaves to turn yellow or pale.
On the flip side, too much sunlight can also destroy plant cells which cause the same spots on leaves.
3. Pests and other issues
Bacteria, fungi, and pests can cause yellow spots on the leaves of plants because they usually feed on these leaves, leaving behind yellow spots.
So, you will need to ensure that your plant is not affected by any of these issues.
4. Cold drafts
Constantly exposing houseplants to windy, cold climates will cause the leaves to droop and turn yellow.
To avoid this, ensure your plant isn't placed next to an air conditioner or vent.
This is not the most obvious cause of the yellow spots on the plant leaves, but you shouldn't neglect it entirely.
Inspect the plant well, and try to find out the possible causes.
Now that you know the exogenous causes for such spots on houseplants, let's look at the following list of houseplants with yellow spots.
Best Houseplants With Yellow Spots
There are some houseplants that have naturally occurring yellow spots or yellow-colored leaves.
You can use these plants to beautify indoor places like homes, offices, restaurants, etc.
Here are a few examples of such plants:
1. Schefflera Gerda
This variety of Schefflera is bi-colored, also known as variegated.
The cream-yellow colored spots highlight the large leaves and brighten up the room.
A new Schefflera plant might shed its leaves in a new setting, but this effect is temporary, as new ones will grow back.
These plants need to be kept in a bright room, with lots of light, but not in direct sunlight.
If the compost is too dry, the leaves might begin to curl.
On the flip side, overly moist compost can blacken the leaves.
It needs to be watered regularly, but you will need to wait until the leaves dry out, at least partially.
2. Dumb Cane Compacta
The Dieffenbachia Compacta, also known as the Dumb Cane, is a compact plant compared to its other varieties.
The plant's leaves are a gorgeous combination of creamish yellow and green.
This plant is perfect for homes and offices that are low on space.
The dumb cane grows quickly if exposed to bright light conditions, but it will barely grow if the light is low.
60 to 75°F (16-24°C) is the ideal temperature this plant enjoys.
It also needs dry soil to grow well.
Overwatering can cause rot issues.
However, the plant needs to be regularly watered from spring to autumn.
3. Joseph's Coat Croton
This plant is known for its extraordinarily colorful foliage.
Joseph's Coat is a perennial plant that sports shades like pink, red, yellow, copper, purple, and green, depending on the variety.
The variegated variety has beautiful contrasting colors on its leaves.
In the fall, you might also notice little blooms on the plant.
Joseph's Coat, also called Alternanthera, is grown as an annual in US Hardiness zones 10-11.
It can be grown as a perennial.
Smaller varieties are grown as a ground cover due to their fast growth rate.
This is a tropical plant that loves sunlight and warmth.
As long as it is planted in the right location, it will thrive.
It needs rich organic soil, plenty of water, and liquid fertilizer to grow well.
4. Croton Petra
The Croton Petra is a stunning ornamental plant with glossy, oval-shaped leaves and variegation.
The variegated leaves occur in different colors like pink, red, yellow, light, and dark green.
It is a gorgeous and attractive plant to have around.
The Croton Peta, also known as Codiaeum variegatum pictum Petra, needs bright light for at least a few hours during the day.
Bright light encourages the foliage to grow healthier. Codiaeum needs to grow in soil that is damp, not too wet, or too dry.
Also, ensure the water is lukewarm when you water this plant.
Apart from this, high levels of humidity, warm temperatures, and fertilizer twice a month during the growing period are necessary for optimal growth.
Below, you will find some useful tips on managing these plants at your place.
So, let's check them out now.
Tips For Growing Houseplants With Yellow Spots
Houseplants with yellow spots are aesthetically pleasing, and they make great ornamental pieces in your home and office spaces.
Yellow spots on foliage occur naturally in many different types of plants, and they all have different maintenance needs.
Houseplants with yellow spots need plenty of sunlight to grow.
Some of these plants might be sensitive to direct sunlight, especially when exposed to the mid-day sun.
It is best to keep the plant in a brightly lit room where it can bask in indirect sunlight.
- Using the right kind of fertilizer that is suitable for your plant makes all the difference. Depending on the kind of plant you are growing, you can use liquid or granular fertilizer.
- Prune the plant regularly so that you can clear dead leaves to make room for new ones.
- Water regularly but in moderate amounts. Too much water can stunt the plant's growth.
In the next section, you will find some FAQs related to this topic.
Let's quickly take a look at them as well.
FAQs
Yellow spots will disappear once you start to care for the plant according to its specific needs.
Watering regularly, not exposing the plant to direct sunlight, feeding it, and providing the right kind of soil are necessary for reducing yellow spots from the plant's foliage.
Brown, dry and crispy leaves are a surefire sign that the plant is underwatered.
Drooping and wilting leaves also indicate that the plant needs more water.
Yes, houseplants can recover from overwatering.
Let the overwatered plant by itself for a while; do not water it again until the soil is completely dry.
If the plant is too damaged, allow its roots to dry by removing it from its current soil and repotting it.
Yellow leaves are usually shed by themselves.
However, you can also prune the leaves yourself so that new leaves can grow in their place.
Unless you rectify the yellow spots in their early stages, there is hardly a chance for these leaves to turn green again.
You shouldn't wait for them to attain the green color.
Simply prune them off and allow the plant to grow new leaves in the coming weeks or months.
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