What to Do When Aspidistra Leaves Turn Yellow and Drop? The Solutions Are Here

Many plant lovers have surely come across the cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), a very distinctive species. This plant stays lush and green all year round, with graceful form, elegant and dignified. It is very well suited to being grown at home, letting people feel the fullness of spring even in the cold winter. But for this green foliage plant grown for its leaves, correctly handling yellowing leaves is very important.

What to Do When Aspidistra Leaves Turn Yellow

1. Light

The cast iron plant can be placed in a dark environment, but it is best to move it every so often to a bright spot to feel the warmth of the sun, which is better for growth and display. Do not place it in direct sunlight, especially beside a window; there is no need to deliberately sun it.

2. Watering

Water the cast iron plant by the rule of letting the soil dry between waterings and watering thoroughly; do not overwater, but do not underwater either. It needs plenty of water during the growing period, but the soil must never become waterlogged.

3. Fertilizing

Do not fertilize too often; apply a diluted liquid fertilizer once every 15 days to encourage new shoots and leaves to sprout and grow and to keep the leaves fresh and bright. Above all, do not over-fertilize.

4. Pests

Check both sides of the leaves often and wipe them regularly with clean water to keep them clean and glossy. If red spider mites are found, promptly spray dicofol, hexythiazox or similar for control.

Solutions for Aspidistra Leaf Drop

1. Too much light

Cause: The cast iron plant dislikes direct sunlight; even a short period of strong sun can scorch the leaves, turning them yellow and making them drop.

Method: The cast iron plant can be grown indoors in bright conditions all year round, but whether indoors or outdoors, it must not be placed in direct sunlight.

2. Too little light

Cause: The cast iron plant is extremely shade-tolerant and can be displayed for months even in a dark room, but long-term excessive darkness is bad for the sprouting and growth of new leaves. When kept in a dark place with too little light for a long time, the cast iron plant's leaves will drop.

Method: If the cast iron plant is placed in a dark room, it is best to move it every so often to a spot with bright light for a period of care, to benefit growth and display; especially during the period from new leaves sprouting to new leaves maturing, it must not be kept in too dark a place.

3. Overwatering

Cause: Overwatering is also one of the reasons the cast iron plant's leaves drop. The cast iron plant likes water and has a certain tolerance; even after several days of drought it will not die, but overwatering affects root respiration, causing leaves to turn yellow and drop.

Method: Water the cast iron plant by the rule of letting the soil dry between waterings and watering thoroughly; do not overwater, but do not underwater either. It needs plenty of water during the growing period.

4. Too strong fertilizer

Cause: The cast iron plant's fertilizer needs are not particularly great; each feeding is best kept light. Over-fertilizing will burn the roots, disrupt the cast iron plant's growth, and make the leaves turn yellow and drop from fertilizer damage.

Method: Apply a diluted liquid fertilizer 1-2 times a month to encourage new leaves to sprout and healthy growth and to keep the leaves fresh and bright; do not over-fertilize.

How to Prune the Cast Iron Plant

1. Timing

Early spring is the period when plants sprout and grow, and the cast iron plant is no exception. This is when the cast iron plant should be pruned.

2. Pruning methods

Thinning: A cast iron plant kept as a potted plant at home for 3-4 years usually has dense branches and leaves. The purpose of thinning is mainly to cut away diseased, weak and dead branches, improving air circulation, helping the inner leaves receive light, and strengthening the plant's vigor. Thinning is generally done each spring.

Leaf removal: Promptly remove old and yellow leaves to encourage new leaves to sprout. But be careful to cut only old leaves and keep the new ones. When pruning, pay attention to how much you cut; do not be too harsh. This is because sprouting leaves need old leaves to provide nutrients, and with fewer leaves this process is hard to carry out.

How to Make the Cast Iron Plant Grow Lush

1. Soil

It has no great demands on soil and can tolerate poor land; ideally a sufficiently loose, sufficiently fertile sandy soil with slight acidity. When potting it, you can mix rotted leaves, peat and ordinary garden soil as the base soil.

2. Water

During its growing season it needs plenty of water; the soil in the pot must be kept moist at all times. You can often sprinkle water on its leaves to raise humidity, which helps its buds develop into new leaves. After autumn arrives, the amount of watering can be moderately reduced.

3. Light

It can grow lush even in places without sun, but it must be bright enough. You can use a screen to shade it from the sun. In the hot weather of summer and autumn, do not let it receive direct sunlight, otherwise small yellow spots will appear on its leaves that cannot fade; its growth will then slow down and it will become less attractive.

4. Temperature

It likes warm regions and dislikes the cold; it is best kept in an environment of 15-25°C. In winter, do not let it go below 5°C.

Besides its ornamental value, the cast iron plant also has quite good medicinal value. Quite a few people also use its leaves to wrap zongzi around the Dragon Boat Festival; the zongzi made this way turn out very well, not only attractive but also giving off the fresh fragrance of the leaves.