What to Do When Yew Leaves Turn Yellow? The Latest Solutions Are Here

Yew is the general name for plants of the genus Taxus, also known as Chinese yew, red bean tree, and yew, etc. It is widely used in landscaping and indoor bonsai. For example, high-end bonsai made from rare yew trees have red stems, red branches, green leaves, and red berries, giving them multiple ornamental values for viewing stems, branches, leaves, and fruit. Now let us take a look at what to do when yew leaves turn yellow!

Sudden Environmental Change

[Cause] A sudden change in the growing environment prevents the plant from adapting well, resulting in poor plant growth.

[Solution] When transplanting the plant or changing its growing environment, create conditions similar to its original growing environment, adjust slowly, and give it a transition period to adapt.

Overwatering

[Cause] Overwatering a yew bonsai can cause the leaves to turn yellow, with young leaves dark yellow and lusterless, and the growing tips of new shoots wilting.

[Solution] Control the amount of watering and use a hard, blunt object to gently loosen the surface soil of the pot so the potting soil can breathe, and move it every night to a place where it can receive dew.

Long-Term Lack of Water

[Cause] A yew bonsai lacking water for a long time will cause the leaf surface to dry out and the water supply to be insufficient, thus turning yellow.

[Solution] Water thoroughly each time, following the principle of watering when dry and allowing it to dry between waterings. The surface soil of the pot may be dry while the soil in the middle is not necessarily short of water. When watering, a chemical agent for preventing root rot can be used together.

Exposure to Harsh Sunlight

[Cause] When sunlight is too intense, the plant's transpiration is too strong, and the roots cannot take up water fast enough, causing the leaf surface to lack water and thus wilt and turn yellow.

[Solution] Place the yew back indoors, and spraying water on the yew's leaf surface can help it recover.

Dry Air

[Cause] Placing a yew bonsai at the air outlet of an air conditioner increases water evaporation from the yew's leaf surface, causing the branches and leaves to dehydrate quickly, making the leaves curl and dry out, with poor growth such as wilting and drooping.

[Solution] If it is placed in an air-conditioned room, spray the leaf surface every day when the air conditioner is running to maintain leaf surface humidity, and place a basin of clean water indoors.

Insufficient Sunlight

[Cause] The photosynthetic products of a yew bonsai cannot circulate back to supply the root system, causing the roots to lack nutrients and enter a starved state, which makes the leaf surface turn yellow and leaves drop.

[Solution] In the morning and evening, place it on a balcony or outdoors, once every few days.