Why Do Pothos Leaves Turn Yellow in Winter?

Pothos is a very common plant in our daily lives, and because it survives as soon as it touches water, it is called the "flower of life." Normally, pothos is an evergreen plant, staying lush and green even in winter, which makes it very appealing. But some people find that their pothos, which is perfectly healthy the rest of the time, turns yellow as soon as winter arrives. So why do pothos leaves turn yellow in winter? Qinnong Web introduces the reasons below.

To know what to do when pothos leaves turn yellow in winter, we first need to know why the leaves turn yellow in winter. Qinnong Web has summarized five points here. Through these five causes and their corresponding solutions, we believe most cases of pothos leaves turning yellow in winter can be handled.

1. Excessive fertilization

Because winter temperatures are relatively low, we usually move pothos that was kept outside indoors. At this time, the growth rate of pothos slows down, or growth stops entirely, so fertilization should be reduced or stopped. If too much fertilizer is applied, it can easily cause the leaves near the roots to turn yellow and drop off.

Solution:

After winter begins, reduce the amount of fertilizer applied. Fertilization should mainly be foliar spraying, applied primarily through the stomata on the leaf surface, so that the fertilizer is absorbed through the stomata on the leaf surface and the fertilizer effect can act directly on the leaves. Of course, for this kind of fertilizer you cannot choose the ordinary inorganic fertilizers we usually use; you need some fertilizers specially made for foliar use.

2. Insufficient light

Pothos is a shade-loving plant and normally does not need much light, but winter sunlight is relatively weak. If pothos is placed in a dark spot for a long time, the lack of chlorophyll will cause the leaves to turn yellowish, especially the newly grown leaves.

Solution:

In winter, after moving pothos indoors, try to place it in a bright spot such as a balcony or living room. If the placement location is rather dark, then when the weather is better, move the pothos to a place with sufficient light, let it recover for a period of time, and then put it back in its original place.

3. Excessive watering

If there is too much water in the soil or container of the pothos, it will also cause yellow leaves. The leaf surface will appear dull yellow and lusterless, and problems such as root rot may even appear.

Solution:

Strictly control the amount of watering in winter. Water appropriately, and water only after the potting soil has dried. Be sure to avoid water accumulation.

4. Poor ventilation

Pothos likes a cool, ventilated growing environment. Because winter temperatures are very low and indoor heating is used in the north, many people like to keep doors and windows tightly closed. This is actually extremely unfavorable to the growth of pothos. In winter, the indoor temperature should not be too hot, and attention should be paid to ventilation. Otherwise, dry heat can also cause green leaves to turn yellow. You need to open windows for ventilation and water more to ensure nutrition.

5. Dry air

Also because of the influence of heated rooms and air-conditioned rooms, although the temperature in such rooms is not low, the air humidity is very low. Pothos is a moisture-loving plant, so certain humidifying measures are needed to ensure the normal growth of pothos.

Solution:

1. You can use a humidifier to regulate the indoor air humidity and place the pothos next to the humidifier, so that the pothos can directly come into contact with the mist sprayed out by the humidifier;

2. You can use a sprayer to spray water from time to time on the leaves and root-stem parts of the pothos to keep a certain amount of moisture on the leaves and root-stem parts. You can also keep a certain amount of water in the saucer under the flowerpot; evaporation will also keep the air humidity around the pothos in a relatively stable state;

3. You can use a wet towel to gently wipe the pothos leaves from time to time. Since the whole pothos plant is non-toxic, there is no need to worry about a poisoning reaction from contact with pothos. You can also use toilet paper dipped in water and gently apply it to the leaf surface, keeping it on for 1 to 2 hours each day;

4. You can manually create a small greenhouse environment for the pothos, that is, directly cover the plant with transparent film. In this way, water evaporated from the soil can be supplemented to the plant, but this should not exceed two hours per day, otherwise it will affect the plant's photosynthesis and ventilation.

The above is what Qinnong Web has introduced about the causes and solutions for pothos leaves turning yellow in winter. We hope it can be of some help to everyone. In addition, pothos has very well-developed aerial roots, so it can also be grown by hydroponics!