Kalanchoe Leaves Turning Yellow

Seeing your kalanchoe leaves turning yellow is a common plant care issue. It’s a clear sign your succulent is trying to tell you something is wrong. Don’t panic! This vibrant plant is usually tough, but those yellow leaves mean it needs a little attention. The good news is that the cause is often simple to find and fix. Let’s look at the main reasons and get your plant back to its healthy, green self.

This heading sums up the problem perfectly. Yellowing leaves, or chlorosis, happens when the green pigment chlorophyll breaks down. The key is to look at where and how the yellowing starts. This gives you the first big clue. Is it the older, lower leaves? Or the new growth at the top? Are the leaves soft or crispy? Your observations will guide you to the right solution.

Too Much Water (The Most Common Culprit)

Overwatering is the number one reason for kalanchoe leaves turning yellow. These plants are succulents, storing water in their thick leaves. They are built for drought, not swampy conditions. When the soil stays wet for too long, the roots can’t breathe. They begin to rot, and the plant can no longer take up water or nutrients. Ironically, the first symptom of overwatering is yellow, mushy leaves that may eventually fall off.

How to check for overwatering:

Feel the soil: Is it still wet several days after watering?
Check the pot: Does it have adequate drainage holes?
Look at the leaves: Are they yellow, soft, and translucent?
Smell the soil: Does it have a sour or musty odor (a sign of rot)?

How to Fix Overwatering

Stop watering immediately. Let the soil dry out completely.
Gently remove the plant from its pot to inspect the roots. Healthy roots are white and firm.
If you see black, brown, or mushy roots, use a clean pair of scissors to trim them away.
Let the root system air dry for a few hours.
Repot the plant in fresh, dry succulent or cactus mix. Ensure the new pot has a drainage hole.
Wait at least a week before even thinking about watering again.

Not Enough Light

Kalanchoes love bright, indirect sunlight. If your plant isn’t getting enough light, it can’t produce enough energy. It may start to shed older leaves to conserve resources, and those leaves often turn yellow before they drop. The plant might also become “leggy,” with stretched-out stems as it reaches for light.

Signs of insufficient light:

Overall pale or yellowing leaves, not just the old ones.
Slow or no growth.
Long spaces between leaves on the stem.
The plant leans heavily toward the nearest light source.

The fix is simple: move your kalanchoe to a brighter spot. An east or south-facing window is ideal. If natural light is limited, consider using a grow light for a few hours a day. Just be careful of moving it into direct, harsh afternoon sun too quickly, as this can cause sunburn.

Natural Aging Process

Sometimes, a yellow leaf is just an old leaf. It’s normal for the oldest, bottom-most leaves on your kalanchoe to gradually turn yellow, dry out, and fall off. This is the plant’s way of making room for new growth. If only one or two lower leaves are yellowing slowly and the rest of the plant looks fantastic, you probably don’t have a problem.

What to do:

Don’t worry! This is a natural process.
You can gently pull the yellowed leaf off, or let it fall on its own.
Focus on the health of the new growth at the top of the plant.

Nutrient Deficiency

While kalanchoes aren’t heavy feeders, they do need some nutrients. A lack of essential nutrients like nitrogen can cause older leaves to turn yellow. This is more common in plants that have been in the same soil for many years, as the soil becomes depleted. It can also happen if the roots are damaged from overwatering and can’t absorb nutrients.

How to adress a deficiency:

First, rule out overwatering. That’s more likely.
During the active growing season (spring and summer), feed your kalanchoe with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
Dilute the fertilizer to half the strength recommended on the label. Succulents need very little.
Fertilize no more than once a month, and don’t fertilize at all in fall and winter.

Temperature Stress and Drafts

Kalanchoes prefer comfortable room temperatures, similar to what you do. They don’t like sudden changes. Cold drafts from windows or doors in winter, or hot blasts from heaters and vents, can cause stress. This stress often shows up as yellowing leaves, especially around the edges.

Keep your plant away from:

Air conditioning vents.
Heating vents or radiators.
Frequently opened doors in winter.
Single-pane windows that get very cold.

Pests and Diseases

Though less common, pests can weaken your plant and cause yellowing. Mealybugs, scale, and spider mites are the usual suspects. They suck sap from the leaves, leaving behind yellow spots or overall pallor. Fungal diseases from overwatered soil can also cause yellowing.

What to look for:

Tiny webs (spider mites).
Small, white cottony masses (mealybugs).
Brown or tan bumps on stems or leaves (scale).
Black or brown spots on leaves with yellow halos.

To treat pests, wipe leaves with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or use an insecticidal soap. For diseases, remove affected leaves and improve air circulation. Always isolate an infested plant from your other houseplants.

Pot-Bound Roots

If your kalanchoe has been in the same pot for years, its roots may have filled all the available space. When roots are too crowded, they can struggle to take up water and nutrients efficiently, leading to yellow leaves. You might also see roots growing out of the drainage hole.

Time to repot if:

The plant dries out extremely fast after watering.
Roots are circling the inside of the pot or poking out the bottom.
Growth has slowed or stopped despite good care.

Choose a new pot only one size larger (about 1-2 inches wider in diameter). Using a pot that’s too big holds excess soil and water, leading right back to overwatering problems.

Your Step-by-Step Diagnostic Checklist

Check the soil moisture. Is it bone dry, moist, or soggy? This is your first and most important clue.
Look at the leaf pattern. Are only bottom leaves yellow (aging or overwatering)? Or is it all over (light or nutrients)?
Feel the leaf texture. Is it mushy (overwatering) or crispy (underwatering/thirst)?
Inspect for pests. Look closely under leaves and along stems.
Consider the plant’s location. Has it been moved? Is it in a draft or getting scorching sun?
Remember when you last fertilized or repotted. Could it be hungry or root-bound?

By working through this list, you’ll almost always find the answer. Most of the time, the issue is related to water or light. Correcting these two factors solves the majority of problems with kalanchoe leaves turning yellow.

Prevention is the Best Cure

The best way to deal with yellow leaves is to stop them from happening in the first place. Here’s how to keep your kalanchoe thriving:

Water deeply but infrequently. Soak the soil until water runs out the drainage hole, then wait until the top inch or two of soil is completely dry before watering again. In winter, this might mean watering only once a month.
Use the right soil. Always plant in a fast-draining succulent or cactus mix. You can add perlite for extra drainage.
Provide plenty of bright, indirect light. A sunny spot is your plant’s best friend.
Pot wisely. Always use a pot with a drainage hole. Terracotta pots are great because they allow soil to dry faster.
Leave it be in winter. Reduce watering and stop fertilizing when growth slows down.

FAQ: Kalanchoe Yellow Leaves

Q: Should I cut off the yellow leaves on my kalanchoe?
A: Yes, you can. Once a leaf is fully yellow, it won’t turn green again. Gently pluck it off or use clean scissors to remove it. This helps the plant focus its energy on healthy growth.

Q: Can a yellow leaf turn green again?
A: Unfortunately, no. Once chlorophyll is gone from a leaf, it’s gone for good. However, correcting the problem will prevent other leaves from turning yellow.

Q: How often should I water my kalanchoe?
A: There’s no set schedule. The frequency depends on light, temperature, and pot size. Always check the soil first. The “soak and dry” method is the safest approach.

Q: Is my kalanchoe getting to much sun if leaves turn yellow?
A> It can happen. While they love light, intense direct sun, especially through a hot window, can scorch leaves, causing yellow or brown patches. This is usually accompanied by a bleached or crispy texture. Try moving it to a spot with bright but filtered light.

Q: Why are my kalanchoe flowers dying and leaves yellowing?
A. After blooming, which is energy-intensive, a kalanchoe may shed some leaves as it enters a rest period. This is normal. Combine this with overwatering during this less active phase, and yellowing can occur. Let it rest after flowering with less water.

Remember, your kalanchoe is a resilient plant. Yellow leaves are a message, not a death sentence. By observing carefully and adjusting your care, you can solve this common plant care issue and enjoy your colorful kalanchoe for many years to come. The most important thing is to understand what it’s telling you and respond with simple, direct care.