Why are My Dieffenbachia Leaves Turning Yellow? [10 Major Causes]

Dieffenbachia plants are highly toxic to humans and animals. Nonetheless, if you can get over the area’s absence of human settlement, you’ll be rewarded with some of the world’s most stunning flora.

However, if your Dieffenbachia isn’t getting enough care or isn’t in the best environment, its leaves could become yellow. There are numerous potential problems with a plant. Therefore, if you see any yellowing of the leaves, you should look into it.

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Causes of Dieffenbachia’s Leaves Turning Yellow

Create a long-lasting fix, and forestall a recurrence by identifying the problem’s origin. Let’s explore the causes of Dieffenbachia’s leaves turning yellow.

1. Overwatering

Dieffenbachia plant leaf yellowing is commonly caused by overwatering. Some soil moisture benefits your plant; however, wet dirt might kill the roots.
A plant with a damaged root system cannot take in enough water, oxygen, or nutrients. As a result, its leaves will begin to yellow. Stems are also affected. They may droop and weaken.
Before making any changes to your Dieffenbachia watering plan, ensure that overwatering is the issue. Take your plant out of its pot to see if the potting soil has become too wet and clumpy.
A moisture meter can also be used to assess the soil and determine whether or not it is saturated. They save plant parents the money that would otherwise be spent on new plants, making them a great option.
Too much moisture in the soil is likely the cause of yellowing leaves on your Dieffenbachia plant. You should change the potting soil right away if it has been wet to help the plant recover.
You should see your Dieffenbachia thickening and maybe even sprouting new life within a few weeks. However, it will need some time to recover; be patient with it.
You need to adjust your watering schedule in the future to allow the potting mix to dry out completely between waterings.

2. Underwatering

When Dieffenbach i a plants are kept underwater, the leaves may turn yellow. The latter is the result of neglecting to water a plant for an extended period of time.

Overwatering causes a yellowish color that spreads more widely than underwatering’s blue color. You can use this feature to determine if the Dieffenbachia is getting too much or too little water based on the color of its leaves.

Also read: Can You Grow Dieffenbachia in Water?

3. Diseases

The vulnerability of your Dieffenbachia to illness is a significant contributor to the development of yellow leaves. Your carelessness increases it. Overwatering contributes to root rot in numerous ways.

Root rot can result from a lack of oxygen or fungal infection from prolonged submersion in water.

The plant will die if root rot destroys your Dieffenbachia’s root system. Infected roots cannot absorb nutrients and water efficiently, starving the rest of the plant. As a result, the leaves’ current green color will become noticeably yellow.

4. Extremely High Levels of Sunlight

Dieffenbachia can survive in deep shade, but its leaves can turn yellow and droop if it’s exposed to too much sunlight. The forest floor is a natural habitat for tropical plants due to its shade and moderate temperatures.

The plant does best in indirect sunlight but may survive with less. The leaves will burn if you put the plant in full or direct sunlight.

If you have placed your plant on the south or west-facing window, it might get too much heat. Try moving it to the north or east side of your house. You may shift it away from the window a few feet if glare is an issue.

It would help if you never put a Dieffenbachia in a south-facing window since the plant cannot handle the heat and light.

5. No Moisture

While your Dieffenbachia is more forgiving of low humidity than most houseplants, it is nevertheless capable of developing yellow leaves in conditions of extreme dryness.

Changes in the plant’s environment, such as moving from a high humidity area to a low humidity area, are the most prevalent cause.

Purchasing a dieffenbachia from a nursery grown under optimal, high-humidity conditions might ruin the plant. Bring it into your house, where the humidity level is ordinarily low.

When a plant growing in high humidity is brought into a reduced humidity setting, like an inside room or an office, the leaves may become yellow. Usually, this difference fades as the plant adapts to its new environment.

Check here: Are Dieffenbachia Toxic To Dogs?

6. Low Temperatures

When dieffenbachia plants are subjected to either prolonged cold or drastic temperature changes, their leaves droop and turn yellow. Plants thrive at temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Don’t let the temperature in the house rise above 75 degrees. If the leaves droop and drop off without turning yellow first, it’s probably too cold outside.

Keep Dieffenbachia away from draughts of any kind, as it will suffer. Try to find a warm, stable area for your plant. If you fear the plant is too cold, move it to a warmer window or a location in the house that is not prone to draughts.

7. Lack of Nourishment

There is a gradual yellowing of the leaves on the dumb trees. Dieffenbachia plants might be suffering from inadequate nutrition if their leaves turn yellow.

It is more often seen in older plants due to the potting mix. The plants might become nutrient low without fertilizer over time.

As mentioned above, overwatering is another potential problem, as it can remove the plant’s nutrient content.

There are two ways to increase the nutrient content of the potting soil and stop the leaves from turning yellow.

Start with fresh, nutrient-rich potting soil for indoor plants. Ensure it drains well, too, so the water doesn’t pool there. You can also dilute a complete houseplant fertilizer by half if desired.

8. Drafts

If you’ve tried everything else and your plant still has lots of yellow leaves, draughts or drafts could be the hidden cause of the leaves turning yellow.

HVAC systems, heating/ventilation systems, and cracked/open windows are the most common causes of air loss.

Even while Dieffenbachia plants are more resistant to stress than other houseplants, they nevertheless may exhibit symptoms if you don’t give them a rest.

9. Aging Plants

Don’t assume the worst about your Dieffenbachia’s well-being; doing so could cause you to worry about the plant needlessly and disrupt its pattern. There is no need for alarm if only a few lower leaves have turned color.

At the end of its life cycle, every leaf on a Dieffenbachia becomes yellow, fades, and falls off. Your Dieffenbachia will gradually shed its lower leaves as it grows taller. This is a typical trait as the plant ages.

If that’s the case, you can relax; otherwise, keep an eye on your plant if the discoloration spreads.

10. Deficiency of Minerals

Mineral ions can be absorbed by potting soil over time. If these toxins accumulate to hazardous levels, your Dieffenbachia will take on the color of a plant submerged in water.
When present in excessive amounts, these mineral salts can cause the plant to dry out from the roots up.
Commonly known as fertilizer burn, this condition can be caused by using mineral-rich tap water or synthetic fertilizer, the most common source of excess ions in houseplant soil.
Your Dieffenbachia leaf tips will typically become yellow or brown and crispy before the body of the leaf does.
Mineral deposition on the leaves can be a problem if you’ve already ensured your Dieffenbachia is getting enough water and sunlight and the temperature isn’t too high. You must ensure it’s getting the fertilizer it needs.
White, crusty salt crystals on the plant may also be a clue that the plant needs to be taken care of.
Repotting your Dieffenbachia into fresh, sterile potting soil may assist if the soil has gotten too salty. However, the plant will suffer additional stress from being removed and replanted.
Instead of taking any chances, you can flush the soil by filling the container with lots of water and allowing it to wash any surplus minerals.
Distilled water is best for this use. Carefully add four or five times as much water as the pot of your Dieffenbachia can handle, allowing the soil to soak up the water without spilling.
From then on, once a month or two will be sufficient to check on the mineral salts and make sure they are not building up to harmful levels.
Before giving your Dieffenbachia any water, ensure the potting mix is thoroughly saturated. Fill the saucer up to the brim and let the extra water drain the bottom for a little dirt flush every time you water.
Fertilize your Dieffenbachia only when it is actively growing, as it will not absorb the nutrients at any other time. The renewed accumulation in the soil will replace them. You should take less water in the fall when days are shorter.

Final Words

If the Dieffenbachia leaves have become yellow or brown, you may want to rethink how you care for your plants. A potential upside is that you can emerge from this with a more developed green thumb. If you take the above steps, the color should return to its natural hue.