12 Reasons Why Asparagus Fern Leaves are Yellowing and Dropping (with solutions)

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An Asparagus Fern may turn yellow and drop its leaves due to overwatering, underwatering, root-rot disease, pests, too little light, underfeeding among other reasons.

Asparagus Ferns are easy to grow plants which are mainly grown for their beautiful foliage. Take a look at these 5 popular ornamental Asparagus ferns that you can grow in the home successfully.

However, Asparagus Ferns can develop problems if the growing conditions are not met. One of the commonest problem is yellowing and leaf drop (fall).

We have herebelow discussed 12 reasons why your Asparagus Fern leaves may turn yellow and drop (with their solutions) to make it easier for you to save your plant.

12 Reasons why Asparagus Fern Leaves are Turning Yellow and Falling

1. Poor Quality Soil

Poor quality soil does not drain easily and therefore it easily becomes compacted or soggy which can negatively impact the growth of the plant.

Asparagus Fern requires loose, free-draining soil that does not hold excessive amounts of water as soggy soil can lead to root-rot disease which is characterized by yellowing and loss of leaves.

Solutions

Pot your Asparagus Fern in quality, all purpose potting soil that is loose, free-draining and rich in organic matter. These will ensure that the soil does not get soggy and it provides the nutrients required for lush growth.

2. Too Little Light

The Asparagus Fern requires medium to bright indirect light away from direct sunshine. The light is needed for making food that is required for energy and growth.

Insufficient light implies that the plant cannot make enough food for energy and growth. In an attempt to save energy, the fern begins to yellow and eventually drop its leaves. This way, it saves the available energy for the vital functions inorder to keep alive.

Solutions

Move your Asparagus Fern to a brighter spot where it can receive medium to bright, indirect light or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate lighting in your home. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.

Regularly turn the pot to ensure that the fern absorbs enough light for photosynthesis on all sides for uniform growth to prevent lopsided growth.

3. Pest Infestations

Asparagus Fern is prone to spider mites, whiteflies, mealy bugs and aphids whose infestation is promoted by either overwatering or underwatering.

These pests attack the new growth from where they suck the plant sap. This causes the plant to become dehydrated and results in wilting, yellowing and shedding leaves.

Solutions

Regularly inspect your Asparagus Fern for the pests and take timely control measures. Treat the fern for the pests with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

4. Underfeeding

Underfeeding your Asparagus Fern implies that the plant is not getting enough nutrients need for growth and energy. Inadequate nutrients in the actively growing tips causes nutrients to be withdrawn from the older lower leaves which begin to yellow and drop.

Solutions

Feed your Asparagus Fern with a balanced, liquid fertilizer weekly during the growing season. Take care not to underfeed and follow the instructions on the label of the plant food. Do not feed it during the cold season as growth is minimal to prevent fertilizer burn.

5. Overwatering

Overwatering your Asparagus Fern results in soggy soil (excess water in the soil). Too much water in the soil reduces the oxygen concentration in the rootzone and this causes the thick, tuberous roots to die.

When roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients needed for the food making process. Therefore, the plant does not make enough food for growth and energy. In a bid to save energy, the fern begins to yellow and shed its leaves.

Solutions

To avoid getting soggy soil, ensure that the pot for your Asparagus Fern has a drainage hole and that the soil is loose and free-draining.

In addition, reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.

6. Underwatering

When the Asparagus Fern is underwatered, there is little moisture in the soil. As such, the plant cannot take up nutrients and water needed for photosynthesis (food making process).

Since the plant does not get adequate food for growth and energy, it begins to turn yellow and eventually dropping neddles inorder to save energy.

Solutions

Water the Asparagus Fern immediately and it should recover. Thereafter, water the fern liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings.

Reduce watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water indoor plants the right way.

7. Extreme Temperatures

Asparagus Fern requires average room temperatures within the range of 16-28⁰C to thrive. Extreme temperatures; either too high or too low (outside the above range) will affect the normal functioning of the plant systems.

Too high temperatures will cause excessive loss of water leading to wilting, yellowing and leaf drop while at too low temperatures the fern stops growing and begins to die. Yellowing and shedding leaves are the first signs of a dying plant.

Solutions

Keep your Asparagus Fern away from cold drafts like drafty winds, air conditioning vents, open doors and others. Ensure that the fern is not near hot surfaces, hot air vents and other hot areas to prevent extremely high temperatures.

Maintain an average room temperature within the range of 16-28⁰C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for your Asparagus Fern.

8. Too Cold Water

Asparagus Fern is native to the tropical regions where the temperatures remain constantly warm. Therefore, constantly watering these plants with too cold water will shock them and will respond with yellowing and losing leaves.

Solutions

Water your Asparagus Fern with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking these tropical plants.

9. Overfeeding

Overfeeding your Asparagus Fern will cause the roots to die due to fertilizer burn. When the roots die, they cannot take up nutrients and water required for photosynthesis.

Without, adequate food for growth and energy, the fern begins to turn yellow followed by shedding leaves inorder to save the available energy.

Solutions

Take care not to overfeed. Feed your Asparagus Fern weekly during the growing season with a balanced, liquid fertilizer. Do not feed it during the cold season as growth is minimal to prevent fertilizer burn.

Regularly flush out the salts from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes and repeat the process several times.

10. Root-rot Disease

Asparagus Fern is prone to root-rot which is prevalent in soggy soil. The disease is characterized by yellowing and wilting of the leaves which is rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse.

Soggy soil reduces oxygen concentration in the soil which causes the roots to die. Once the roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients to the leaves. The leaves begin to wilt, yellow and eventually drop.

Solutions

Slip the Asparagus Fern out of its pot and inspect the roots. Brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot, trim them off and treat the healthy roots with a fungicidal solution.

Disinfect the pot or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh free-draining soil. Do not water the fern and keep it dry for some time before you can resume watering. Read more on how to treat root-rot in indoor plants.

11. Root Bound Plant

A root bound Asparagus Fern is one whose roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water the plant. Therefore, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves. The leaves lose their stiffness, wilt, turn yellow and drop.

Solutions

Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole. Repot the Asparagus Fern into a pot one size larger than the current one and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Take a look at these pots with dainage holes on Amazon.

You may divide a large Asparagus Fern into several sections and plant the sections in individual pots to propagate new plants.

12. Repotting Shock

Repotting Asparagus Fern may cause it some shock which may lead to some leaves wilting and dropping before it can adjust to the new growing conditions.

Solutions

To minimize repotting shock, water your Asparagus Fern thoroughly one day before repotting. A well hydrated plant experiences less shock and is easier to divide.

Do not make too many changes at once. For instance, after repotting, maintain the fern in the same location until it is well established before moving it to a new location.

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