12 Reasons Why Asparagus Fern Leaves are Yellowing and Dropping with Solutions
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Asparagus Fern yellowing and dropping leaves are due to inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, salts buildup, temperature stress, pests infestations, root-rot among other reasons.
Mainly grown for their beautiful foliage, Asparagus Ferns are easy-care plants which you can grow in the home successfully. Nonetheless, 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 to make it easier for you to save your plant.
12 Reasons 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 lead to root-rot disease. The disease is characterized by yellowing, browning, rotting, and loss of leaves.
How to Fix It
- Pot your Asparagus Fern in loose, free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. These will ensure that the soil does not get soggy and it provides the nutrients required for lush growth. A blend of 50% potting soil, 30% perlite, and 20% orchid bark is perfect for these ferns.
2. Too Little Light
Light is needed for making food 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 drop its leaves. This way, it saves the available energy for the vital functions to keep alive.
How to Fix It
- Move your Asparagus Fern to a brighter spot where it will receive medium to bright indirect light or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate lighting in your home.
- Once a month, give the pot a 900 turn, to ensure that the fern absorbs enough light for photosynthesis on all sides, for uniform growth and to prevent unbalanced growth.
3. Pest Infestations
Asparagus Fern is prone to spider mites, whiteflies, mealybugs and aphids whose infestation is promoted by underwatering or dry air. These pests attack the new growth from where they suck the plant sap. This causes the plant to become dehydrated, resulting in wilting, yellowing and shedding leaves.
How to Fix It
- Isolate the affected fern to prevent spread to the other plants.
- Treat the infested fern with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Regularly inspect the fern for the pests and take timely control measures.
- Keep the plant properly pruned to discourage pest infestation.
- Set the plant on a wet pebble tray to elevate humidity as it discourages the pests.
4. Nutrients Deficiency
Underfeeding implies that the plant is not getting enough nutrients needed 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.
How to Fix It
- Feed your Asparagus Fern with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks in spring and summer. Take care not to follow the instructions on the label of the plant food.
- Do not feed it in fall and winter to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is minimal at this time.
5. Soggy Soil
Too much water in the soil reduces the oxygen concentration in the rootzone which causes the thick, tuberous roots to die. This means 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.
How to Fix It
- Pot your Asparagus Fern in a pot that has a drainage hole and loose, free-draining soil.
- In addition, cut down on watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is slowed at this time.
6. Inconsistent Watering
Both underwatering and overwatering are problematic to plant growth. Underwatering results in wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf loss. On the other hand overwatering will result in rotting, yellowing and leaf drop.
How to Fix It
- Water the Asparagus Fern when the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Do not water on a schedule to avoid either underwatering or overwatering.
7. Temperature Stress
Either too high or too low 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. Too low temperatures will result in stunted growth, yellowing and leaf drop.
How to Fix It
- Keep your Asparagus Fern away from sources of drafts like drafty winds, AC units, open doors, radiators, hot surfaces, hot air vents among others to maintain a warmth of 16-280C.
8. Too Cold Water
Constantly watering these tropical plants with too cold water will cause cold shock, resulting in stunted growth, yellowing and loss of leaves.
How to Fix It
- Water your Asparagus Fern with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking these tropical plants.
9. Salts Buidup
Excess salts in the soil will kill the roots due to fertilizer burn. Once the roots die, they cannot take up nutrients and water required for photosynthesis. Without, adequate food for growth and energy, the plant begins to turn yellow followed by shedding leaves to save energy.
How to Fix It
- Take care not to overfeed Asparagus Fern; feed only in spring and summer. Do not feed fall and winter since growth is minimal.
- Regularly, flush out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes.
10. Root-rot Disease
Asparagus Fern is prone to root-rot disease 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.
How to Fix It
- Slip the Asparagus Fern out of its pot and inspect the roots.
- Trim brown-black mushy roots and treat the healthy roots with a fungicidal solution as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant.
- Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging.
- Do not water the fern and keep it dry for 7-14 days before you resume watering.
- Lessen watering in fall and winter as growth is slowed at this time; keep the soil slightly moist.
11. Being Pot-bound
A pot-bound plant 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.
How to Fix It
- Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole.
- Repot the Asparagus Fern into a pot one size larger that has a drainage hole to prevent sogginess. 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 will cause some transplanting shock, which can result in some leaves wilting and dropping, before the plant can adjust to the new growing conditions.
How to Fix It
- To minimize repotting shock, water the 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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