Elephant Ear plants are famous for their big heart-shaped green leaves. People also call it Colocasia. If you are a garden enthusiast then it is quite possible that you would have Elephant Ear in your collection. Most of the people who have this plant ask us the question “why is my elephant ear turning yellow?”.
If you are also among those people, do not worry because we are here with a detailed guide for you people. In the following paragraphs, we have listed many potential reasons along with their solutions. It is recommended to go through all the details to conclude.
Why Is My Elephant Ear Turning Yellow?
Change of color into yellow is quite a common issue in the case of the Elephant Ear. Statistically ninety percent of the gardeners who have Elephant Ear in their collection face this issue. There can be many reasons behind this issue but the most prominent ones are:
- Sunlight Deficiency
Sunlight has a very important role to play in the lifecycle of Elephant Ears. The photosynthesis mechanism of the plant depends on the amount of sunlight received. Therefore, Elephant Ear requires a proper amount of sunlight to grow, but this plant should not be exposed directly to it. It is because it cannot tolerate it. Most gardeners advise placing your Elephant Ear in a place that has access to sunlight, but it should not be directly pointed to the plant otherwise it can cause sunburn.
- Quantity of Watering
Elephant Ear demands a moderate amount of watering. If you increase or decrease the quantity of water beyond acceptable levels then you will be very likely to face this issue. Most gardeners recommend damp conditions for this plant. Too much watering can become cause root rot and turn leaves into yellow color. On the other hand, under-watering can dry out the plant. It is difficult to maintain a moderate quantity of water. Therefore, to help you with it follow the following steps:
- You should water your Elephant Ear until you do not see water coming out from the bottom of the container.
- The first two inches of the soil should be dry before watering the plant again.
- Atmosphere Conditions
The humidity level required by Elephant Ear to survive is high. A low level of humidity can turn the green leaves of the plant into yellow color. In case your leaves are turning, yellow then it can be a sign of a low humidity level.
To solve this issue it is recommended to:
- Relocate your plant to a naturally high humidity area. For example, your home kitchen can be a good option.
- Install humidifiers to bring humidity into the environment.
Most experts suggest maintaining a humidity level of more than sixty percent in the surroundings of the plant.
- Insects Issues
Aphids, Spider mites, and many other pests or insects cause a decrease in the moisture level of the leaves. It is because of their habit of sap-sucking. Moreover, the decrease in the level of moisture weakens the leaves of Elephant Ears and turns them into yellow color. It is quite easy to keep the pests/insects away from the plant than to cure it. You just need to follow the following steps:
- You can keep the insects away by spraying soapy fluid on them,
- Use of pest repellant can also be an effective solution.
- The use of insecticides can eliminate pests.
Conclusion
It can be seen in the above-mentioned details that yellow leaves can be avoided very easily just by following some simple steps. You should not:
- Place your plant where sunlight is directly pointing,
- Overwater the plant,
- Neglect the presence of insects or pests in the surroundings of the plant,
- Place the plant where humidity levels are low.
In case the disease is spreading too rapidly, it is recommended to remove those leaves, which have turned yellow. Moreover, if removing affected leaves does not solve the problem, then in this case many experts suggest removing the diseased plant from the vicinity of other plants.