Alocasia black velvet yellow leaves are a worry that can be the result of not meeting its essential needs, such as water, soil, light, temperature, and humidity. Additionally, some inevitable problems, such as pests and infections, can be the root of the problem.
We will get into great detail about each of them with the causes and effects in this article, so continue reading, and you will learn more about them and measures to take so that you can avoid them.
Contents
What Causes Alocasia Black Velvet to Have Yellow Leaves?
The leaves of alocasia black velvet turn yellow due to overwatering, water quality issues, poor soil type, lack of nutrients, not meeting the sun requirements, and low humidity. Also, due to sudden temperature changes, pests, are infested with diseases, dormancy, and the natural aging process.
– Overwatering
Improper watering is one of the most frequent issues that plants encounter, and for Alocasia Black Velvet, the yellowing of the leaves is an indication of this. When this happens, the plant is likely receiving more water than it requires.
When you water the plant excessively, it will not only cause yellow leaves but also cause the soil to accumulate water, which can result in several problems, such as root rot, pest infestations, or fungus infections. The leaves will weaken, and their colors will start to fade away.
– Water Quality Issue
These beautiful black velvet plants cannot tolerate contaminated or highly mineralized water. This type of water can make the leaves turn yellow with brownish tips. Not only that, but unfiltered water that contains heavy metals can hinder the growth of your plants.
When calcium and magnesium are present in tap water, a white powdery layer develops on the soil’s surface. As a result, the roots may get dehydrated from too much salt because they do not bare weak quality water.
– Poor Soil Type
This relates to the watering issue because poor soil types that do not drain well can cause water to be held in the soil, which can eventually cause root rot. The black velvet plants also require acidic soil with a pH ranging between 5.5 and 6.5 to thrive.
Any pH beyond this might produce browning and yellowing and be detrimental to the plant’s health. If the soil has the wrong pH, no fertilizer will help your plants because the pH determines whether or not nutrients are available to your plants.
– Lack of Nutrients
Although it’s not the most common cause, these beautiful plants might become deficient in minerals and vitamins if the soil is not amended or treated for an extended period of time. When the plant lacks nutrients, it can speed up the aging process by prematurely retiring older leaves to conserve resources if there is a shortage of nutrients.
– Not Meeting Their Sunlight Requirements
Alocasia Black Velvet commonly becomes yellow due to poor lighting. This can also happen when the seasons change, and the sunshine is less bright. However, this plant is known to be a low-light plant because of its natural habitat in the tropical shade, so when compared to most indoor settings, the forest shade is still actually brighter.
On the other hand, the leaves of this Alocasia plant can also turn yellow in high-light conditions, or when the intensity is coming of in a harsh way. Excessive exposure is indicated by yellowed, brown, burnt, or bleached leaves.
– Low Humidity
Knowing how this plant is native to the tropics and does best in humid environments, low humidity is another factor contributing to the yellowing of Alocasia black velvet leaves. Although they can still thrive in low-humidity settings, the optimal environment has a humidity of at least 60 percent.
– Sudden Change in Temperature
Alocasia Black Velvet typically turns yellow and withers when temperatures are low. If used as a houseplant, it requires a warm atmosphere between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant suffers when temperatures drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, as it cannot survive in the cold extremities.
– Pests
Mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, and scale are some of the pests that can harm black velvet alocasia plants. These bugs are usually drawn by the plant’s big leaves and they also grow and increase in their number as well.
When the foliage of your plant turns yellow or mottled, it is an indication that there is already an infestation. This is harmful to the plant as it can damage the cells, deform the stems, and eventually kill it.
– Diseases
Aside from bug infestation, one of the common problems that make the leaves turn yellow is disease or infection. Bacterial and fungal infections can cause the velvet plant to have yellow patches form on its leaves and stems. Sometimes, the entire leaf will turn yellow and drop off and this is due to the diseases that it faces.
– Dormancy
Sudden and significant environmental changes, such as moving from a greenhouse to your home, might cause dormancy. It can also happen when you propagate alocasia. The leaves may have faded, turned yellow, and died off during this adaptation phase.
– The Natural Aging Process
If you’ve already checked all of the aspects and still can’t figure out what’s causing your plant’s leaves to turn yellow, then it must be simply the natural aging process. Even if your Alocasia receives enough light and is properly watered, it will occasionally have yellow-colored leaves.
Like most houseplants, the black velvet occasionally loses its oldest, lowest leaves, which turn yellow before dropping off. This frequently happens as a new leaf is forming, which is a natural process.
How to Solve the Yellowing of the Leaves of an Alocasia Black Velvet?
To solve the yellowing of the leaves of an alocasia black velvet, you must repot if overwatered, use naturalized water, use aroid mix as potting soil, expose to bright and indirect sunlight, relocate the plant, properly fertilize it, isolate and move it to a new location.
– Repot Your Overwatered Plant
If you are suspicious that you may have overwatered your plant, you must gently unpot the plant to check the roots. It should be firm, white, and have an earthy smell. However, if it is squishy, brown, and already foul-smelling, it is an indication of rot.
Make sure to remove all the infected parts and then repot your plant in well-draining but dry soil. Now, you must observe your plant and see if the condition is improving, and right after about a week, you can water the plant again.
To prevent an overwatering issue from happening again, it is best to let the top three inches of soil dry out before you water your plant again. When watering, make sure that all parts of the soil are saturated, and the excess water is thoroughly drained, so it does not accumulate at the bottom.
– Use Neutralized Water
You can chemically neutralize tap water by putting a few drops of de-chlorinator in it before using it. Alternatively, you can switch to purified water, and if you wish to have an economical tip to address this problem, use collected rainwater when watering your plant.
– Use Aroid Mix as Potting Soil
Given that Alocasia Black Velvet soil should be porous and well-draining, the best soil to use is an Aroid mix with bark and perlite added for quick draining. It is significant that there are no rocks in the soil that could potentially damage the plant’s corms or the underground stem.
It is best that you opt to use a soil mix consisting of coconut husk and bark, soil, perlite, and sphagnum moss. You can also add peat to the potting mix to help retain moisture, and the roots will have proper humidity.
– Expose To Bright, Indirect Light
This plant thrives in bright, indirect light. Just six hours a day of exposure is enough for it to be healthy. Even though it is able to tolerate lower light levels or fewer hours of exposure to bright indirect light, now, as you provide the necessary requirement, this is how the plant will grow.
For indoors, it is best to place this plant in an area away from direct sunlight but with light filling the whole room. Using sheer curtains can also do the trick because the light will not pass in a direct way.
– Relocate to an Area with High Humidity
Look for areas in the house where there is high humidity, like in the kitchen or bathroom. You can also mist the plant, but make sure not to overdo it because wet leaves become prone to rotting. Another tip is to place the plant around a pebble tray that you must fill with water.
Sudden changes in temperature around the plant can cause shock, so make sure that there is no rapid fluctuation of temperature. Avoid putting the plant near a heater or air conditioner so that the plant wouldn’t stress.
You should maintain drier soil if your velvet plant has gone dormant. You should also try to move it to a new location, but be aware that the dormant Alocasia Black Velvet plant will begin to develop once more after a few months.
– Add Appropriate Fertilizer
The solution to a plant that lacks nutrients is to add fertilizer. However, it is more complicated, and in order to select the appropriate fertilizer to add, you need to know the nutritional deficiency that the plant has.
Check the leaves of the plant, and if you see yellow veins, those are signs of sulfur and magnesium deficiency. You can treat this by adding Epsom salt and manganese sulfate before watering. However, if vein yellowing is present in mature and older leaves, it suggests a lack of nitrogen, so you can target this by watering with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
– Isolate Infected Plant and Treat It Early
Once you find a pest on your plant, isolate the infected plant right away to prevent the other plants from contracting it. The key solution specifically to this problem is to wipe or spray the infected leaves with isopropyl alcohol.
You can also use some insecticidal soap or neem oil because they will help you get rid of the pests. You will need to repeat this treatment a couple of times to help ensure that the pests and their eggs are completely eliminated.
Another prevention tip is maintaining a dust-free environment because certain pests and insects thrive in dusty conditions. When you regularly wipe the leaves of your plant, you will prevent these bugs, promote better circulation, and reduce stress on the plant.
The best way to fight fungal diseases is by using fungicides. It is also significant that you make sure the plant is not exposed to conditions with excessive humidity and that there is good air circulation around it.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you will know why your Alocasia black velvet leaves turn yellow, but with the right care guide and tips on how to solve this. Let us summarize the key elements we discussed:
- Problems arising from failing to meet basic needs include overwatering, poor soil quality, sudden temperature changes, low humidity, and a lack of nutrients.
- To solve this, you can repot your overwatered plant, add fertilizer, relocate to an area with good humidity, expose to bright, indirect light, and make sure to avoid heat vents and air conditioners.
- The unavoidable issues are pests, diseases, dormancy, and the natural aging process.
- You can simply use fungicides, isolate the infected plant while treating it early, move it to a different location to fight off dormancy, and always provide proper care.
- As long as new, healthy leaves replace those yellow leaves, everything should be fine, and there is no reason to worry.
Now that you have a better understanding of the causes, you will be able to apply the correct solutions and save yourself from worrying about those yellowing leaves again.
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