Scindapsus Pictus, also known as silver vine pathos, is a great house plant. Its heart-shaped leaves add beauty wherever you place the plant. However, a very common problem with them is the yellowing of the leaves. Which frustrates most beginners. Several factors cause the problem such as overwatering, low sunlight, nutrient deficiency, More plants in less space, and pest infestation.
But the good news is that the problem can be completely fixed with a little care. In this article, I will tell you how can you fix a Scindapsus pictus with yellow leaves very easily. So stay with me and read the entire article carefully.
Reason and Quick Solution for Scindapsus Pictus Yellow Leaves
| Causes | Solution |
| Overwatering | Once a week watering is enough. |
| Low sunlight | Bright indirect sunlight with partial shade is recommended. |
| Nutrient deficiency | Organic compost is recommended. |
| Less space | Do not plant more than one plant in the same pot. |
| Pest infestation | Use a good quality insecticide. |
5 Effective Ways To Fix Scindapsus Pictus Yellow Leaves
1. Overwatering
The biggest mistake most beginners make is overwatering the plant. It is very true that water is essential for the normal growth of plants. But do you know how much excess water can damage your plants?
When you overwater a Scindapsus pictus plant, it causes water logging at the base of the plant. Because your plants cannot absorb excess water. Due to this water retention, plant roots fail to collect other essential nutrients from the soil. Even the transport of oxygen to plants is stopped.
With a little notice, you’ll see waterlogged plants lose some of their freshness at first. Because the biological functions of the plant begin to be disrupted. In the next few days, you will notice the symptoms like wilting of leaves, soft limp leaves, yellowing leaves, mushy appearance, and drooping of the plant.
Fixing Guide
The first step in fixing Scindapsus pictus plants with yellow leaves is to stop overwatering. When the soil dries out, you need to check the plant’s roots. It is best to cut off the affected parts. Instead of applying water to the soil, you can spray fresh water on the plants for a few days.
If the roots of the plant are severely damaged then replanting is a must. In this case, you must choose a bigger pot than before.
It may happen that you are applying moderate water but the plant is getting waterlogged. In that case, check your pot’s drainage system. If there are no drainage holes, immediately 3-4 small holes should be made.
When your Scindapsus pictus plant returns to normal, it will need to be watered again. Applying water once a week is enough. But before applying water, you must check whether the soil is dry. This can be easily confirmed with a moisture meter (Our Pick: SONKIR Soil pH Meter, MS02 3-in-1 Soil Moisture/Light/pH Tester)
2. Low Sunlight
Low sunlight is a major cause of yellowing pictus leaves, as is waterlogging. Being an indoor plant, many people mistake Scindapsus Pictus as a dark plant and place it where sunlight never reaches it and the result is the yellowing of leaves.
Sunlight is a very important element for photosynthesis in plants. When your plant doesn’t get enough sunlight, its leaves can’t open properly. As a result, the food production process is disrupted.
If you notice well, you can see that the Scindapsus pictus kept in the dark look unhappy for the first few days. Later, symptoms such as plant weakening, leggy veins, yellowing and browning of leaves, and stunted growth become apparent.
Fixing Guide
To protect your pictus plant from the effects of low sunlight, you must know your plant’s sunlight requirements. Scindapsus Pictus prefer bright indirect sunlight and partial shade. So first check if your plant is getting the right amount of light! If it is in dark, move the plant immediately.
Keep it exposed to direct sunlight for six to seven hours a day for the first few days. If it starts to settle, place the plant in a spot where direct sunlight does not fall on the plant, but the area is not completely shaded.
If on the balcony then you can use a shade cloth. And if you don’t have sunlight in your house, you can use an artificial lighting system for plants.
3. Nutrient Deficiency
When issues like overwatering or low sunlight aren’t responsible for your plant’s yellow leaves, you should look at nutrient deficiencies. This problem is mainly caused by iron, nitrogen, and manganese deficiency in your plant.
Each nutrient has different symptoms of deficiency. If you observe them closely, you can easily understand which element is missing in your plant. A nitrogen deficiency will cause your entire plant to turn pale yellow, old leaves will drop off, and root growth will increase.
Iron deficiency will initially cause chlorosis in your plant’s leaves. A yellow leaf will develop along with green veins. Later, the leaves of the plant will turn yellow or white, the tips of the leaves will curl, and gradually the leaves will turn brown.
Due to manganese, mainly the young leaves of the plant are affected. They initially turn yellow, plant growth stops and the plant turns grey.
Fixing Guide
If your plant’s problem is due to a nitrogen deficiency, a very easy way to fix it is to add plenty of organic material to the soil. Organic compost is ideal for this. But you can also use an NPK (10-10-10) fertilizer.
Besides, to prevent nitrogen deficiency, one should be aware of things like proper soil drainage, balanced use of fertilizers, organic matter applications, and soil testing.
Chemical treatment is the best way for iron deficiency. Ferrous sulfate is most commonly used in this case. You will get it very easily. Spraying directly on the leaves is very effective. You can also use ferrous sulfate powder at the base of the plant.
You need to apply chemical treatment for manganese deficiency. A manganese sulfate spray gives very good results. Usually, the plant is cured in two to three applications.
4. More Plants in Less Space
Many gardeners want to have a big garden with varieties of plants but they don’t have much space. As a result, they plant more trees in a small area.
Planting too many Scindapsus Pictus in such a small space results in plants not getting enough nutrients. In addition, there is a lack of moisture in the plants. As a result, the new leaves initially fade and later turn yellow.
Fixing Guide
Since Pictus is a houseplant and doesn’t have too many requirements to grow, you can easily place it in different parts of the room in different containers.
If you have multiple plants in your yard, separate them first. Then replant them in soil pots with small holes. After that, the plants should be watered regularly for a few days.
When the plants start to become normal, you can shift them to different parts of the house. But care should be taken that the plants cannot be kept in a completely dark place. Place the plants in a sunny spot for a few hours once in two weeks and apply water sparingly.
5. Pests Infestation
Insect attack is one of the causes of the yellowing of Pictus leaves. Two types of sap-sucking insects, mealybugs and spider mites, are mainly responsible for this phenomenon.
Spider mites are very small (2-10mm) and attack in groups. They usually attack the surface of the leaf that doesn’t faces the sun. they dehydrate the leaves by absorbing cell sap from the leaves. As a result, the leaves of the plant turn pale and yellow within a few days.
Mealybugs consume plant phloem sap, which lowers plant vigor, and they expel sticky honeydew and wax, which decreases the quality of plants. The honeydew is later responsible for the attack of an insect called black sooty molds on the plant.
Fixing Guide
Action should be taken as soon as possible if the presence of insects is confirmed around your Scindapsusr pictus. In this case, you can take two types of measures: chemical and organic homemade. This, however, depends on the severity of the attack.
If the infestation is in the early stages and the plant is not badly damaged, you can mix two spoons of vinegar and one spoon of baking soda in a little water and spray the plant every morning and evening.
Also, you can boil some neem leaves well and mix two spoons of vegetable oil in that solution. Then when the mixture cools down, add some Epsom salt and apply it to the leaves.
But if the infection is too much and the plant is damaged more then you must arrange chemical treatment. A good quality insecticide can protect your Scindapsus pictus plant from insect infestation.
Apart from this, the plant should be regularly sprayed with clean water and the surroundings of the tree should be kept clean. Infested plants should be kept away from healthy ones.
Lastly Here is the video guide that may help you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Should I Cut The Yellow Leaves Off The Scindapsus Pictus?
Yellow leaves of pictus plants can be caused by several reasons. However, some yellow leaves retain their original color with adequate care. Such leaves cannot be removed.
How Do You Trim Pictus To Encourage Growth?
Trimming the top of the vine by 1-2 inches would be a wonderful option if you only wanted to lengthen your pothos. It will maintain the plant’s structure and encourage faster growth while fostering longer trailing branches.
Final Word
Now you know what causes a Scindapsus Pictus to turn yellow and how to fix the problem in a very simple way. Every problem has some basic causes. If you can identify them, solving the problem becomes very easy.
Factors like over-watering, low sunlight, nutrient deficiencies, lack of space, and pest infestation can be prevented in advance. If you water the plant adequately, keep the plant exposed to sunlight regularly, and keep the plant away from insect and spider infestations, your plant will be 80% problem free.
Hope this article is helpful in helping you rehabilitate your Scindapsus Pictus plant. Happy Gardening.
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