Why is my Azalea Leaves Turning Yellow?

Do you notice the vibrant green color of your azalea turned to a dull yellow? Don’t worry! Yellow azalea leaves, although a cause for concern, are not a death sentence for your dear shrub. When you see the azalea leaves turning yellow, that signifies something is wrong. Many reasons can cause yellow leaves and azalea plants, including diseases, pests, soil problems, nutrient deficiencies, and many other factors. 

In this guide, we will discuss the reasons behind the changed coloration as well as the ways to restore its former glory. Let’s explore the causes and their solutions to get your azalea to thrive again.

What Causes Azalea Plant Leaves to Turn Yellow

There are many reasons behind the yellow leaves of azalea including environmental factors and nutritional factors. So, make sure to analyze the problem first and then find its solution. If it is autumn, remember that leaves change color this season. If autumn is going on, you do not have to worry about this; it must be a natural process. Let’s dive into all those causes that can be a problem for yellow azalea leaves:

1. Change Of Season

There are two types of Azaleas; you might not know that, but evergreen and deciduous are the two categories in Azalea plants. In spring or winter, the leaves will start changing their color and then drop. It is a natural occurrence, so worrying about this problem is unnecessary. It happens naturally to every plant in autumn, spring, or winter.

If you have an evergreen azalea plant at home, its color will not change, predominantly yellow. It must be green all year around, so if you notice any change in its color, there must be a severe problem causing a problem for the plant and eating its nutrients. If the evergreen plant changes its leaves’ color, check if it has any issues related to the following causes.

2. Lack Of Nitrogen

If the azalea plants have proper nitrogen in the soil or fertilizer, the plant will remain green forever. If nutrients are deficient in the soil, then it will cause the leaves to turn yellow. When bonsai stays in the soil for more than a year, yellow leaves appear with the azalea plant. This happens because bonsai absorbs all the essential nutrients and nitrogen from the soil, and there is nothing left for the plant to absorb for better growth. 

Another reason that can also cause nitrogen deficiency in the plant is performing mulching with the items that are not decomposed. During decomposition, it absorbs all the essential nutrients from the soil and leaves nutrient-free soil for the azalea plant. Please give some time for mulch to decompose entirely before applying it to the soil. Doing this will help your plant to get all the essential nutrients from the soil and grow efficiently.

3. Change Of Location

Many azalea plants do not like to move from one place to another due to climate conditions. When you grow them indoors or outdoors and get used to the climate conditions, they settle and adjust according to the temperature in which they are planted. The temperature in which they are growing must be suitable; then, the azalea plant starts increasing according to the climate condition. 

But if you change its place and move it to a different place with different climates and temperatures, the plant will go into shock and stress. That stress can cause various problems for the plant, including turning leaves yellow. You will also see the falling off leaves from the plant as a reaction to a climate of climate change. Sudden shifts are the biggest problem that can cause a problem for the azalea plant, especially making its leaves yellow. 

4. Insufficient Water

Azalea plants do not like drought conditions and too-hot temperatures; they go under severe stress if they do not get proper or appropriate growth conditions. If there is not enough water or humidity for the azalea plant, its leaves start turning yellow and then die. If there is a summer season, water your azalea plant once a week. Underwatering or extra watering can cause severe problems for the azalea plant; its leaves will be affected, and the whole plant will die with time. 

Too quickly draining can also be another reason for the yellow leaves. If your azalea plant pot has many drainage holes, then most of the water will go out from the soil, and the heat makes the soil dry more quickly than usual. The plant will not get enough moisture for growth, which causes its leaves to turn yellow. 

5. Alkaline Soil

Azaleas nurture in acidic soils, If the soil is too alkaline, it can prevent the plant from absorbing much nutrients, leading to yellow leaves. As Iron is necessary for making the chlorophyll for the green leaves; if there is chlorosis deficiency, iron deficiency will also occur. Due to this deficiency, leaves will not get enough chlorophyll to get the green color.

You must be wondering about the link between chlorophyll and alkaline soil. Well, if the soil has a high pH level, that will cause iron deficiency in the plant. Using chalky or lime soil for your azalea plant can also cause problems, like turning the leaves yellow. If you want to see your azalea plant’s leaves evergreen, then make sure to plant the azalea plant in soil with a pH level lower than 6. 

6. Poor Drainage

Sometimes, we face a situation where the pots have a poor drainage system, and the water remains in the soil, making the roots rot. Root rot causes various other problems. A poor drainage system often causes the leaves of the azalea plant to turn yellow. If the roots rot, they will not absorb the essential nutrients the plant needs for growth; as a result, the leaves will start wilting and losing color. 

If you have planted the azalea plant in a pot with no drainage holes, it will make you worry. Make sure to plant the azalea plant in a pot with too many drainage holes so the water will go out of the soil quickly and not stay in the soil for longer. The longer the water stays in the soil, the more problems like yellow leaves start. 

How Will You Treat Yellow Leaves of the Azalea Plant

After understanding the cause of the yellow azalea plant, it is time to fix these issues. Many methods can help you treat your azalea plant if the problem starts. If you notice the situation after turning the leaves yellow completely and they start falling off, you can do nothing about that. Here are some methods to fix the issues you can choose according to the specific cause :

1. Water Frequently

When summer approaches, watering the azalea plant will be best to make its growth efficient and attractive. Water it more frequently than usual if you see its leaves turning yellow. Azalea plant loves to be moisturized, especially when you spray its leaves with water. 

Make sure to check the soil daily to check the dryness in the soil. It will help you know whether your azalea plant needs watering when you have to water it and how much it needs. If you want to install an irrigation system with the azalea plants, then it would be good if you could grow many azalea plants together. 

2. Supply Fertilizer Rich In Iron And Nitrogen

Suppose your Azalea plant lacks nutrients, which causes yellow leaves. So, you must supply the food of iron and nitrogen to the azalea plant to ensure its better and more efficient growth. Use the fertilizer rich in iron and nitrogen, and add the specific amount of iron and nitrogen to the soil it needs. Do not add too much fertilizer to the plant to make its leaves get their green color within one day; that cannot happen. 

Remember not to trust the fertilizer too unquestioningly; you must check the growth and needs of the plant regularly. Always check the percentage and ratio of the nutrients in the soil to be aware of the nutrient needs of the soil and azalea plant. If the plant starts losing its green color, it can get green again using a few fixes. 

3. Increase The Acidity Level

If the soil’s pH level is too high, adding iron will not help the plant because the roots will not absorb it properly. If you are using mulch to get the nutrients and moisture for the plant, then you can use any other item that can increase its iron level. Pine bark is best for lowering the pH level of the soil. 

You can use many fertilizers to get enough nutrients for the azalea plant, but the best is the fertilizer rich in organic materials. Add eggshells and banana peels to the soil to increase acidity. Coffee grounds are also reasonable, but they will not suit the nitrogen. So, adding eggshells and banana peels is the best option.

4. Provide The Proper Drainage System

If the drainage system of your plant pot is slow, it can cause various problems for the plant. There are solutions for both problems; you must only follow them carefully. If the pot has a slower drainage system, add some drainage rocks at the bottom of the soil to make the water drain faster. This will help the water not sit in the plant’s roots and rot them.

You can add mulch to the soil if you want to improve your plant and get more moisture. It helps the plant from getting extra heat and sunlight that can harm it and turn its leaves yellow. Adding the mulch will also help the plant get enough moisture because the sunlight will not evaporate the liquid from the soil the azalea plant loves. 

5. Move The Plant To a Brighter Place

If you have placed your azalea plant in direct sunlight or a darker place, Too much sunlight or too dark a place can make the leaves turn yellow because the plant does not get enough sunlight. Excess sunlight can harm the plant because extra sunlight can burn the plant leaves. If your plant is in direct sunlight in summer, placing it indoors will help it get its green leaves again if it has turned yellow. 

Remember that azalea plants drop their leaves in winter, but they still need sunlight to grow green leaves. So, to prevent the plant from frosting, place it in the sunlight in the morning for some time and then move it indoors again. Placing it near the window will make it brighter, but indirect sunlight will help its growth. 

Conclusion

If you were wondering about the yellow leaves of azaleas, this article was a perfect guide for you. This guide unveils the secrets behind azalea yellowing, empowering you to diagnose the culprit and restore your azalea’s former glory. So, make sure that what is the problem with your azalea plant and what its solution is, and then fix the problem. Hence, with a little investigation, and the right care can bring back the green glory of your azalea in no time.

FAQs

1. Why Do Azalea Leaves Turn Yellow?

Many reasons and problems can cause your azalea plant to turn green and fall leaves. Too much or too little sunlight, overwatering or underwatering, under-fertilization or over-fertilization, lack of nutrients, and root rot are the causes of problems for your plant and make it yellow leaves azalea. 

2. Why are the leaves of the Azalea turning Yellow in Winter?

Improper soil pH, lack of nutrients, or leaf spot fungus can cause the azalea plant’s leaves to turn yellow in winter. But remember that the leaves of the azalea plant turn yellow in winter naturally because they fall off in this season. So, you must place your plant where it gets enough sunlight for its growth in winter because the lack of sunlight in winter also causes yellow azalea leaves.

3. What is the suitable soil PH for Azaleas?

Azaleas are particular about their soil environment and grow best in acidic soil. Alkaline soil prevents it from absorbing nutrients which further leads to the yellow leaves of azaleas.