Did you know that doing something very specific can solve the problem of yellow mother-in-law’s tongue leaves? Here’s what you need to do to revive this plant and make it lush!
Yellowing leaves of mother-in-law’s tongue
Your mother-in-law’s tongue has yellow leaves and you’re afraid it’ll die? Don’t worry, there’s still a cure and you can save the plant from a bad end. So let’s see what you need to do to make your mother-in-law’s tongue last a long time, which, despite its strange name, is a beautiful and decorative plant!
Sansevieria or mother-in-law’s tongue
Known as mother-in-law’s tongue, Sansevieria is a beautiful and decorative plant, which gets its curious name from the tall, sinuous leaves, which resemble tongues . Ideal for keeping in the apartment but also in other places, it resists high temperatures and does not tolerate the cold .
To grow well, it doesn’t require excessive maintenance, just a few small tricks that allow you to achieve excellent results. One thing that often happens is the appearance of yellow leaves, let’s see how to prevent it and what to do.
Clean yellow leaves
When leaves turn yellow, the main reason may be the attack of insects and pests . Another reason may be that they do not absorb enough light , or they are simply dirty.
Mother-in-law’s tongue vases in the window
A good solution to solve this problem is to prepare a mixture of water and Marseille soap and clean the leaves by soaking a cotton ball in it.
In just one step, you will eliminate any pest and the leaves will shine again because even the dirt will disappear. Do this once a week or every 15 days .
Do not overwater the plant
Yellowing leaves can also be caused by overwatering. This can happen when it’s warmer and you try to help the plant by adding more water, but instead, you shouldn’t. If you notice excess water, don’t add more for a few days and let the soil dry out .
To avoid making a mistake, water the plant when there is no more moisture in the soil , otherwise wait again. Also pay attention to the water remaining in the saucer, because if it stagnates, the roots could mold and the plant could die.
Keep it away from the wind
It is essential to keep the mother-in-law’s tongue away from the wind, otherwise the leaves may turn yellow. In fact, in this case, the plant would be suffering, and the yellow leaves are a warning that something is wrong.
Wind or drafts are poorly tolerated by this plant and if it is positioned outside you must be careful to keep it inside when there is air pulling. Even sudden current inputs are not accepted by this plant which prefers to remain sheltered and safe .
Repot the mother-in-law’s tongue and fertilize it
To grow a mother-in-law’s tongue with beautiful, tall leaves, it needs to have enough space to grow. It’s important to check that the roots can develop well and that there’s enough space in the pot for them to grow. It’s important to understand if there’s little space, as this would cause the plant suffering and cause the leaves to turn yellow.
If it needs to be repotted, do this in spring and every two years to give the mother-in-law’s tongue enough room to grow. Also, don’t forget to fertilize the plant, although many say that succulents don’t need it.
This is not true at all and in the case of Sansevieria , the yellowing of the leaves could be the result of poor nutrition. Therefore, if you put the fertilizer, the plant will have the necessary food to keep the leaves green and beautiful.
The ideal fertilizer is a mixture of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen . Natural fertilizers are also excellent, and among the best are those made from coffee grounds, which contain all the nutrients needed to grow lush mother-in-law’s tongue!