Asparagus Fern Turning Yellow – How to Solve
Are your asparagus ferns turning yellow? Do you have any idea why your green lush bushy asparagus ferns are turning yellow?
Well, asparagus ferns have bright green textured foliage which outshines their appearance. But sometimes lack of care and negligence your green bright asparagus ferns can turn yellow.
If you are dealing with the same issue, then Read this article thoroughly. Here I’ll try to give you probable reasons for your yellow asparagus ferns.
Side by side I’ll give your solution to solve this problem. So let’s get started with an overall idea about asparagus ferns’ characteristics and features.
Overview of Asparagus fern
- Botanical name: Asparagus setaceus
- Plants: evergreen perennial
- Native range: Southern Africa
- Native habitats: subtropical areas like rainfall
- Shade requirements: partial, fully shaded, bright place
- Height: around 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide
- Soil: slightly acidic (6.5 – 6.8), well-drained system
Asparagus ferns hold bright green-colored foliage. Their bright green foliage makes them one of the most popular indoor plants among gardeners and plant lovers.
Usually, these plants are widely native to Southern Africa along with subtropical places with heavy rainfall and forests.
These ferns are also called common asparagus ferns, lace ferns, climbing asparagus, or asparagus grass. Although it’s not a true fern species, its fronds resemble one.
Because of its spreading characteristics, these ferns are very affordable and easy to cultivate. Moreover, these ferns are also used as a floral arrangement on many occasions in many countries which have positive economic growth.
This is one of the invasive species of ferns that has immense growth and spreading characteristics. These asparagus ferns also produce small and tiny flowers which generally come through berries.
Keep that in mind that these berries of asparagus ferns are slightly toxic to both humans and animals, especially dogs and cats. So if you have asparagus ferns in your house, make sure you keep that away from your pets.
Why Your Asparagus is Turning Yellow: Probable Reasons
There might be some generic reasons behind your yellow asparagus. Now let’s see those reasons.
Reason 1: lighting issues
One of the primary problems of your asparagus ferns might be getting overexposed to the sun. That’s why they might turn yellow.
Especially during the summertime, direct rays of the sun might be dangerous for your asparagus ferns. Similarly, inadequate sunlight and brightness can also cause yellow pale fronds.
If you put your plants into a dark room where they cannot get enough brightness, this can lead your fern plants to have insufficient sunlight.
Reason 2: Watering Issues
Another core reason might be improper watering issues that turn yellow. Overwatering your asparagus ferns can cause their root rot. Ultimately, their fronds will get yellow and will die gradually.
Conversely, If you give less water to your asparagus fern plants, the soil will be dried out. Likewise, there will be no moisture in the soil.
If you give less water to your plants, your plants will be dehydrated. Eventually, there will not be any moisture in the fronds as well. As a result, the dryness of the plants will later turn them yellow.
Reason 3: Temperature and Humidity Issues
Sometimes extreme temperatures and lack of humidity can cause your plant to have yellowish fronds. Low humidity can make their fronds or the tip of their fronds yellowish.
Reason 4: Lack of Fertilization
Further, lack of fertilization can also be another reason for your asparagus plants turning yellow. Every plant needs some portion of nutrition like magnesium, potassium, nitrogen, and calcium in their soil.
This will help them to grow healthier. But fewer nutrients and proponents can also affect their roots and will have an impact on their fronds as well.
Eventually, a lack of nutrients sometimes stops the growth of your plants, and your plants can die as well. In that time your beautiful asparagus ferns can turn yellow due to lack of fertilization.
Reason 5: Pest Problems
Any pests like bugs, spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, and parasites could be another reason for your asparagus turning yellow.
So if these insects or pests infect your asparagus, their fronds will eventually turn yellow.
How to Fix Your Yellow Asparagus Ferns
After you notified the probable reasons for your yellow asparagus ferns, now you need to address the problem to prevent further damage.
Immediate Repotting
If you observe the soil is overly soaked which might cause them to have yellow fronds. Then immediately repot your ferns with a new potting soil mixture.
Don’t use previous soil which has already been infected by many pests and fungi. Make a new potting organic-rich soil that will prevent waterlogged situations.
For this reason, 60% peat moss, 25 to 30 % perlite, and 10% compost would be an ideal soil mixture for asparagus ferns. After mixing the soil, take a new pot or container and shift your asparagus ferns there.
Before shifting, you can wash away the roots which will wash away all the bacteria and fungus from your plant. Just take the fresh healthy roots and repot them with a new soil mixture.
Don’t take any unhealthy or infected roots that might again spread the infection.
Shift to an partially shaded Place
Since asparagus ferns prefer indirect or filtered sunlight; therefore you need to shift your ferns to a place where they can get dappled sunlight.
Make sure you don’t give your plants direct sun exposure or direct sunlight. They do not require direct sunlight, it can burn their fronds or cause their fronds to get yellow to brown.
For example, you can keep your plants beside the window, door, balcony, or bathroom where they can get dappled sunlight.
And so, a typical northeast-facing window will also be fine for your asparagus ferns to have a dappled atmosphere. If your plants are located outdoors, then you must replant your ferns in shady places or sheltered places where they will not get the direct rays of the sun.
Adequate Amount of Watering
Asparagus ferns don’t need overly soaked soil or drought soil. They prefer moist and damp conditions in the soil. So if you observe your asparagus is getting yellow due to overwatering issues, then fix this problem as soon as possible.
Don’t over water your plants as you already know the reason. Try to water your plants once or twice a week depending on the environment and climate conditions.
During summer times, they might need more water due to the hot climate. On the other hand, they also need less water during winter seasons. So in those seasons, you can water your asparagus ferns once or twice a month.
Give them a gentle round of water until you can observe the water level almost reaches the edges of the pot. Try to give them normal room-temperature water when you water them.
Do not give them cold water because it might give their roots to sudden shock or their roots will be frozen. Try to keep your eyes on the soil pot and check the moisture level.
If you are unable to understand the moisture level, you can use a thumb checkup by pressing your thumb into the soil. If your plant’s soil is too hard or dry then there will be no sign of water inside of the plants.
Then you can put water into the plants. But after pressing your thumbs, if you see water is coming out or the soil is still mushy, then you don’t have to pour water on it.
Wait until the water is dry completely, then pour water onto your plants.
Increase Humidity
Similarly, you need to increase the humidity level in the environment in order to keep your asparagus healthy. Asparagus enjoys 65°F to 75°F temperatures in the environment.
Similarly, they also enjoy immense humidity around themselves. In order to increase or balance the humidity in the environment, you can spray water on your plants or on the fronds of your fern.
By misting the fronds of your plants, you can increase their humidity level. Or else, you can choose a humidifier for your plant room. It will also balance the humidity level in the environment of your room.
You can also put a tray of water with pebbles beside your plants if you don’t have a humidifier. This will also give the dew and damp moisture environment around your plants.
Provide Sufficient Fertilizing
Now you have to feed your asparagus ferns during their growing seasons. Feeding will eventually increase the growth of your plants. Thus try to use liquid fertilizer at half strength during their growing seasons.
If you identify that over-fertilizing is the problem, your asparagus ferns are turning yellow. Then stop feeding your ferns for a few months.
In extreme cases, you can also report your asparagus fern to prevent further damage. For that, you have to detach the soil from your plants, and then wash off your plants.
It will also wash away any excessive fertilized chemicals from your plants. Then you can repot your plants to a new pot.
Pests Solutions
If you think that your ferns are being attacked by pests and insects which cause them to have yellow fronds. Then immediately isolate your asparagus fern from other plants.
Treat them with insecticidal soap neem oil or any kind of market pesticides. This will keep your fern away from any kind of pests. Consistently treat your ferns with these pesticides to get 100% results.
Wrap Up
On a final note, asparagus ferns are renowned ornamental indoor plants for garden enthusiasts. Their bushy lush appearance provides a wild aesthetic look to every house.
However, due to improper lighting, watering, fertilization, lack of humidity, and pest infections, your green lush asparagus can turn yellow.
Their yellowish fronds gradually disrupt their original look. By following above mentioned guidelines you can fix your yellow asparagus ferns and give them a healthy bushy life.
