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Why Is My Parsley Turning Yellow (4 Causes & 3 Caring Tips)

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Are you worried by looking at your Parsley turning yellow? Why is my Parsley turning yellow? You want an answer to this question. Don’t you? Well, you will have your question answered in this article. Just stick with it till the end.

Parsley is a delicious herb that’s used in various styles of cooking. This plant is an extremely delicate plant native to the Mediterranean, primarily in France and Italy, which turns yellow if not cared for properly.

The leaves turning yellow in Parsley can be seen in full plants and those that have been cut for cooking. 

Parsley turning yellow can be due to numerous reasons. But what it indicates is that the plant is under some form of stress despite anything being the reason.

The outer leaves of Parsley usually start to turn yellow first, followed by the inner ones. It is essential for you to find out what causes your Parsley to turn yellow to avoid it and take its proper care.

So, to make it easier for you, this article contains four such causes of your Parsley turning yellow along with its caring tips as a bonus.

So, let’s begin learning.

Why Is My Parsley Turning Yellow
Why Is My Parsley Turning Yellow” via Reddit

Why Is My Parsley Turning Yellow?

The Parsley plant growing in your garden gets neglected and has to grow in unmaintained conditions, usually turning yellow. Being native to Mediterranean areas, this plant favours gentle conditions without major changes in hydration and temperature.

Below is a list of 6 such reasons that cause your Parsley to turn yellow. 

1)    Overwatering or Underwatering

Parsley turns yellow with both overwatering as well as underwatering. It is necessary to find the actual cause between them to solve the problem of your parsley plant turning yellow.

The Parsley in your home is turning yellow because you might be overwatering the plant. The excess water drowns the roots, which makes them unable to provide oxygen and nutrients to the leaves.

You might water your parsley plant even after turning yellow. This needs to be avoided as it will cause your plant’s roots to rot and die eventually. Stop watering your plant if you see the soil wet.

Parsley plant also turns yellow if it is underwatered. Your busy lifestyle might lead your Parsley to be neglected. This makes your plant dry out.

Also, you might be watering your plant just to make the topsoil moist, without any penetration to roots. Whatever be the reason, your Parsley plant will alert you by yellowing its outer leaves.

2)    Sunlight

Having too much shade is another potential reason that causes your Parsley to turn yellow. Parsley thrives in partial shade to full sunlight. This plant requires a high level of sunlight to produce the required amount of chlorophyll during photosynthesis.

The partial shade allows Parsley to have some respite from intense heat in hotter climates and slows down the evaporation rate from the soil.

Parsley plants in cooler climates demand full sun to grow well. That’s why it requires at least 6-8 hours of sunlight every day in cooler climates.

The leaves of the Parsley plant turn yellow with its stem drooping down if placed in too shaded areas. Also, the growth rate decreases in such areas.

Why Is My Parsley Turning Yellow 2 576x1024 1
Why Is My Parsley Turning Yellow? via Reddit

3)    Soil Conditions & Fertilizers

Poor soil with a deficit of nutrients is another reason why your Parsley plant turns yellow. If the potting soil is not good with a lot of clay, weeds, and chemicals, the Parsley growing in it might turn yellow.

This type of soil is heavy and compact. It also prevents the air and moisture from reaching the roots of the plant.

Also, the addition of too much fertilizer in the soil causes the roots of Parsley to burn due to the presence of excessive nitrogen. This causes stress and nutrient deficiency in the plant resulting in yellow leaves.

4)    Bugs & Diseases

The leaves of Parsley turn yellow also when the plant gets attacked by bugs like Aphids, Spider Mites and Fungus Gnats. These bugs suck the sap of the plant and make it lose nutrients.

Also, diseases such as Botrytis causes the Parsley plant to turn yellow. It is favoured by not having enough sunlight along with too much water. Thus, fungal diseases are caused by the humid conditions which attack the Parsley plant.

Caring Tips for Parsley Plant

1)    Optimum Watering

Maintaining the optimum water level for your Parsley plant is one of the fundamental things to help it grow well. The effects of overwatering can be minimized by cutting the damaged roots. You can reduce watering the plant that allows recovery.

But if the soil your Parsley is growing has dried, water the plant so that the roots get enough water. Also, ensure that there’s some water draining system in the bottom of the pot.

2)    Proper Sunlight & Soil

If there’s too much shade for your Parsley plant, transfer it to a place that gets the required amount of sunlight. If the plant is grown indoors, place it near a window that gets enough sunlight.

You can use compost as well as organic fertilizers in the soil if you need to. But don’t overuse such fertilizers as high nitrogen levels cause Parsley to droop and also increase Aphid infestation.

3)    Bugs Control

Check your Parsley plant every day to prevent bugs from infesting the plant. If you find any bugs, you can easily get rid of them with the help of water spray to dislodge them into the soil.

Watch This Video to Find Out Why Your Plants are Turning Yellow & How to Fix It


Conclusion

Parsley plant turns yellow due to various reasons. It can be due to improper watering, unhealthy soil and unfavoured sunlight conditions. If you maintain a good environment for your Parsley, considering all the things required, it will surely help your plant thrive to grow well.  

Parsley is an easy growing plant whose healthy green leaves can be used for cooking. A healthy Parsley is a safe plant to eat.

Although you can eat the yellow Parsley as well, however, we recommend you not to as the leaves will lose all their taste and culinary value by the time it turns yellow.