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Rosemary is a popular herb that is used as a spice in most foods and delicacies. It is a plant that is a native of the Mediterranean and grown in some parts of southern Europe.
Rosemary oils are used in making body creams and beauty products.
When plants start changing colour it is a sign that it is going bad or has been infected. The natural colour for good and healthy plants is always Green, which is radiant and delicious.
If your plants start changing colour it means that it needs to be checked and examined for possible reasons as to why the colours are changing.
As a gardener, if you notice that your rosemary plants are changing colour from their original green radiance colour, what could be the possible reasons? We are going to discuss that in this article today.
Yellowing Of Rosemary Caused By Nutrient Deficiency
A scarcity of essential nutrients can result in a rosemary plant having yellow leaves. The most widespread cause of yellow leaves is a lack of iron, zinc, nitrogen, or manganese.
If the first leaves that turn yellow are the oldest ones, it could be nitrogen, zinc, or manganese that’s deficient.
If the issue starts on young leaves and spreads to the old ones, it’s likely an iron deficiency.
To correct the nutrient deficiency lacking in your rosemary plant, the soil first has to be tested to know what nutrients are lacking.
If soil-test results indicate the need for fertilizer, only apply it while the plant is actively growing during the warm months.
If a soil test cannot be carried out immediately then you can apply a regular fertilizer of 20-20-20 to replace the lost nutrients.
Other inequalities that can cause difficulty with the uptake of iron include excess zinc, copper, calcium, phosphorus, or manganese. insufficient level of potassium in the plant and too small iron in the soil will also turn leaves yellow.
Yellowing Of Leaves Caused By Lack of Sun
Rosemary is a herb plant that lives naturally in blazing sunshine (in southern Europe) for most of the year with few hazy days and gentle Winters.
The leaves can also turn yellow as an indication of impoverished plant health.
If your Rosemary is not in ample sun then it can grow sparse and possibly extra growth with limited flowers.
This can be rectified by simply moving the potted rosemary into a location with full sun or transplanting the rosemary to a brighter area if it is not planted in pots.
If carried out properly, the rosemary plant should start to recuperate with better growth, stronger scent, the leaves turning from yellow to a healthier green, and more flowers.
Yellowing Caused By Potting Problems
If the pot used in is too small, the soil can dry up very rapidly in full sun, this can cause telling because the roots find it difficult to take up water quickly which can turn the leaves yellow.
If the size of the pot is too small, the roots will have insufficient room to access the nutrients and water it needs. Which can turn the leaves yellow.
Plant rosemary in a pot that is roughly 12-16 inches across to ensure that the pot has enough potential for the soil so the roots can stabilize properly without becoming pot-bound and sick.
Also, the soil acts as a warmer for the roots from the cold. Rosemary is not particularly cold and may require safety in the Winter.
The roots are the most susceptible to cold temperature so a small pot would not contain sufficient soil to help cover the roots from the cold.
Pest (Spider Mites)
Pests can be a valid reason as to why your rosemary is turning yellow, one of such pests that attack rosemary is the spider mite.
When spider mites feed on your rosemary, the leaves may be speckled with yellow. A closer look and you may also notice webs where the leaves join the stems. If left untreated, these pests can damage and kill your plant.
To remove spider mites, water should be sprayed forcefully on the plants. Repeat this each week until the problem is gone.
Making use of pesticides can also remove spider mites. Make sure your rosemary isn’t getting too parched between watering, which can intensify the likelihood of spider mite crises.
Root Rot and Over Watering
Root rot is a popular reason for the yellowing of most garden plants including a rosemary plant. If your plant has this situation, you’ll notice yellow leaves as well as stunted growth.
Rosemary prefers well-draining soil, if it is not dry and has too much water can cause root rot.
Check the roots of the plant if they start turning yellow. Plants with root rot will have some black roots, and the roots will look slimy.
Healthy roots are always white and firm. If root rot is limited, you can be able to save the plant by removing all infected roots, cutting back on watering, and enhancing drainage.
Let the soil dry between watering, and at all times, make sure that the plants are not sitting in water.
How Often Should I Water Rosemary Bushes?
Since rosemary is considered a drought-resistant herb it should be watered when the roots are dried up, doing this will prevent the roots of Rosemary plants from becoming soggy and slimy. Watering rosemary at the stipulated time will help prevent root rot.
How do you Keep Rosemary From Going Woody?
The lower part of the rosemary plant usually becomes Woody which is completely normal for growing rosemary. But to prevent the rosemary plants from going completely Woody, some necessary adjustments that have to be carried out are highlighted below.
- Prune young rosemary leaves to foster new growth and prevent it from getting woody.
- Watering the plant will encourage new growth and young leaves.
Finally, we have seen that rosemary can go from green to yellow due to low nitrogen content in the soil, water sensitivity, potting problems, and a lack of sun.
When we do the necessary things which include putting the plant under full sun, well-draining soil, watering only when needed, and adequate nutrient soil, your rosemary leaves that were once yellow will recover and turn green.
