Why Plants Die
Theme
Theme

Alocasia leaves turning yellow: causes and what to do

17 results in the diagnosis tree begin with yellowing leaves, 7 of them marked likely when the answers fit. They are ordered here for Alocasia (Alocasia x amazonica), using what its sources say about soil moisture, light, soil, watering and feeding and one problem recorded for it.

Sources last read 14 September 2026.

Start the diagnosis for this Alocasia

Alocasia (Alocasia x amazonica), the whole plant.
Lazaregagnidze, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Also sold as Amazonian elephant's ear plant.

What Alocasia’s sources say that bears on this

Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
RHS · read 11 September 2026
Light
Partial shade
RHS · read 11 September 2026
Soil
Loam; pH Acid or Neutral
RHS · read 11 September 2026
Watering
From spring to autumn, water generously and feed every 2-3 weeks with a general liquid fertiliser. In winter, cut watering to a minimum and hold the temperature above 15°C.
RHS · read 13 September 2026
Feeding
From spring to autumn, water generously and feed every 2-3 weeks with a general liquid fertiliser.
RHS · read 13 September 2026

How this shows up on a Alocasia

The crown yellows from below and the pot stays heavy

On a alocasia the yellowing climbs from below. Affected leaves feel limp rather than papery, and water sits in the saucer long after it drains through.

Roots sitting in water run out of oxygen, and the first sign above ground is the oldest leaves being given up. Its source describes moist but well-drained soil, which is air as much as water.

Telling it apart: Whether the drainage hole drips when the pot is tilted. Water still running out days later is the answer.

RHS · read 11 September 2026

Possible causes, likeliest first for a Alocasia

  1. Most likely too much water

    Ranked higher because Alocasia's recorded problems point this way.

    • Moist but well-drained RHS · read 11 September 2026
    • Loam; pH Acid or Neutral RHS · read 11 September 2026

    Why: Soil that is wet two inches down, under leaves that are yellowing from the bottom or falling, points at roots that cannot breathe.

    What to try:

    • Hold off watering until the top two inches of soil are dry, and check again with a finger rather than by the calendar.Useful: moisture meter
    • Empty any water standing in the saucer or the outer pot within half an hour of watering.Useful: pot with drainage holes

    What would settle it: Lift the alocasia out of its pot. Healthy roots are firm and pale; roots that have been wet too long are brown, soft and smell sour.

    Check this with the questions

  2. Most likely cold

    Ranked higher for Alocasia because of what its sources say.

    Its RHS hardiness rating puts this plant's cold floor at 15°C or above, so a cold windowsill at night is a strong explanation.

    • H1A — warmer than 15°C RHS · read 11 September 2026

    Why: Soft, dark patches rather than crisp ones are damaged tissue rather than dried tissue.

    What to try:

    • Move it away from the glass at night, or keep the curtain on the room side of the alocasia.
    • Leave damaged leaves until new growth appears, then remove the worst of them.

    What would settle it: Where the alocasia sits at night, and what the glass feels like at that hour. Damage that appeared after one cold night, on the side facing the window, is the pattern.

    Check this with the questions

  3. Most likely too little water

    • Moist but well-drained RHS · read 11 September 2026

    Why: Soil dry two inches down, under lower leaves that are yellowing or leaves that are falling, is a alocasia shedding what it cannot support.

    What to try:

    • Water until it runs from the drainage hole, then let the pot drain.Useful: pot with drainage holes
    • If the water runs straight through a shrunken rootball, stand the pot in water for twenty minutes so the compost can take it up.

    What would settle it: Water it thoroughly and look again the same evening. A thirsty plant firms up fast. One that does not has a root problem rather than a water problem.

    Check this with the questions

Less likely for a Alocasia, still possible

Questions

What usually causes yellowing leaves on a Alocasia?
For Alocasia: most likely too much water, most likely cold and most likely too little water.
How can I tell which one it is on my Alocasia?
Where is the yellowing? The lowest leaves, working upward; New growth at the top, while older leaves stay green; Between the veins, the veins themselves still green; At the leaf tips and edges, browning as it goes; Patchy, only on the side facing the window.
What do Alocasia's sources say about its soil moisture?
RHS: Moist but well-drained.
What does this look like on a Alocasia?
On a alocasia the yellowing climbs from below. Affected leaves feel limp rather than papery, and water sits in the saucer long after it drains through. Telling it apart: Whether the drainage hole drips when the pot is tilted. Water still running out days later is the answer.
Is Alocasia safe to handle while I check it?
Its sources list it as toxic to cats, dogs and people. Wash your hands after handling the roots or sap, and keep trimmings away from pets.

Something else wrong with the Alocasia?

Everything the sources say about Alocasia

What this does not cover

This page orders a decision tree's results using a plant's sourced care. It has not seen your plant, its pot or its window, and two problems at once are common: that is the usual reason a confident answer turns out wrong. The questions in the diagnosis tool narrow it further than a list can.