Yellow leaves on your sago palm have a few possible causes, and on this plant the likeliest is overwatering and early root rot. Check the causes below to find which one fits, then follow its fix.
Overwatering & early root rot. Stop watering. Make sure the pot can actually drain, and wait until the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil feel dry to the touch. If the base is mushy or smells sour, unpot it and trim any brown, soft roots before repotting in fresh mix.
Not a match? Compare the signs below to find the one you have.
How to tell
The yellowing comes with pale, stretched new growth leaning toward the nearest window. That combination shows that the spot is too dim for a sago palm.
The fix
Move it to a brighter spot, but keep it out of harsh midday sun, which scorches.
How to tell
The soil is bone dry, and the yellowing arrives alongside crispy frond tips rather than soft, mushy growth.
The fix
If the soil is dry, water thoroughly (every 8 to 12 days in summer is the usual pace for a sago palm), then settle into feeling the soil before every watering rather than watering on a fixed day.
How to tell
Sago palm grows slowly and needs very little feeding, so a uniform pale-yellow fade after many months without any is possible, but check watering and light first: those are far more common on this plant.
The fix
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer at half the strength on the label, no more than every 90 days while it’s actively growing. Overfeeding a slow grower like this does more harm than skipping it.
How to tell
A single bottom leaf slowly yellows while the rest of the plant looks healthy and is pushing new growth.
The fix
Nothing is wrong. Snip the spent leaf off and carry on. Plants retire their oldest leaves.
Water only once the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil feel dry to the touch, never let it sit in a saucer of water, and give it bright, indirect light. Root rot, not thirst, is the real risk on this plant.
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