Overwatering
Wet soil plus yellowing lower leaves points squarely at overwatering — the fastest way to lose an anthurium.
Diagnosis
Overwatering
What's happening
Anthurium grows on tree trunks in the wild, so its thick roots need air as much as water. Packed into dense, constantly soggy soil they can't breathe, so they suffocate and rot. The plant abandons its oldest leaves first, which turn a soft, uniform yellow before they collapse.
How to fix it
Stop watering and let the mix dry well down. Slip the plant out and inspect the roots — firm, pale roots are healthy, so trim any brown, mushy ones with clean scissors and repot into a chunky, fast-draining blend of orchid bark, perlite, and a little peat in a pot with drainage holes. Going forward, water only when the top 2 inches feel dry; anthurium far prefers a touch of dryness to standing wet.
What fixes it
- Orchid bark for chunky mixes — Mixing orchid bark into the potting blend opens up airspace so the chunky roots can breathe and never sit wet.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Anthurium care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this