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Diagnosis

A houseplant with pale, washed-out leaves and yellow leaves

Pale, washed-out leavesYellow leaves

Based on what you've described, these are the likeliest causes — ranked. Each one carries a tell-tale sign that distinguishes it from the others, and a single-minute check to confirm.

1Most likely

Too little light

The plant is getting less light than it needs to sustain the leaves it currently has, so it's stretching toward the nearest window and cannibalizing older growth. Low light problems show up in weeks, not days, which is why they're easy to miss.

Tell-tale sign
New growth is smaller and paler than the old leaves, and stems elongate between leaves rather than filling out.
60-second check
Hold your hand a foot above the plant at midday. If your shadow is soft-edged or barely visible, the spot is too dim.
2Most likely

Overwatering

The soil has stayed wet for too long, suffocating the roots and weakening the plant from the base up. It's the most common reason houseplants decline indoors, and it looks deceptively similar to thirst: a wilting plant in soggy soil is almost always drowning, not dry.

Tell-tale sign
Soil is wet more than an inch deep, and the lower leaves yellow or soften before the upper leaves change.
60-second check
Push a finger two inches into the soil. If it comes out cool and damp, the plant doesn't need water; it needs to dry out.
3Most likely

Too much direct light (sunburn)

Direct sun, especially through a south- or west-facing window in summer, has bleached or scorched the leaf surface. Species adapted to forest understories (most aroids) are particularly vulnerable; desert species are not.

Tell-tale sign
Damage is confined to the side of the plant facing the window and shows up as bleached patches with crisp edges, not general yellowing.
60-second check
Check if the damaged leaves are the ones in direct sun. Move the plant two feet back from the window and watch what happens to new growth.
Read deeper
Houseplant on a windowsill in bright indirect sunlightLighting

Understanding Light Levels for Indoor Plants

14 min
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How Often Should You Water Houseplants? A Practical Guide

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Dense tangle of exposed plant roots — the kind of root mass you uncover when lifting a plant to check for rotTroubleshooting

Root Rot in Houseplants: How to Identify, Save, and Prevent It

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Canonical combo: pale-washed-out-leaves--yellow-leaves