First, do not be alarmed. From my perspective, this yellowing is most often a perfectly normal and healthy process. My leaves are my food factories. Throughout the spring, I work tirelessly, using sunlight to photosynthesize and produce nutrients. These nutrients are not just for my beautiful flower you enjoyed; they are crucial for the development of my bulb underground. The bulb is my lifeline, my stored energy for surviving the dormant period and blooming again next year. Once my flowering is complete, my sole purpose is to channel all the energy from my leaves down into the bulb. The yellowing is a sign that this transfer is complete. The chlorophyll (which makes me green) is breaking down, and the job of these leaves is done.
However, if my leaves are turning yellow prematurely—before I have even finished flowering or while my foliage is still supposed to be green and active—this is a cry for help. The most common distress signal I send is due to my roots being too wet. My bulb is a storage organ, and like most bulbs, I am highly susceptible to rot. If I am planted in heavy, compacted clay soil or a low-lying area where water collects, my roots are essentially drowning. They cannot breathe, and they begin to decay. Without healthy roots, I cannot uptake water or nutrients, and my leaves will yellow, wilt, and die back far too early.
While I am not a heavy feeder, I still require a balanced diet to rebuild my strength. The process of flowering is incredibly energy-intensive. If I am planted in poor, depleted soil that lacks essential nutrients—particularly potassium, which supports overall plant health and nutrient movement—I may not have the resources I need to sustain my foliage for the required period. My leaves may yellow prematurely because I simply do not have the nutritional means to keep them functioning. I am cannibalizing my own foliage to save the bulb.
For natural cycle yellowing, your only job is to be patient. Please, do not cut, braid, or tie my leaves while they are still green. This interrupts the critical energy transfer process. Allow my leaves to remain until they are completely yellow and pull away from the bulb with a gentle tug. Only then is it safe to remove them.
If the issue is waterlogged soil, you may need to relocate me in the autumn. Choose a new planting site with well-draining soil, perhaps even a raised bed or a slope. Amend the soil with grit or sand to improve its structure and drainage.
To address nutrient deficiency, please feed me. After I finish blooming, a light application of a balanced, liquid fertilizer or a top-dressing of compost or a fertilizer high in potassium (like a tomato feed) can give me the boost I need to replenish the bulb effectively. This helps sustain my leaves for the correct duration.
