Why Is My Cilantro Turning Red? (Complete Solution)

It can be really frustrating if your cilantro suddenly starts to turn red. It’s natural to worry about it and feel clueless. 

At times, this color change can eventually ruin your plant. That’s why having some basic ideas about this will help you a lot as an aspiring gardener. 

So, why is your cilantro turning red? 

Well, there are three possible reasons behind this problem. Irregular watering and moisture imbalance can harm cilantro greatly. Again, lighting and temperature can really affect the plant’s regular healthy growth. Lastly, your plant might lack necessary nutrients, hence it’s changing its color to red. 

It was just the gist of it. As we know, taking care of plants is a tough job. Hence you need more detailed insights about this. So, let’s get in there. 

What Causes Cilantro Turning Red and How to Solve the Problems? 

As you already know, changing the color of any plant isn’t a good sign at all. It indicates that the plant needs more care. So what exactly does your cilantro lack? What should be given to your plant to ensure healthy growth?

Well, there are quite some reasons that can lead to red cilantro. We’ve added solutions for the problems as well. Check them to save your plant from further damage-

1. Irregular Watering and Moisture Imbalance

Moisture imbalance can actually hamper healthy plant growth. So, if your plant doesn’t get enough and optimum amount of water, that can cause problems like cilantro turning red. 

Mostly, cilantro prefers moist soil. So, unlike other herbs, it prefers regular watering. But obviously, overwatering will harm your plant too. 

Also, Cilantro must be kept away from a heat higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Hence, overwater can easily affect it. And eventually, change the color. Moreover, cilantro is mostly kept inside a bottle or container. 

So, getting waterlogged is really easy. Hence, you need to be careful about this. 

Solution

Try to maintain a watering routine for your cilantro. At least once a week will do fine. An optimum amount of moistness will accelerate its healthy growth. 

As waterlogging can be a serious issue. So, make sure your container has a good water draining system. Having at least one ½ inch hole will work nicely.

If your plant already has logged water inside the container. Then you need to install a hole under the container. Also, use a stick to make a hole through the soil so the water gets drained easily. 

2. Improper Lighting and Temperature Imbalance

For any plant, lighting is an immensely important component. And light is closely related to temperature. Therefore, a slight light imbalance can lead to temperature-related problems too.

Even though cilantro loves calm weather, less heat, and more dampness. But that doesn’t mean it can work fine without light or insufficient lighting. 

During winter, cilantro gets affected by the low temperature which is less than 50 degrees F. 

Hence, the leaves become dull, blotted and color-changing happens frequently. Most people think home plants don’t get affected by outside temperature. 

But the actual scenario is different. When it’s freezing outside, even your in-house cilantro needs special treatment. The right amount of lighting and temperature is a must for it. Otherwise, things can go south.

You must be wondering which in-house light would be the best for you, right? Well, worry not. Here’s a lit of our top picks. So let’s have a look at them- 

Solution

You’ve to make sure your plant gets enough light and heat. For home plants, getting natural light and heat during winter can be tough. So, arrange indoor lighting. 

Set 4 fluorescents for 16-24 hours a day around your plant. Don’t put them far away. 2 inches is just perfect. Some people think 10-12 hours of lighting is good. 

But actually, it’s not. Your plant needs proper heat during midnight the most. Try to understand your plant’s needs. And observe the weather conditions. That’s all. It’s not very tough to take care of them.

3. Lack of Nutrition 

Nutrition is the utmost need for any living being. Plants are no different. There are some necessary nutrients that plants need for their growth. So when your cilantro is turning red, check if it lacks nutrition. 

It’s kind of hard to recognize if your plant needs extra nutrition. So most of the time the nurturer misses out on this point. It’s really wise to feed your plant when they start to show signs like color changing. 

But before feeding you need to know which nutrient is missing, right? How can you do that? Well, you just need a soil testing kit for this. 

It’s tough to choose the best one without proper knowledge. That’s why we’ve added this list of best picks for you. Check it out to choose your one-

Grab one from here. Trust us on this, these are our favorites so they won’t disappoint you. 

Solution

Fertilizing plants is important. But stressed plants shouldn’t be fertilized. This is when the confusion arises. 

How much to fertilize or shouldn’t fertilize at all? This is why expert advice should be taken before fertilizing your plant. 

Lastly, if none of these solves your problem, this might be a virus issue. So, you better ask for help from someone with in-depth knowledge about this. Don’t try random solutions on herbs by yourself. 

Hope any of this will solve your problem. Your plant will become healthy again. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Why are my cilantro leaves turning purple?

Answer: purple leaves are a sign of stressed cilantro. Even at times, purple cilantro shows that it’s ready to set seed and die. So turning purple actually shows the fatigue of your plant. 

Question: Does cilantro grow back after cutting?

Answer: Cilantro or plants of the same kinds gets leafy and laggy. Mostly when they’re planted in a pot or container. 

Question: How often should I water cilantro?

Answer: Cilantro prefers moist soil, it needs a well-maintained watering routine. This plant needs at least one inch of water per week. More watering might be needed when the temperature rises. Moreover, container plants require more water than open bed plants. 

Take Away

That’s all from our side. It’s time to part ways. Hope you find this post helpful. Now you can solve problems regarding cilantro turning red. 

Until next time, have a pleasant gardening experience.