Why did the leaves of the orchid turn yellow?

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Orchids feed not only through the root system, but also through their green mass, since these plants are epiphytic. If the leaves of the orchid turn yellow, you should find errors in the maintenance of the plant, because often the mistakes of the grower lead to such problems.

Why did the leaves of the orchid turn yellow?

Natural process

The yellowing of the flower, as well as the dryness of its tissues, may be the result of a natural process - the life cycle of a plant. After overcoming flowering, Orchids plunge into a state of sleep, and get rid of some of their old green tissues.

Yellowing is common to all Orchid species. Some subspecies even get rid of all unnecessary foliage (Dendrobium Nobile, etc.). You shouldn't take any action. After the flower sheds its foliage on its own, it will grow a new green lush mass.

Errors in agricultural technology

If the leaves of an orchid turn yellow and fall off, the reason for this phenomenon may be errors in the maintenance of the plant:

• improper organization of watering;
• lack of light;
• overheating of the plant in the sun;
• improper feeding;
• diseases and pests.

The reasons for yellowing can be errors in plant maintenance.

It is important to detect a change in the state of the plant as soon as possible and learn how to respond effectively. With timely assistance, the likelihood of recovery of the indoor flower remains high. If inactive, the yellow spots that appear will spread throughout the green part of the orchid and it will die.

Improper organization of watering

Caring for varieties of indoor beauty for the most part is focused on organizing comfortable conditions for the plant. He needs a suitable soil, light and moisture. The latter is most important for a room pet. If the leaves of an orchid suffer, turn yellow, wither, etc., problems may lie in:

1. excessive watering. This is the most common cause of yellow leaves in orchids. With an excess of moisture, the plant does not receive enough oxygen, which leads to a deterioration in its condition. Also, black spots may appear on the plates;
2. insufficient watering. Lack of moisture leads to the slow death of the plant. If, under the top layer of the soil, in its middle, the substrate has dried up, urgent measures must be taken;
3. water quality. If white spots appear on the surface of the plates and soil, this is a sign of a high concentration of salts in the water. The use of such water contributes to infection with chlorosis, which threatens with yellow formations on the plates and their gradual fall.

The Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium Nobile species often suffers from root rot, if the plant has been previously abundantly flooded with water, and the flower pot itself is kept cool. Water does not evaporate when it accumulates in the ground.As a result, part of the root system disappears, making it difficult for the flower to feed the greens. So they turn yellow, wither and shrink. If the roots are rotten, it will be necessary to remove the damaged areas of the root system.

Lack and overabundance of lighting

Orchid care at home varies with the season. In winter, the flower needs to be supplemented, and in summer, during the heat, it must be shaded (lighting the flower with direct sunlight threatens to burns).

The culture also needs to lower the air temperature to 22-24 ° C. Therefore, if the leaves of the pet have dried at the base, split or fall off, this indicates a pathological change in the mechanical density of the flower under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and abundant evaporation of moisture. If the integrity of the green tissues of the flower is violated, it is important to choose another place for its content.

In winter, the flower needs to be illuminated, and in summer, shade

There are also individual characteristics of the Orchid species, which flower growers should also consider:

1. Dendrodium, Cattleya and Oncidium should be placed on the sills of the southern windows. Such plants love light and high air temperature during the day.
2. Cymbidia, Miltonia and Cambria are best placed on western or eastern windows, where the light is less bright.
3. Phalaenopsis, Slipper and Venerin are planted on the windowsills near the northern windows, since they need less frequent natural light and actively develop at a temperature of 23-25 ​​° C.

In winter, in order to avoid problems with the state of the Orchid green mass, phytolamps are used daily. They are turned on in the evening for 3-4 hours to supplement the daylight cycle without the threat of overheating.

Excess or shortage of fertilizers

If the lower leaves of an orchid turn yellow, this often indicates problems with feeding. The volume of applied mineral fertilizers is important. Their deficiency and excess lead to a deterioration in the general condition of the plant. The first signs of such a pathological condition of a blooming pet may appear already in the first weeks after its purchase. A store-fed tropical plant suffers from a gradual decrease in the supply of minerals, and reacts capriciously to this by changing the color of the foliage and dropping it.

Another reason lies in the lack of minerals. The main source of quality growth and greenery formation is nitrogen. His houseplant is not enough. If only the ends of the leaf plates are affected, the pet does not have enough potassium.

Diseases and pests

If the leaves of an orchid turn yellow, it is worth checking it for signs of disease and pests. The sooner the symptoms of the disease are detected, the more effective the treatment will be. Yellow spots on the green mass of Orchids are often caused by pests such as:

• aphid;
• spider mite;
• nematode;
• shield.

If the leaves are covered with yellow spots and fall off, the plant could suffer from fungal infections. The most dangerous are gray rot, powdery mildew and anthracnose.

How to save a plant

If the leaves of the orchid turn yellow, the main cause of this phenomenon should be identified. If signs of yellowing are detected in a timely manner, the effect of the treatment is favorable. The only exceptions are viral diseases, which are difficult and not always effective to counteract.

Depending on the causes of the pathological condition, the salvation of the pet will have its own characteristics. The simplest solution to the problem is for burns. You should rearrange the flower pot to a new place or shade its trunk with a light cloth. Other factors will be more difficult. Each reason that led to the yellowing of the leaves in an orchid corresponds to a specific treatment.

For watering problems

If the soil is excessively moistened, there is a risk of root rot, so you will have to examine the root system and remove damaged roots.The treated plant is planted in a new substrate, and with high-quality care organization, it can be saved.

With excessive soil moisture, there is a risk of root rot

In case of insufficient watering, you will need to increase its frequency or choose an alternative to watering - immersing the pot in water. Such a procedure is carried out at home every day, provided that the plant does not suffer from diseases and pests, has strong immunity and a healthy root system.

Restoring the balance of minerals

The first problems with yellowing of an orchid can begin immediately after purchasing the plant. In stores, in order to extend the flowering period of these beauties, they often use a large amount of dressings and stimulants. Overfeeding the plant leads to the fact that it blooms and at the same time begins to turn yellow.

If the leaves of the orchid turn yellow, the plant should be treated after the expiration of the store flowering. Feeding an orchid at home will have the following features:

• feeding is carried out during the active growth of the flower;
• if the flower turns yellow, top dressing should be done with every second watering;
• with the beginning of leaf formation, the fertilization course is interrupted and the usual care scheme is returned;
• in winter, feeding is reduced to a minimum or completely abandoned;
• if the roots of the orchid rot or dry out, it will not work to heal the plant with top dressing.

With an excess of potassium, the roots should be rinsed under running water and fertilization should be avoided for 1.5-2 months. Such measures should be avoided only if the plant is healthy and does not bloom.

With a lack of potassium, the upper leaves of the room beauty suffer. They sharply become lethargic and their tips cover with yellow stripes, which gradually cover the entire green part of the leaf plate. Inaction of the grower leads to the fact that the leaves fall off. To reanimate the plant, it is required to transplant it into a new substrate, previously fertilized with a phosphorus-potassium composition.

Lighting

Orchids love the sun, but suffer from its direct rays. The edges of the plate are most sensitive to light. With a lot of light, the pet's foliage will wither and dry, as if kept away from windows. You should choose a suitable place for the flower, where it will be illuminated by diffused light, as well as where it will be convenient to use phytolamps.

Phytolamps should be used in winter, when the duration of daylight hours is shortened. It should be installed at a distance of 25-30 cm from the pot. The recommended lamp power is 40-60 watts. With properly organized lighting, leaves begin to recover within 3-7 days. Possible and first signs of improvement in their condition and in a shorter time.

Disease and pest control

If there is a thin web on the inside of the foliage, the plant has been attacked by a spider mite. You should get rid of it by washing the affected parts of the plant with settled water, at a temperature of 39-40 ° C. After the water procedure, the flower is covered with polyethylene. The holding time in this state is 3 days. If this method is ineffective, specialized drugs are used (Neoron, Tifos, etc.).

Disease and pest control methods

If the leaves of an orchid turn yellow, then the plant could attack aphids. It is localized on the back of the sheet. Such pests are carriers of the fungus and the flower quickly dies from their harmful activity. You can get rid of aphids like this:

1. Rinse the affected areas of the flower with warm water.
2. Treat the leaves with soapy water.
3. Spray with Fitoverm ".

Among the diseases, the greatest danger is represented by fungal infections. Gray rot is treated with Immunocytophyte, powdery mildew with Colloidal sulfur, and anthracnose with Mikosan.

If old leaves of an orchid turn yellow, bacterial spotting is often the cause of the disease.It will be possible to cope with it by removing the damaged area and treating the wound with iodine.

The foliage turned yellow after transplanting

Some growers observe a change in the color and condition of the leaf plates after transplanting the plant into a new pot. Such signs have several reasons for their occurrence. The first is dense soil. Due to the density of the substrate, the roots of the flower do not receive the required amount of oxygen. The second reason is stress. Orchids are sensitive flowers, especially to a change in location and react capriciously to this.

It will not be difficult to restore a plant dissatisfied with the new conditions. You should carefully remove the flower from the container, examine its roots (damaged areas should be removed) and plant the pet in a large pot with light and nutritious soil. With the correct work, the flower will recover in 1-2 weeks.

Conclusion

If the leaves of an orchid have begun to turn yellow, the reasons should be sought in errors in its care. Noticing that 1-2 leaves have turned yellow and fall off, you should not sound the alarm. They fell off due to natural aging. But, if they begin to turn yellow and fall off profusely, it is worth finding another reason for this pathological condition.