The capricious disposition of orchids is offset by beauty and wonderful aroma. In order for an exot to always feel good, care is required for it. In addition, flower growers should closely monitor the condition of the plant, because any deviation from the norm can talk about problems. For example, it is important to know why the leaves of an orchid turn yellow. There are many reasons. If you understand them, you can save the plant from death in time.
The main causes of yellowness of leaves
Experienced flower growers know that before talking about why leaf plates began to dry, you should figure out where you can see the yellowness. It is the location of the yellowing plates that will tell you about the essence of the problem or its absence. Accordingly, after that it will be possible to take the right measures. Otherwise, an incorrect diagnosis and appropriate treatment will lead to even greater inhibition of the flower.
Orchid - one of the most delicate, but moody flowers
Note! The green color of the leaves indicates a sufficient amount of chlorophyll pigment in them. Juicy green plates are a sign of plant health. Yellowness, dryness appear due to a lack of chlorophyll.
Yellowing of the lower plates
Natural process
Do orchids turn yellow leaves on the lowest tier? In this case, the emerald color lost only one or two sheets? If the plant itself looks healthy, strong, then the grower is faced with a natural process. This is how a flower sheds old foliage. Instead, a new one appears. Usually such a process can be observed for the first time when a flower is 1.5-2 years old. Further, from time to time, discarding obsolete foliage will be repeated. In this case, there is no need to panic. Additional top dressing, which can adversely affect the plant, should not be carried out. Changing something in care is not recommended.
Unnatural process
Another thing is if the lower leaves not only acquired a light sunny or dark yellow color, but also lost turgor, began to fade. Common causes include:
- lack of lighting;
- strong solar activity;
- too plentiful watering;
- overfeeding or lack of useful elements;
- infection;
- the need for a transplant.
Flower preparing to drop old foliage
Lack of lighting
Some types of home orchids, for example, Phalaenopsis, are sensitive to the lack of proper lighting. In nature, these plants grow mainly under trees, and sunlight penetrates into them in a diffuse form, but it is quite enough for good development. In an apartment, the presence of lighting is also important. In this case, it is best if the light will fall on the flower for at least 12 hours. It is because of the lack of sunlight that the lower leaves begin to lose chlorophyll.
Strong solar activity
In this case, whitish burns appear on the leaves, which lead to a yellow tint. The dried leaf subsequently falls off.
Too plentiful watering
This reason is indicated not only by yellow leaves, but also by high soil moisture and condensation on the walls of a transparent plastic pot.
Useful elements
Another answer to the question "why do lower leaves turn yellow on an orchid?" is the lack of useful elements in the substrate, soil. For example, without potassium, iron, nitrogen, the plant will quickly wither away. This is especially true for the species Dendrobium.
Attention! Overfeeding the orchid is strictly prohibited.
Infection
In this case, there will be more than one yellow leaf. In addition, yellowness will appear on the stem.
Transfer
Home orchids can notify the owner about the need for transplantation just by yellowing the lower foliage. This occurs when the roots become too crowded in a small container.
Yellowness at the base of leaf plates
If, when examining an orchid, it turned out that the leaf plates do not begin to change color completely, but only at the base, then the matter is more serious. Florists know that problems at the base of the plates signal some kind of malfunction in the root system. Among others:
- rotting of roots;
- their drying out.
Yellowing of the base of the plate indicates root problems
Causes of decay of peduncles, buds
Another trouble that worries gardeners is the sudden fall of flowers ahead of time. Do not worry if the flowers fall for natural reasons, for example, after prolonged flowering. Typically, the plant blooms from 1 to 6 months. After that, delicate flowers wither, lose their former brightness and fall off.
It happens that unopened buds fall. They can fall off for various reasons. Some overlap with the causes of yellowness of leaf blades. All of them, as a result, lead to the fact that the plant experiences stress and gets rid of flowers, due to entering the survival phase.
Common causes include:
- aging;
- death, decay of the root system;
- being in a cold place;
- a sharp change of scenery;
- lack of necessary lighting;
- improper distribution of moisture;
- unpleasant neighborhood with other plants, etc.
Additional Information. Each species has its own flowering period. Some, for example, Oncidiums, Miltonia and Miltoniopsis, are able to throw buds all year round or several times a year.
Aging
Each plant has its own life span. In an orchid, it is 6-8 years. The old plant simply does not have the strength to create a flowering halo. Even if an elderly flower tries to throw buds, they dry up and fall off. The process cannot be prevented.
Root rot
In this case, the flowers or buds will also fall off. This cannot be stopped. It is necessary to carry out a comprehensive work with the roots.
Cold
One of the most important enemies of an exotic flower is cold and drafts. If there is a sharp change in temperature, even for a short time, the buds will inevitably fall off.
Orchid leaves may turn yellow from the cold.
A change of scenery
Even the persistent and most popular Phalaenopsis species will experience stress if, during flowering, it is moved to another place, the pot is placed incorrectly relative to the sun, or transferred from a room with sufficient humidity to a room with dry air.
Lighting
A beautiful woman will drop flowers if there is too little diffused light. During flowering, this factor is most relevant.
Watering
Improper moisture distribution leads to rotting of the roots or their overdrying. As a result of this process - the fall of flowers, buds. It is urgent to rectify the situation. Otherwise, the orchid can not only never bloom again, but also die.
Nasty neighbors
The flower grower should pay special attention to the neighbors of his pet. The fact is that some fruits emit an organic substance of the class of alkenes - ethylene. The compound negatively affects the body of orchids. As a result, flower stalks may disappear.
Important! Among the fruits that produce large amounts of ethylene, apples are in the first place, apricots, pears in the second, mango, peaches, and tomatoes in the third.
Orchid and apples are bad neighbors
Ways to treat an exotic beauty
Drying sheet plates
Yellowed orchid leaves what to do? Experienced flower growers answer this question, that again everything depends on the cause. So, if the leaf dries and turns yellow in a natural cycle, then you can’t touch the leaf plate. Despite her condition, she continues to nourish the plant. You just have to wait, the sheet should dry and fall on its own.
Another thing is if the drying leaves indicate more serious problems, for example, infections.
In this case, a broad-spectrum antibiotic should be used. A fungicide is suitable, for example:
- Alirin;
- Mikosan;
- Copper sulfate;
- Bordeaux fluid;
- Quadris, etc.
It is necessary to treat the plant, guided by the advice of the instruction. Pre-dried sheet is removed.
Signs of infection
Yellow leaf restoration
If the leaves are not completely dried up, and the reasons are not infections, but the wrong content, then restoring the plant in this case is not difficult.
Lighting
Among the main causes of yellowing of the leaves is a lack of lighting. In this case, the plant is placed on a bright area, best on the east or south side of the apartment. Necessarily a little shading. In autumn and winter, additional lighting is needed in the form of fluorescent lamps.
Elimination of solar activity
If chlorophyll has ceased to be produced due to sunburn, the plant is rearranged in another place. If the sheet is badly damaged, it is removed.
Note! Artificial lighting must also be installed correctly. You can not position the lamp relative to the plant at a distance closer than 15-25 cm.
Organization of proper watering
If the plant received less water, its roots began to dry, measures should be taken. It is best to remove the flower from the container with the substrate and immerse in a container of warm water. Immersion occurs only in the root system. The green mass cannot be wetted.
To save the plant, which, on the contrary, was flooded, is also possible. To do this, the rhizome is removed from the pot and examined for putrefactive destruction. If they are not, then the roots are slightly dried and transplanted into a pot with new soil.
Work with feed
If the plant is overfed, it is taken out of the pot, the roots are washed in warm water and transplanted into new soil. After 14 days, it is allowed to make a combined preparation for orchids of low concentration. If the leaves turn yellow due to a lack of elements, then fertilizing should be organized.
Transfer
An important condition for the health of an exotic beauty is to find the optimal volume in the pot. Yellow leaves may indicate a need for transplantation. In this case, the plant is transferred to a larger container.
To give the flower health, it must be transplanted on time
Rhizome treatment
The flower will disappear if you do not treat rotten roots. First, the roots are inspected. Brown color and fragility speak of approaching death. It is necessary to treat the plant promptly:
- The roots are gently cleaned from the substrate with your hands.
- A sharp knife is taken. It is disinfected with an alcohol solution.
- Fibrous, rotten, dead sections of rhizome are cut with a knife.
- All the places touched by the knife are processed with green. Instead, ash can be used.
- Next, the plant is transplanted into new soil.
- Watering in the first 3-5 days is prohibited. It is best to place a basin of water next to it. Water will humidify the air around the exot.
Care Tips
A distant relative of the orchid preferred the tropics. Therefore, gardeners should take into account that the flower is thermophilic and cannot be in a room with dry air. Among the main factors for caring for a beautiful woman are the following:
- competent composition of the soil;
- optimal temperature;
- humidity;
- proper watering;
- top dressing.
Soil composition
It is best to purchase a ready-made soil for orchids, which is sold in stores. You can supplement it:
- foam particles;
- oak bark;
- coals;
- moss;
- perlite, etc.
Additional Information. Before mixing the main soil with supplements, they are thoroughly washed, and if possible roasted in the oven.
Temperature
The best air temperature during the day should be at + 20 ... +25 degrees. At night - no lower than +17 degrees. Do not place exotics in the room where the air conditioner is located, or there are drafts.
Humidity
The flower will be comfortable with humidity from 55% to 75%. You can create such an indicator if you put a humidifier nearby. Another way out is periodic spraying from the spray gun.
Orchid Health Depends on Proper Care
Watering
He must be moderate, constant. As soon as the top of the substrate becomes dry, the orchid should be watered. You can plant a flower in a transparent plastic pot, in the sides of which to make holes. Then the watering is replaced by placing the pot in a basin with water for 3-6 minutes. The rhizome in this case will absorb as much moisture as needed.
Top dressing
The main elements for the healthy growth of an exotic flower are iron, nitrogen, phosphorus. Special mineral fertilizers with these components are sold in stores. Feeding is carried out once every 1-1.5 months.
Despite the capricious disposition, it is not difficult to grow a healthy orchid. The main thing is to understand possible problems, including yellowing leaves and falling flowers, buds.
