More recently, exotic plants on window sills in apartments have rarely been found. Today, the situation has changed dramatically. Such flowers surprisingly transform the appearance of the room. Particularly attractive are orchids, which create an atmosphere of a tropical corner. At home, these types of plants are often found: phalaenopsis, cattleya, dendrobium, papiopedilum. Of course, exotic flowers require special care. Often flower growers ask, why does an orchid turn yellow? How to help the plant cope with this trouble? So, what can cause a discoloration of the leaves of the plant?
Natural aging processes
If suddenly your favorite orchid leaves began to turn yellow, do not panic right away. A logical question should be asked: “Why does the orchid turn yellow?” The first thing to think about is the natural aging process. After all, each leaflet has its own life cycle. All plants undergo a similar “generational change."
Often mass hybrids are characterized by drying of one lower leaf. Less often, two processes die off. They are replaced by new, strong and bright leaves.
Be careful, because the orchid dendrobium nobile (noble dendrobium) can also dry up the upper leaves of the bulb, which has already faded. On this plant, all the leaves can also fall, even from a live bulb.
Why the lower leaves turn yellow in the orchid, we have already learned. Something to do is not worth it. The leaflet itself must dry completely and separate from the total mass independently. Tearing off or pruning the yellowed processes is not recommended, so that the plant does not injure once again.
But remember that you need to regularly inspect the orchid. Yellowing can occur quite quickly - from 1 to 4 days.
You should also pay attention to the age of the flowers. Leaves rarely retain their viability for several years. For all orchids, the annual discharge of leaves during dormancy or during flowering is normal.
Many experienced flower growers are not worried about why the orchid turns yellow. Everything should take its course. But if there were any omissions, then the plant will immediately respond to them. Often a flower slows down in development or changes its color.
Sunburn
Plants on the windowsill are always pleasing to the eye. But what to do - the leaves turn yellow on the orchid. Why is this happening? The answer is simple - often plants suffer from an overabundance of sunbathing. This is especially true in the summer. After standing on the sunny side all summer, a flower can get more than one burn. These lesions can be seen with the naked eye. Leaflets begin to turn yellow in places where the sun most hit.
This problem is quite easy to solve - you just need to move the plant to another place. If this is not possible, the flowers must be shaded. You can stick special sun-reflecting films on glass. You can also simply arrange the orchid with plants, with more developed foliage, which will create a shadow.
These rules are best applied immediately, without waiting until the burn marks appear on the leaflets. Indeed, most hybrids are not adapted to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
Over time, the area around the burn dries up. Completely remove such a leaf is not worth it.
Insufficient lighting
Another reason why orchids fade and turn yellow leaves may be insufficient lighting. This problem is relevant in the cold season. Therefore, at such a time, it is recommended to use additional light - fluorescent lamps, phytolamps. Remember that they must also be included according to certain rules (a few hours are enough). Otherwise, you may overheat the sleeping flower.
Photophilous include such orchids as Lellia, Wanda, Cattleya. They are not recommended to be located on the north side. After all, a lack of lighting can lead to the fact that the leaves of the plant completely fall off.
Abundant watering plants
Many gardeners on the windowsill have more than one Phalaenopsis orchid. Why leaves turn yellow, what to do in such a situation? After all, the plant needs to be saved! Often this is due to the abundant frequent watering of the plant. The harm from such actions is obvious - the soil does not breathe, is compressed, the moist bark becomes a breeding ground for the spread of microorganisms, fungi. The bark can begin to rot, and with it the roots.
Experienced growers recommend paying attention not only to the state of the topsoil. After all, the bark dries quickly on top. Literally every other day, the surface of the pot becomes dry, while at the same time the substrate remains moistened at a depth. This should be remembered, starting each time to water the plant.
Many orchid lovers know that these plants need transparent pots. Through them you can see how moist the soil is throughout the area. If your pet grows in an opaque pot, you need to take a wooden stick and carefully place it near the rim. If after a few minutes it becomes wet, watering must be postponed.
True orchid lovers can determine the need for watering a plant by picking up a flower pot. After all, when watering, the substrate absorbs moisture and becomes much harder than dry.
With excessive watering in a plant:
- the color of all processes (both upper and lower) changes;
- leaves feel moist, soft;
- black spots appear on the surface of the leaves or on the trunk;
- roots darken, become covered with dark spots;
- the plant is easy to get out of the pot.
You should carefully look at the plant. If the plant or substrate began to rot, the orchid urgently needs to be transplanted. In this case, you need to carefully study the root system of the plant. The affected areas are removed, the plant is transplanted into a new container with new soil. After such events, the plant needs special care.
Why does the orchid wither and turn yellow? It is necessary to pay attention not only to the schedule and abundance of irrigation, but also to water quality. After all, water with various impurities and increased hardness can provoke salting of the soil. In this case, you must immediately change the soil. And the leaves should be treated with liquid fertilizer.
But remember that such an operation should not be carried out during the flowering period of the plant.
Inadequate watering of the plant
Watering is an important component of proper plant care. The main reason why the orchid turns yellow is the non-compliance with the irrigation regime. If the plant is watered at the wrong time or, conversely, it is actively waterlogging the soil, this negatively affects the metabolism. Such mistakes often cause a change in the shade of the leaves.
Often phalaenopsis have a healthy appearance: the roots are normal, the stem is strong. But at the same time give the leaves yellow. This is possible even with regular, normal watering. Why do the leaves of the phalaenopsis orchid turn yellow in this case?
The problem may be with the method of hydration. When watering a plant through a watering can, the bark can be poorly moistened. Only superficially does it absorb moisture, and the roots are not saturated with water. A good drainage contributes to the rapid elimination of fluid. At the same time, the plant lacks nutrients, and young shoots pull them from the old.
How to be? In this case, it is recommended to switch to immersion irrigation. In this case, the pot with the plant must be partially immersed in a container with water and left there for several minutes. After changing the irrigation regime, after a few weeks the plant will return to normal.
Feeding Features
Plant nutrition is an important component of proper flower care. But fertilizing the plant, you must choose the right tool. Before buying, it is better to consult with the seller, and choose the perfect option for a particular variety.
Remember, if there is a suspicion of the presence of pests in the plant, it is forbidden to feed it. Otherwise, the flower may die.
Particular attention should also be paid to the dosage. The most commonly made mistakes are as follows.
Nutrient deficiency
Both overabundance and lack of nutrients negatively affect the condition of the plant. Why does the bottom leaf turn yellow on the orchid? The upper parts of the leaves often turn yellow due to a deficiency of potassium. If the problem is not resolved, the inner plate is affected, in which the veins die.
This is because young leaves "pull" potassium from old leaves, which in the future may completely disappear. In this case, the orchid needs an urgent transplant into a new soil.
Fertilizing the plant, pay attention to the composition of the product. Phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium must be present in the composition. Experienced gardeners pay attention to the marking. The numbers next to the letters NPK indicate what this fertilizer is used for. For example, the cipher 4-3-3 is intended for a set of green mass, and 4-6-6 - to stimulate flowering.
Oversupply of fertilizer
Fertilizing plants should be considered immediately after acquiring an exotic beauty. Often, sellers stuff a plant with various feeds and stimulants before selling. The motivation is clear - you need a beautiful product. Often such mistakes are also made by beginner florists, overly fertilizing the flower.
A plant that is often over fertilized can last only a few years. After such a departure, many ask the question: “Why do orchids turn yellow leaves? What to do? How to save the plant? " So, let's start again.
Fertilizer Rules
It is necessary to start fertilizing the plant yourself after the orchid has flowered and settled in a new place. Fertilizer rules must also be observed:
- Top dressing is combined with watering. First, the plant is watered, after - fertilizers are applied in liquid form.
- Add top dressing during the growth period.
- In the cold season and in the middle of summer, top dressing is reduced to 1 time per month.
- As soon as the leaves are formed, top dressing can be stopped.
- Sick and weak plants cannot be fertilized.
- After the transplant, the plant should not be fed for 1 month.
Experienced gardeners do not recommend the use of growth stimulants for orchids. Excess calcium can lead to yellowing of the tips of the leaves.
Here are the main reasons why the phalaenopsis orchid turns yellow. Remember that proper care is the key to a beautiful, long and abundant flowering plant.
Pests and diseases
Often the cause of wilting or yellowing of the leaves is the presence of pests and diseases. Exotic flower is a tidbit for many domestic pests. Once a pest or disease is suspected, the plant must be isolated immediately.
Diseases spread on orchids when improperly observed temperature conditions, watering, lighting. Orchids are often affected by neighboring affected plants.
Viral, fungal and bacterial infections can be determined by the presence of dark yellow spots on the surface of the leaves or by tubercle-mycelium.
Orchid Pests
Orchids can be affected by such pests:
- Aphid. Often placed on the inside of the sheet, which becomes sticky.
- A spider mite can be found by a thin spider web located on the shoots and under the leaves.
- The shield can be detected only with a magnifier. Often the vital activity of this pest contributes to the formation of growths.
- A sign of the appearance of nematodes is a stop in the growth of the plant and deformation of the leaves.
- Winged thrips leave a silver layer on the shoots, substrate, leaves. They affect the plant at low humidity.
- Woodlouse can attack the plant when kept outdoors.
Conclusion
Exotic plants are flowers of unusual beauty. Many gardeners love them for their tenderness, sophistication, brightness and beauty. But sometimes the plant loses its attractive appearance. At such moments, the question arises, why do the leaves of the orchid turn yellow and fall?
Often, such a flower reaction indicates improper care, damage by pests or diseases. In this case, you must immediately go to active actions that will return the plant to life. But remember that a change in leaf color may indicate the occurrence of natural aging processes and the replacement of old leaflets with new ones.