Many novice gardeners are often interested in: why do orchids have sluggish leaves and what to do with it? If the plant is not timely helped, then it can simply die. Problems can be very different and they are inadequate care, the presence of pests or diseases. Only after understanding the reasons, you can figure out how to help the flower.
The main reasons for linking orchid leaves
Some orchids grown at home lose their decorative appearance due to wilting leaves. A lot of provoking factors can lead to a similar problem, in particular:
- not enough good care of the plant;
- frostbite and overheating of flower leaves;
- defeat by diseases and pests.
Be sure to determine the causes that provoked the wilting of the leaves of the plant, and try to eliminate them.
Overheating and frostbite
If the orchid has sluggish leaves, the reason for this may be hiding in overheating or frostbite of the plant. The flower may be harmful to the environment. As a result of this, the leaves begin to turn yellow, sometimes covered with brown spots, and wrinkle in places of burns. Against this background, flowers are also discarded.
A characteristic sign that the problem is in no way connected with the disease of the plant is that most often the upper plates of the leaf suffer from the harmful effects of climatic conditions. When buying a flower, ask the seller how to properly care for the plant.
Insufficient watering
If the leaves of the orchid become sluggish, then the problem may be due to lack of moisture. The main mistake when growing this flower is considered insufficiently frequent watering, as a result of which the plant becomes weak and sluggish.
With poor watering, the shoots begin to turn yellow quickly and require immediate resuscitation methods, so urgent watering is required, and in some cases even transplanting and fertilizing.
Excessive watering
Orchid has bare roots, which it attaches to trees and rocks. Under natural conditions, warm tropical rains water the root system, and since it is not fortified with soil, the water simply drains. Warm air dries out the roots, so the plant grows very well.
It is impossible to keep a flower at home with bare roots, since this is a rather laborious process. Therefore, some varieties of orchids grow in the ground. Many flower growers incorrectly choose a pot, which can be very large, without appropriate holes for the drain of excess water. In case of excessive watering, the soil will always be wet. In this case, an orchid disease may appear. The roots become brownish, and the leaves become sluggish, lose their elasticity.
Root system issues
If the orchid has sluggish leaves, what should I do? Floriculture provides several reasons for wilting. Among them, we need to highlight problems with the roots. This is a rather heat-loving plant, but the grower needs to know the measure. You do not need to allow the flower all the time to be in direct sunlight. If the room where the orchid is located is too light and warm, then the leaves, trunk and roots will become very hot. As a result, moisture begins to evaporate actively.
From high temperature there is a constant heating of the soil and evaporation of water. Therefore, the root system of the indoor flower is very cold, it ceases to consume moisture in the required amount. Leaves will not receive all the required nutrients. They become lethargic, turn yellow and begin to fade. The entire process of withering occurs very quickly, in just a few hours.
The root system may begin to dry out and rot. Having determined why the orchid has sluggish leaves, you can choose the most suitable treatment option for the flower to eliminate the existing problem.
Improper care
If the orchid has sluggish leaves, what to do with this can be determined only after clarifying the main cause that provoked the deterioration of the plant. Together with ensuring the correct temperature and flower care, it is important to choose the right fertilizer. Florists, trying to provide better flowering and good conditions of maintenance, incorrectly fertilize, so the leaves begin to fade.
Fertilizer should be diluted only according to the instructions that are indicated on the product label, since excess concentration can cause the formation of root burns. Before applying fertilizing, you need to moisten the soil, otherwise the orchid will begin to fade very quickly.
Fertilizer needs to be bought, intended only for orchids, and to use it strictly according to the established schedule, because its excess is deposited in the soil and roots.
Problems with orchids can occur with improperly selected soil components, the absence of periodic transplants. As a result, the soil around the root system will form a dense lump. This leads to the fact that there is an excess of moisture or its lack. In addition, in the case of subsidence of the soil, the air permeability of the root system is significantly impaired, which poorly affects the beauty of the leaves.
It is important to periodically transplant the plant into a more spacious pot, since over time the root system grows, and it can be crowded. In addition, the roots are intertwined, which provokes their death. It is dangerous for the leaves, they begin to fade, turn yellow and fall.
Pests and diseases
Before deciding what to do if the orchid has sluggish leaves, you need to find the reason for what exactly caused the problem. Often the problem of leaf wilting is observed with a bacterial or fungal infection. They can also become soft due to the presence of parasites in the soil. When the nematode, ticks or harmful insects infect the orchid, it begins to lose leaf elasticity, and its shoots become sluggish and wrinkled.
Be sure the grower should determine which disease or pests provoked the occurrence of the disease. Among fungal pathogens, spotting, rot, and anthracoses are most often found. Usually, the diseases that provoke these microorganisms appear as a local lesion, and in this area the surface begins to turn yellow or black. With a prolonged course of the disease, the leaves begin to wrinkle. If a white coating appears along the lower edge, this means that there has been a defeat of powdery mildew.
Root rot or vascular mycosis may be the cause of rapid leaf wilting. Often they begin to wrinkle quickly, and this process becomes irreversible. In addition to the defeat by fungi, the reason that the leaves become watery and wither is bacteriosis. This disease develops rapidly and in just a few days is able to completely destroy the plant.
Plant treatment methods
Many are interested in: what if the orchid leaves become sluggish and begin to deteriorate? It is necessary to determine the reason why this problem occurred, because the treatment measures used depend on this in many respects. When overheating, you need to create a partial shade for the plant or just carry the flower deep into the room. You can not immediately carry out watering or spraying - such measures will provoke the death of part of the roots. It is necessary to let the flower cool completely for several hours, only after that carry out watering in the usual way.
Damage to the root system may be the cause of the deterioration of the appearance of the plant, which is why it is necessary to recognize the presence of a problem in a timely manner, since this can lead to complete death of the roots. It is necessary to carefully examine the roots, remove the damaged part with a sterile knife to healthy tissues. Slices to fill with activated carbon. After that, plant the flower in a container with moist soil. When it dries, you can resume the usual watering.
If, due to hypothermia, sluggish leaves of an orchid become, what to do is a question that interests many owners of home plants. In this case, it is necessary to provide care for the flower, close to natural conditions.
How to reanimate a wilting plant
Very often, inexperienced gardeners encounter such a problem as sluggish leaves. In this case, resuscitation of an orchid begins with a thorough diagnosis, because it is necessary to treat not only the symptoms of the disorder, but also the cause of the problem. Initially, you need to carefully inspect the sheet, if it has a green color that smoothly changes from light to dark, then this is considered the norm.
If brown and yellow spots are present, then this means that the plant is gradually fading. Spots can be located on the sides or in the center of the sheet. If the sheet has completely changed its color, then it will no longer be restored.
However, leaf color is not the only sign of irregularities. The structure of its surface also changes if it lacks moisture or the plant is sick. These are the main reasons why orchids have sluggish leaves. What to do with this, you need to decide individually, based on the complexity of the problem.