Orchid is one of the most spectacular, luxurious, with a large number of species and varieties of exotic plants. Now it is grown everywhere, not only in greenhouses, but also on window sills. Sometimes pets start to hurt, lower leaves turn yellow and disappear.

Why does this happen and what should be done in this case? The answers to these questions are in this article.

Criteria for choosing a healthy plant when buying

  1. When buying a plant, you need to pay attention to the appearance of its leaves and roots. Leaves should be green, shiny with a waxy coating without stains or damage.
  2. The roots of a healthy orchid are resilient, strong, with no visible cliffs. The plant should sit tight in a pot. Flowers do not play a decisive role for the state of the plant, but it is better to choose a specimen with few unopened buds.
  3. A safe place to purchase a healthy flower is a greenhouse, where you can get expert expert advice on the conditions for its cultivation. It is better not to risk buying a plant at a discount. Otherwise, you can get a sick and weak specimen, which is difficult to nurse, and even dangerous for the surrounding flowers.
  4. If the orchids in the store were next to other plants, then there is the likelihood of their infestation with pests (shields, snails, etc.). These items when buying need to carefully inspect. The infected flower should be separated from other plants and sprayed with a special solution.
  5. Get this delicate flower better in the warm season. If the temperature is low outside, then in order to avoid hypothermia, the purchased plant is carefully packaged in paper or cellophane.

Why do orchids turn yellow leaves?

When the pet leaves turn yellow and die, it causes a natural alarm. Here are the main reasons for this phenomenon listed below.

Natural

Plants go through a leaf aging cycle.   Dendrobium usually changes foliage every year after flowering.  Some types of orchids in the process of natural aging can change only one or two lower leaves. There are those that update the leaves less often - once every 3-5 years, during the period of rest. Usually these leaves dry out completely and fall off themselves. Tear off or trim the yellow leaves in this case should not be.

Wrong lighting or watering

For the thermophilic orchids are important bright scattered rays of light. Under natural conditions, it grows in a hot tropical climate. Lack of lighting causes increased yellowing of the leaves.  However, direct exposure to light can cause burns.

Improper watering is most often due to an overabundance of moisture. Under natural conditions, this plant can endure without watering for a long time. Therefore, it should not be poured. The condition of the soil can not be judged by its top layer, which dries quickly. Best of all, the soil is tested with a wooden stick. She pierced the ground deep enough. If the soil is wet at depth, the plant still does not need watering.

Lack or excess of dressings

For a native of the tropics, the composition of fertilizing is very important in order to maximize its growth conditions to natural ones. Potassium plays a big role in orchid lifebecause It contributes to the rejuvenation of plant tissues. A lack of potassium and iron contributes to the yellowing of the leaves. The situation is widespread when flower sellers, trying to give them the best presentation, use unrestricted growth stimulators without limit. Such overfeeding is most often found only after a couple of years, when the plant depletes the supply of such nutrition. Phalaenopsis sharply turns yellow and fades. With an excess of calcium is characterized by yellowing of the tips of the leaves.

Diseases

Orchids with improper care are subject to various diseases.  Most often the reason lies in the overmoistening of the soil. This favors a variety of fungal diseases. The roots rot, the infection spreads further, causing a nutrient deficiency. The most common of fungi bacterial spotting, anthracosis, powdery mildew, gray mold. Orchid viral infections are rare. Mosaic leaf spot sometimes affects phalaenopsis, cymbidium.

Pests

Other reasons

  • Hard water salts the soil. This leads to functional chlorosis, in which yellow spots appear on the leaves, and they soon fall off;
  • too close a pot does not allow the root system to develop and eat normally;
  • with a sharp change in growing conditions (lighting, temperature, watering, and others), the plant may experience stress;
  • dry air due to close proximity of heaters in winter. In this case, you also need a humidifier or regular spraying;
  • the neighborhood is not compatible with the orchid plants - yucca, araucaria, peperomia, cordilina.

Yellowed orchid leaves: what to do and how to save the plant

If your pet has yellow leaves, and the plant disappears, you must first diagnose the cause of this trouble. To save a tropical beauty in most cases possible. Only with viral diseases, the diseased plant is most often subject to destruction. Assistance is applied differentially, depending on the cause of the disaster:

  • Hard water.  It is obligatory to transfer to a balanced substrate with washing the leaves with liquid dressings (“Pokon”, “Bona Forte”). During flowering transplant is not desirable. In this case, watering is carried out half diluted with distilled water.
  • Stimulant overdose. At 2 weeks should refrain from dressing. And then do them no more than once every two weeks with special fertilizer for orchids, spreading them in half. For the emergence of new leaves are necessary drugs with a nitrogen content. Otherwise, a plant without leaves will not be able to fully bloom and die.
  • With overdose of fertilizers  you need to rinse the roots of the plant with running water, avoid feeding for at least one and a half months.
  • In the fight  with fungal infection  effective spraying "Vitaros", "Fundazol", "Fitolavinom". You must first cut off the affected roots and foliage. Then, after transplanting plants into clean soil, they must be treated with these preparations again. In the fight against decay, the daily washing of a flower with a 0.2% solution of foundationol 10 days helps.
  • With tick infestation  you should use "Agrovertin", "Karbofos", then transplant the plant.
  • In the fight against the whitefly  and many other pests need to resort to help "Aktellika." Before using it, you can wash the plant with a weak solution of soap. Prophylactically, it is possible to wipe leaves every five days with water and once a month spray it with a weak solution of “Actellica”.
  • Periodically during the rest period plant needs replanting  into a pot 2 cm in diameter more than the previous one with a drainage layer. Then with a balanced watering moisture will not be excessively stagnant.

The reasons for the yellowing of the leaves of the orchid is the wrong care for her, namely:

  1. Lack of lighting or burns from direct sunlight.
  2. Invalid pot size.
  3. Lack of potassium and iron or calcium oversupply.
  4. Unbalanced watering or dry air.
  5. Perekorm biostimulants to purchase.
  6. Neighborhood incompatible with her plants.
  7. Diseases and pests.
  8. Stress from the abrupt change of conditions of existence.

Knowing these reasons, you can effectively deal with their consequences so that the tropical beauty would delight us for many years.

Even an unpretentious orchid in the care, like phalaenopsis, can hurt at home. This flower is rarely exposed to fungal and bacterial diseases. In most cases, the leaves of phalaenopsis turn yellow and wither. This is the result of improper care. Why does this happen and what to do when the orchid phalaenopsis orchard turns yellow and wither? Only experienced flower growers will explain the cause of the disease and offer their effective treatment. Their experience in dealing with orchid ailments is suggested below.

Why do the leaves of phalaenopsis turn yellow and wither? Causes, treatment

If, upon careful examination, no pests are found on the plant, but its leaves turn yellow and fade, experts point to improper care. Phalaenopsis suffers from it the most. So, why and what to do if the orchid phalaenopsis orchid leaves turn yellow and wither - explanations of experts with photos.

Why do leaves of orchid phalaenopsis wither:

  • frostbite;
  • intermittent exposure of cold air to the plant;
  • problems with the root system - improper transplantation, overdrying or waterlogging, root rot;
  • defeat fungal infection, which leads to blockage of the juice-bearing vessels of the leaf.

Why do phalaenopsis leaves turn yellow:

  • natural flower aging process. Norm if 1 sheet turns yellow once a year. It is abnormal if 2 or more sheet plates turn yellow in a short period of time;
  • overabundance of sunlight;
  • excess fertilizer;
  • a variety of rot and disease;
  • lack of moisture.

The signs of each ailment and how to eliminate them are shown below.

In phalaenopsis, sluggish leaves speak of frostbite. At the same time, the sheet plate loses its turgor without any visible mechanical lesions and painful spots.  For an orchid, transportation without protection through cold air in winter or content near a window, where the air temperature often drops below + 15 degrees, is detrimental. Frozen leaves lose their elasticity, become dark green and watery. Treatment: affected parts of the plant must be removed to healthy tissue. Dead tissues are a breeding ground for a variety of rot. Cuts to make a sharp blade. Place the slices sprinkled with crushed, activated charcoal.

In addition, you need to carefully examine the flower, whether on its stalk or other parts of the black spots. Frozen plants are not transplanted. This is an additional injury that can lead to death.

In phalaenopsis, sluggish leaves may indicate an improper transplant, which resulted in a root disruption.. Many beginners rush to transplant a purchased plant, forgetting about its adaptation. Transplant is an extra stress. The plant can respond to it by withering leaves. If after a transplant the leaves wither from a flower, you need to do the following: remove it from the ground and carefully examine the roots. Next, the roots are immersed in water. Healthy roots, regardless of their initial color (green, whitish) and condition (sluggish, shriveled), will surely “drink” water and become elastic. If the roots remain dry and shriveled even in water, they must be removed.

Cut the roots with a sharp blade to healthy tissue. In some cases, the dead roots of phalaenopsis affect rot. These can be black or gray spots. They do not have to be wet and slippery. Phanelopsis often suffers from dry, gray rot. If such spots are on the roots, they must be removed. The stem affected by the fungus is also trimmed to healthy tissue. In some cases, completely cut off the bottom of the flower. Only leaves are left. It does not matter. With proper, further care, between healthy leaves, the plant will release the roots.

After the dead and diseased roots, sluggish leaves, affected areas of the stem (if any) have been removed from the phalaenopsis, the phalaenopsis is placed in a greenhouse. In this case, the roots of the plant descend into a transparent vessel without water. Roots no longer need to be immersed in liquid. The flower is covered with a film. Thus they make a greenhouse. Inside it maintains a high level of humidity. The greenhouse is ventilated once a day for 15 minutes. The slices on the stem are treated with activated carbon. On day 2, sprinkle the plant with dry cycron. Waiting for the emergence of new roots and closely monitor the condition of the flower. Are there black and gray spots on it?

As soon as phalaenopsis releases aerial roots, it is planted in a transparent vessel with large bark. The resulting roots are covered with bark. The layer should not be more than 2 cm thick.

What to do if the leaves of a healthy phalaenopsis orchid fade? In this case, the transplant was not performed. The plant is kept at a temperature within +18 ... + 22 degrees, no cold air flows.. Possible reasons: overmoistening of the substrate, which causes rotting of the root system. As a result, the plant can hit black rot. Signs of its appearance: black spots on the roots and base of the stem, sluggish leaves of the orchid phalaenopsis. Black dots may appear on the leaves.

If phalaenopsis is moistened, black spots appeared on its trunk, proceed as follows: the plant is removed from the pot, inspect the roots. Patients (who do not absorb moisture when immersed in water and with black dots) must be removed as described above. Leaves are also removed. The plant is placed in a greenhouse.

In extreme cases, overmoistening and, as a result, black rot, lead to the decay of the flower stem. If this happens, the orchid can not be saved. It is thrown away.

Phalaenopsis intensively yellow lower leaves, although the plant blooms profusely. Most roots are healthy and green, although there are aerial roots. They are shriveled. Black spots and constrictions appeared on some of them. Over time, the plant turns yellow stem. Possible flower disease: black, dry rot, which is caused by fungus. Reason: waterlogging, lack of light. If the plant is intensely colored, this is not yet an indicator of its good health. Phalaenopsis ejects flower after stress, sometimes in the case of illness, as the last hope for reproduction.

The massive yellowing of the leaves of the orchid is not normal. This state of affairs should be alarming. In especially severe cases, lower leaves turn yellow if phalaenopsis infects rot. It looks like dry black spots. On the stem and leaves will not be wet spots, characteristic of rot on other types of plants. Orchids do not get sick with wet rot. They are characterized by dry rot. It affects tissue, prevents the movement of juice, from which leaves begin to turn yellow.

To make sure that the disease is present, a sheet is carefully cut with a sharp blade. From separated from the stem. Next, the stem is examined. If there are black spots, it is black rot. In this case, cut the bottom of the plant to healthy tissue. To completely remove the disease from the flower, make a cut to healthy tissue. How to find out if tissue is healthy or not? Very simple. The cut must be clean, without any inclusions. Very often, after surgery, the flower is left without roots. This is not scary. The main thing is to remain unaffected and green growth point or upper kidney.

Next, the flower is placed in a greenhouse. This may be a transparent container or a cocoon constructed from a polyethylene film. Inside the greenhouse maintain a high level of humidity. But the flower in no case put in the water. Phalaenopsis from this rots. You must continue to monitor the flower. If black spots continue to appear on it, they are cut with a sharp blade. Cuts are burned with Zelenka or powdered with pounded, activated carbon. Teplichku air 1 time in 1-2 days. The plant is removed from the greenhouse, when healthy roots appear on its stem between healthy leaves.

It is possible to discuss orchid phalaenopsis diseases and get advice from a specialist in their treatment.


Why do orchid phalaenopsis leaves turn yellow if there are no nicknames of diseases and black spots on it, as a clear sign of dry, black rot?  Reason: incorrect watering. In some cases, excess moisture accumulates in the soil as a result of its heterogeneity. So, phalaenopsis grows in a large bark of the same fraction. The presence of peat in the bark, moss or even peat of different sizes leads to the fact that the mixture in the pot dries out differently. Regular watering leads to peat moistening. As a result, the roots or stem of the flower begin to rot.

The second case is when the plant is watered not by immersing the pot in the water after the bark has completely dried for 15 minutes, and the top, watered. Thus, inexperienced growers are trying to compensate for the dryness of the air in the room where the flower is located. Top watering is not suitable for phalaenopsis, only the immersion method. Otherwise, the stem begins to rot. As a result, the leaves of the orchid phalaenopsis turn yellow.

To understand whether the leaves turn yellow in a flower due to rotting of the stem and roots, the plant is removed from the pot, its roots are completely cleared of bark and examined. The rotten stem will have a flabby appearance with a possible mold (as shown in the photo). Even if there are healthy-looking roots and rudiments of new roots on such a stalk, they still need to be completely removed. Removed the stem to healthy tissue. A healthy stem should be resilient and white on the cut without any inclusions.

After the cut, they are processed with activated charcoal and dried. After this, the phalaenopsis with healthy leaves can either be placed on a moist bark, while the bottom of the stem cannot be covered with the bark, or placed in a transparent container with water so that the bottom of the stem does not touch the liquid. All this is covered with polyethylene to make a greenhouse. The plant is sprayed, airing the greenhouse. It is possible once a week to process the bottom of the stem with dry tsyrocnum. It is necessary to monitor the state of the stem, if it continues to rot, it is again undercut. The healthy roots of the flower should appear between the leaves.

Orchids are a fairly common indoor flower among amateur flower growers, it is a wonderful home decoration. Flower fascinates with its beauty, surprises with a variety of its shapes and colors. Indoor orchid is a plant with a rather thin stem, on top of which is a luxurious flower.

Variety of orchids

In nature there are about 30 thousand varieties of orchids, and at home you can grow only a few flowering species.

  • Phalaenopsis - the most popular type among growers because of its unpretentious care. The petals of this orchid are very similar to butterfly wings.
  • Dracula is a rather gloomy, but in its own way an attractive kind of orchid.
  • Pafiopedilum - its flowers resemble a shoe, flower growers appreciate it for long flowering, reaching 2 months.
  • Aganisia is a houseplant very light-requiring and does not tolerate drought. It is popular because of the volumetric inflorescence (up to 5 large flowers).
  • Wanda - this type of orchid grows up to 80 cm in height, etc.

At home florist needs carefully look after the room beautyOtherwise, this exotic capricious begins to hurt and her leaves turn yellow. Many caring housewives of a room orchid are worried about why this happens, and there are a lot of reasons.

Why do orchids turn yellow leaves?

It is enough to know all the reasons for the yellowing of the leaves to prevent the death of your favorite plant.

The main causes of yellowing  orchid leaves:

  • natural yellowing;
  • lack of light;
  • plant burn;
  • lack of light for the orchid;
  • lack of or oversupply.

Orchids turn yellow leaves, what to do?

First of all, the plant begins to turn yellow due to the natural dropping of leaves. If one leaf has turned yellow or dried, and the rest are in the same condition, then, as a rule, you should not worry, this means that the life cycle of this leaflet just ended and a new one will soon be formed in its place.

If the leaf of a home flower begins to turn yellow from the tip, and not from the base, as it happens under normal conditions, it means that it does not have enough light. It is necessary to immediately solve this problem and rearrange the orchid to another window, where the illumination is stronger or additionally illuminated with a fluorescent lamp. If this is not done, the stem will also darken, and the plant may die.

When spots appear on leaves, this is a sure sign that indoor the orchid got burned. It could appear on a home plant from direct exposure to the rays of the sun, from water droplets remaining on the plant after moistening (under the rays of the sun, they “worked” like lenses), even from a fluorescent lamp, if it is low enough. The main thing is not to confuse burns with a fungus that grows all over the leaf and begins to hit the orchid. With proper treatment, it can be saved.

If the leaves begin to turn yellow and become sluggish, then home orchid is not enough lighting. She is very thermophilic and loves bright light, but he must be scattered so as not to destroy the exotic beauty. For the organization of sufficient lighting when purchasing an orchid in a specialized store, it is necessary to specify whether it is shade-tolerant or photophilous.

Also, the reason for the yellowing of the leaves of the flower may be in the lack or excess of food. Perhaps the plant lacks potassium or iron, with their lack of leaves turn pale and in the end they die.

Optional houseplant fertilize only during growthAs a rule, 1 time in 3 weeks, acquiring for this purpose specialized fertilizers, such as “Bona Forte”. It is important to feed the plant only with specialized fertilizers, fertilizing for other indoor plants can not be used. When a plant is transplanted into a specialized mixture, as a rule, this is done 1 time in 2 years, it is not necessary to fertilize a flower at first, because it will receive all the nutrients from the substrate.

Precursors of yellowing orchid leaves

If on the leaves there is a roughness, there is a destruction of the leaf tissue, then you need to know that this is a precursor - they will soon turn yellow. Need to eliminate the cause, before the leaves had time to turn yellow. For this you need:

Infectious diseases in orchids

Particular attention should be paid to the yellowing of the leaves due to infectious diseases. Unfortunately, quite often the orchid in the store is already amazed, so before buying you should carefully examine the plant.

Infectious diseases:

  1. Fungal
  2. Viral
  3. Bacterial

Signs of viral diseases are the appearance of light rings, ovals, yellow spots and stripes in the leaves of the flower.

A virus in a homemade orchid can live for quite a long time without showing itself. But stress (if adverse conditions are created) can provoke a virus and, unfortunately, it will gradually hit the plant until it is completely destroyed.

Bacterial diseases are not dangerous, but they can not always be completely cured. They manifest themselves in the form of dark brown, black spots with a yellow rim. For treatment, it is necessary to isolate the orchid from other plants and cut stains, treating wounds with activated carbon (if the disease is severely neglected, the use of bactericides is necessary). With appropriate treatment and, if in two weeks no new spots appear, the orchid becomes cured.

With bacterial rot on the leaves of a domestic flower, you can see wet dark yellow, brown spots. With treatment, it is impossible to delay the appearance of such spots, if you start, then the plant can no longer be saved. Spots begin to actively grow and turn black. When a bacterial rot is detected, it is necessary to treat the place where the indoor flower stood (for example, a window sill and a window) with hydrogen peroxide. Sick indoor flower should be kept in isolation from other plants until full recovery.

Fungal diseases  The most widespread among orchids, as they arise from the lack of proper care for her. They manifest themselves in different ways, including the appearance of dark yellow spots on the leaves. Some types of fungal diseases are easily confused with a burn. Treatment for the fungus involves removing damaged leaf areas, treating cuts, and then, after healing the wounds, the plant must be treated with a fungicide.

As it turned out, the causes of yellowing of leaves in indoor orchids are very diverse. If you follow the basic rules that require this home beauty in the care, you can avoid hitting the leaves. But if this happened, then by providing more careful supervision of the lovely orchid, the problem will disappear. In addition to care, it is necessary to carefully consider the plant before purchase and purchase it preferably from trusted sellers of indoor plants, because the probability is very high buy an already infected flowerwhich will not long please with its beauty.

Orchids are typical representatives of the tropics. And although they adapt well to the conditions of indoor cultivation, it is unreasonable to treat them as other indoor plants. This is understood almost all novice growers. But, alas, only understanding is not enough. It is also necessary to make efforts, sometimes considerable, so that the orchid at home feels most comfortable. Otherwise, it is not something that will not bloom, but it may not survive at all.

Most often inexperienced orchid lovers face the problem that orchid leaves turn yellow. This phenomenon delivers a lot of unpleasant moments to its owner, especially if it takes on a mass character. In itself, the death of old leaves is a normal phenomenon, they are simply replaced by new foliage, and that’s all. But if yellowing of more than one leaf begins, it is urgent to take action.

First of all, you should identify the reason why the orchid leaves turn yellow, and then decide what to do. In the absolute majority of cases, errors and miscalculations in the care of an orchid are the basis of this unpleasant phenomenon.

To date, the most popular orchid is considered. On his example, we will consider why the orchids turn yellow leaves and what to do.

There are several main reasons:

  • Wrong watering
  • Wrong spot for orchid
  • Damaged growth point

Consider these reasons in more detail.

Wrong watering orchids

Excess moisture

Most often problems arise from excessive waterlogging of the substrate, rather than from its drying. Phalaenopsis epiphytic plants and the bark of trees, which is the basis of the substrate for orchids, is more for supporting and fixing the plant than for their nutrition and livelihoods. Therefore, if the substrate is constantly wet, it will be difficult for the roots of the plant to supply the air they need. Root rotting begins. The first symptom of this is yellowing of the leaves. At the same time, they lose turgor, become lethargic and subsequently die off. If the process is started, rotting of the stem begins and phalaenopsis inevitably dies.

Determine that phalaenopsis is watered over the top can be easily, thanks to a transparent pot. A constant excess of moisture is indicated by:

  • constantly moist, dark bark in a pot;
  • dark green roots, some may be signs of rotting;
  • on the walls of the pot is constantly present condensate, water droplets;
  • pot plant constantly heavy.

What to do

If the process of yellowing the leaves has just begun and a sign of overwetting is found, you should immediately stop watering and then less often.

If the damage to phalaenopsis is significant, if most of the leaves are yellowed, black specks appear on them, a large number of roots with signs of decay have appeared, then phalaenopsis should be immediately removed from the substrate, and all damaged roots and leaves should be removed. After that, depending on the degree of damage, proceed to rescue. If the damage is minimal, you can simply and significantly limit watering. During the period of resuscitation, one can limit oneself only by spraying the upper layer of the substrate.

In case of significant damage, more radical measures should be taken. Patient orchid is not planted in a pot. In this case, you should choose a reliable, stable support (for example, a piece of a tree trunk), fix the plant on it with the help of coconut fiber, place it under a glass or film hood and place this structure in place with diffused light. In the process of resuscitation, only the support is moistened, and the leaves are periodically wiped with a wet swab.

Lack of moisture

But not only excess moisture can cause the orchids to turn yellow leaves. The reason for this may be the opposite - insufficient watering. One of the main signs of lack of moisture phalaenopsis - white roots of the plant. Most often this happens from the wrong irrigation technique. When watering from above is common for other plants, the substrate containing the orchid is not sufficiently wetted and uneven. As a result, yellowing and dying off of the lower tier of leaves occurs.

What to do

In this case, it is necessary to water Phalaenopsis only by immersion in water. If you already do that, then water irrigation.

Poor water for irrigation

Many novice orchid lovers do not give this aspect due importance. But hard water with high salt content can cause significant damage to the plant and cause the orchid to turn yellow leaves. A sign that a lot of salt in the water is salt deposits, whitish plaque on the walls of the pot and the substrate.

What to do

If during this period your plant does not bloom, then we can only confine transplantation. During the flowering of phalaenopsis salt, you can try to wash out of the substrate, repeatedly immersing the pot in warm soft water or a mixture of soft and distilled water.

Note!  Excess salt can also cause improper use of fertilizers. This is either their excess or improper fertilizer for orchids.

Wrong place

The reason why phalaenopsis turn yellow leaves can be both excessive lighting and its lack.

Lack of light

Along with yellowing and falling leaves, the lack of light for orchids is also characterized by excessive stretching of the shoots. The lack of light can even cause a sharp fall of the leaves.

What to do

If possible, move the orchid to a more lighted place. Provide artificial highlighting.

Excess light

In particular, for phalaenopsis, yellowing of the leaves is more characteristic with too bright, sunny light. This orchid is more shade tolerant than its relatives. When direct sunlight hits the orchid leaves, burns of varying degrees of severity are inevitable - from the appearance of a yellow border on the leaf, to large burn spots on the entire leaf plate.

What to do

If a burn has received one or two sheets, then it is enough to remove them and move the phalaenopsis to a place where it will be isolated from the burning sun rays. In the case of serious damage to most of the leaves, but with a healthy stem and roots, you should move the plant to a shaded place and stop watering for a while, increasing the humidity of the air. If the stem and roots are damaged together with the leaves, then it is unlikely that the plant will be reanimated.

Orchid growth point is damaged

Such damage is characteristic of the monopodial group of orchids with a single trunk. The growth point of phalaenopsis is located at the top of the stem and can be damaged both mechanically and as a result of incipient rotting. As a result, phalaenopsis leaves begin to turn yellow and rot from the upper tier. Gradually, decay spreads to the entire stem and roots. Most often, this is a consequence of getting to the point of growth of moisture during irrigation and careless spraying.

What to do

It is necessary to immediately remove the damaged parts of the plant, reduce watering, reduce the humidity of the air.

Other reasons

Also, the reason that the orchid leaves turn yellow can be various fungal diseases that are caused by overwetting. This may be the impact of pests, among which the most likely - the root and spider mites. At detection of diseases and pests should immediately treat the plant with the appropriate drug.

An abrupt change in conditions can also cause yellowing of the leaves. This is especially true for newly purchased orchids.

When a basal baby appears in an adult phalaenopsis, the plant directs all its efforts to its development. As a result of this, the old plant may weaken considerably, and its leaves will begin to turn yellow.

Natural reason. The bottom sheet of phalaenopsis is the oldest. If he began to gradually turn yellow and die off, then do not worry - his time has come.

Why orchid leaves turn yellow - video

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Phalaenopsis is considered to be the most unpretentious orchid, but with room maintenance it is not always possible to create comfortable conditions for its cultivation, and this leads to plant disease. The first sign that indicates something is wrong with the orchid is yellowing of the leaves. This phenomenon can have a variety of reasons, but they are usually associated with improper care. This article will help you understand why the leaves of phalaenopsis orchids turn yellow, and how to avoid it.

One of the most common reasons why the leaves on the home phalaenopsis turn yellow is a violation of the irrigation regime. From the excess moisture in the soil can rot the roots of the plant, because of what the leaf plates begin to lose turgor and turn yellow. Also, the cause of yellowing may be insufficient watering. If the root system looks perfectly healthy, but at the same time the lower leaves turn yellow - this is a sign that the substrate has been dried out for a long time.

It happens that the orchid is watered correctly, but the leaves continue to turn yellow. In this case, you should pay attention to the method of irrigation. If it is carried out with the help of a watering can, then perhaps water immediately falls on the pallet, without having time to moisten the substrate.

Another banal reason why the leaves of phalaenopsis turn yellow may be hard water.  If the plant is constantly watered with tap water, albeit separated by water, this will lead to salinization of the substrate, and, as a result, to the termination of iron absorption. If you water an orchid with such water for a long time, it will develop chlorosis - the leafy plates will be covered with light spots, and then turn yellow and disappear.

Lighting

The second, and no less global cause of yellowing leaves is the wrong lighting. Many flower growers believe that this tropical flower should certainly stand on the window in order to get as much sun as possible. And this is a big mistake. In nature, phalaenopsis lives alongside large trees, which serve as its support and protection from direct sunlight.

At home, you need to create about the same conditions - the light should be bright, but diffused. The best option for placing an orchid is a window sill in the southwestern part of the house. You can not put the pot on the window sill on the south or north side. In the first case, the plant will get burns, which will be indicated by yellow spots on the leaf plates, and in the second, the leaves will turn yellow slowly.

Lack and excess fertilizer

Illiterate selection and use of fertilizers can also cause the leaves of phalaenopsis to turn yellow. Usually in the store we see healthy and beautiful orchids, completely unaware that they were fed with growth stimulants for a long time. A caring seller, of course, will recommend that you use these drugs at home, and be prepared for the fact that in a year or two the flower will start to lose its original appearance - the leaves will start to turn sharply yellow.

The explanation for this is simple - the plant is completely exhausted by stimulants. Too frequent fertilizing contributes to the accumulation of nitrogen in the substrate, and its excess is as harmful as the lack. Very often, the orchid turns yellow due to an excess of calcium or lack of potassium. This component in the plant is very small, and if fertilizing does not cover the need for potassium, the flower will take it from the leaves.

Diseases and pests

If the orchid phalaenopsis leaves turn yellow, despite the observance of all conditions of detention, then, most likely, it is sick or affected by pests. Fungal and bacterial diseases that occur on the background of substratum moistening or high air humidity can lead to yellowing of the integuments:

Fusarium rot. The reason for its appearance is high humidity and the absence of air circulation in the room. The main signs of the disease - the leaves turn yellow, become soft, the main shoot rots and dies.

Bacterial spotting. Infectious disease caused by tissue damage. The main symptom is wet ulcers on a yellowed sheet, which eventually becomes soft and dies.

Other reasons

For an adult orchid, the leaves may turn yellow for a number of other reasons. You should know that for home phalaenopsis, the loss of 1–2 old lower sheets during a year is considered the norm - this is a natural physiological process. Orchid starts shedding leaves of old age at the age of 4–5 years. If the leaf turned yellow, turned bright yellow, then wrinkled, dried and dropped, this is a sign of its natural aging.

Also the cause of yellowing may be too small a vase or a pot in which the orchid grows. The root system of the plant grows very actively, and if it is not replanted every 2-3 years, the roots will deform, which will lead to malnutrition and yellowing of the flower.

Do not forget that the orchid is a tropical plant, accustomed to a constant temperature, and under the slightest draft or hypothermia, it experiences stress. And any stressful situation immediately reflects on the state of not only the leaves, but also the buds and inflorescences.

What to do

Of course, the Phalaenopsis orchid, whose leaves turn yellow, looks unattractive and needs help. What if this happened to your favorite flower? Above, we examined why phalaenopsis orchid leaves turn yellow, and what to do depends on the cause of the damage.