Rules for caring for a flower, or Why do orchid leaves dry?

The beauty of orchids is sometimes spoiled by unpleasant diseases. It can be sluggish leaves, decay of peduncles, aphids and other negative consequences of improper care.

But it often happens that in appearance in a healthy plant the leaves begin to dry. Such a signal indicates that urgent measures must be taken, otherwise the plant may die. In this article, we will consider the reasons for the drying of orchid leaves, how to deal with it and preventive measures for flower health. Also watch a helpful video on the topic.

How does the problem manifest itself and what does it threaten with?

ATTENTION: Normal, healthy leaves have a rich green color. They are resilient, dense and smooth. The sick leaf, before drying, first begins to turn yellow. This can manifest itself immediately in a large volume, or it may begin with minor changes.

The sheet begins to dry at the tips, forming an ugly, brittle crust. The color of such a leaf is either light sand or darker brown. But it also happens that the process first affects the middle of the leaf, resembling burns or stains.

Any deterioration in the appearance of the plant is in itself a bad signal. Dry leaves pose a danger primarily because the problem with the flower can affect the health of neighboring plants. Also, many do not attach importance to the drying leaf, which means that the disease or adverse conditions will destroy the flower - time for recovery will be missed.

The leaves of the orchid can dry in a few hours, so do not delay the plant with rehabilitation.

Why do leaves turn yellow and how to revive a plant?

If such a nuisance happened, then you should not panic, because the natural process of dying can become the cause. In this case, the orchid dries only a single lower leaf, and all the rest remain healthy and strong. After complete drying, it can simply be removed and then the plant will give a new leaf. It is worth knowing that the life cycle of an orchid leaf is on average 2-3 years.

But in most cases, not everything is so rosy. There is indeed a problem, and it is necessary to solve it urgently until all remaining leaves have dried.

But first you need to determine why they start to dry. There may be several:

1. Lack of moisture. Especially in winter, when heating appliances are working, the orchid is prone to dehydration. Moisture from the air evaporates quickly and the plant has nowhere to take the necessary substances. The same problem can be encountered in the summer, when the orchid is on the south window - the danger of getting a burn is very high.
2. Change of place. This flower is very sensitive and can even respond to minimal changes in living conditions. Sometimes it’s enough just to rearrange the orchid on a neighboring window sill and a leaf starts to dry right there. This is a simple reaction to stress - in this case, the flower must be carefully monitored.
3. Wrong watering. If you irrigate the plant unsystematically, then it is likely that sooner or later it will begin to wither. The disadvantage, as well as an excess of watering, can lead to the fact that the leaves begin to dry. Only in the first case, leaves is the first sign, then in the second they are already the last stage when the roots of the orchid are no longer able to provide an influx of moisture.IMPORTANT: Excessive fertilizer use may cause this problem. An excess of nutrients is just as harmful as their absence.
4. Bad light. Another reason could be a lack of light. The orchid needs a long daylight, because in winter it often suffers due to its lack.
5. Pests. Perhaps the most dangerous cause of dried leaf is parasites. They can appear not only on leaves or inflorescences, but also in the substrate itself. If there is a problem, but no apparent reasons could be found, then it is worthwhile to carefully examine the roots and soil.

Having found out the reason for the leaves to dry, you can proceed to resuscitate the plant.

With a lack of watering, it is necessary to increase its amount. You can also lower the flower pot in warm water for an hour, then let it drain and put the flower in its original place. White roots in this case signal a lack of moisture, but they should not be cut off.

If the problem is more serious, then proceed according to the instructions:

1. Inspect the flower.
2. If pests are found, remove the affected areas of the plant.
3. Treat the orchid with special compounds: Altellik (aphids, whiteflies and other insects), Karbafos (against the same, but without a protective effect), BI 58 (universal remedy).
4. Transplant into a clean substrate.
5. During treatment, the orchid should not be fed with fertilizers.

If the cause of dry leaves is in rotten roots, then more complex actions will be required.:

1. Gently pull the flower out of the pot and remove excess pieces of the substrate.
2. With a disinfected knife, trim dead (rotting) roots.
3. Sprinkle the slice with ash or charcoal.
4. Remove dead (dry) leaves and also treat with charcoal.
5. Place the plant in a dry substrate.
6. Subsequently, reduce the amount of watering.

TIP: Only shriveled, brown roots having a heterogeneous structure should be removed.

Watch a video about the causes of yellowing of orchid leaves and how to fix it:

Prevention

Prevention consists primarily in compliance with the conditions of detention. For a comfortable growth orchid needs:

• Humidity 70-80%.
• Properly selected substrate.
• Diffused sunlight, or a fluorescent lamp.
• The temperature regime is 17-24 degrees.
• Reasonable watering. A sure sign is the lightening of the roots.
• Timely transplantation into new soil.
• Systematic inspection of the plant.
• Moderate top dressing.

When all the rules are followed, the plant will feel great and there will be no problems with drying leaves.

But, if such a situation has developed, then you need to remember that the orchid, although capricious, but quite hardy, you can restore the flower even in the absence of a normal root system. Therefore, do not throw the plant at the first sign of the disease, it is much better to eliminate the problem and then enjoy the beautiful flowering of this exotic beauty.

Watch the video: ORCHID CARE : Yellow Leaves and Other Ailments PART 1 How to remove Old yellow Leaves (November 2024).