What to do if an orchid withers? All about salvation and possible causes of flower disease

In this article we will tell you the main reasons for situations in which an orchid withers.

Many varieties of orchids are quite easy to care for, contrary to popular belief, however, in order to grow a beautiful, full-fledged plant, proper care is required. In addition, it is important, in case of certain problems with a flower, to promptly diagnose and correct the situation through treatment or correcting errors in care.

Wilting orchid

Why an orchid withers is a question that periodically worries owners of exotic flowers. Sometimes this is not a cause for concern. Wilting and subsequent desiccation of the two lower leaves is a natural process in many crops. As well as the appearance of new, young leaves. However, you should worry and take action if the following symptoms appear:

• the leaves of the plant have lost turgor;
• yellowness and dullness appeared on some leaves;
• dark spots;
• wrinkling of the leaf plate;
• lethargy.

If such symptoms appear, the first thing to do is to remove the plant from other crops in a separate place. Next, you should observe the flower to figure out what causes such manifestations. During this period, it is necessary to isolate the plant from bright light, do not irrigate or fertilize. Only after establishing the exact cause can you try to revive the plant.

What does a wilted flower look like?

Sometimes the plant acquires a yellow or brown tint, its leaves begin to wrinkle, and its buds begin to fall off . In some cases, these symptoms may include a sticky discharge. The leaves become corrugated, the flowers become small and sparse. In advanced cases, tears, specks and spots can be observed on the leaves.

Important : If you do not determine the cause of the trouble and do not save the orchid, it may die.

The main reasons for orchid wilting

The most common causes of crop wilting include:

• errors in the care and maintenance of the plant;
• some diseases;
• exposure to insect pests.

There are many methods for restoring an orchid, but they can be used to determine the exact cause.

Common care mistakes

The first thing you need to pay attention to is its proximity to other indoor plants. Some types of orchids do not tolerate close proximity to other crops. In addition, for the correct development of an orchid, you must initially correctly determine its location.

Over or under watering

Sometimes the cause of wilting lies in the wrong watering regime. The fact is that irrigation is important for orchids, but crop owners often forget about this. With constant changes in the microclimate in the room, you need to constantly monitor the substrate. To determine humidity, you need to touch the flower. If it moves, the soil is too dry.

Determining whether a plant is rotting due to overwatering is a little more difficult. Externally, rotting is not noticeable; often the plant even blooms during this period. You need to carefully examine the root system. If blackness is visible on the roots, it means that the orchid was regularly flooded.

Dense soil

Proper soil largely determines the full development of the plant. The high-quality substrate that an orchid requires does not retain moisture and nourishes the plant with all the necessary nutrients. It is important to remember that the substrate needs to be changed every 2-3 years.

Overheating or hypothermia

The orchid does not like direct sunlight, so you should not place it on a windowsill on the south side of the house. The plant will react negatively to heating devices located near the orchid. These factors have a detrimental effect on culture. The flower is designed in such a way that at the slightest overheating it immediately begins to evaporate moisture.

Drafts and hypothermia of the roots also have a bad effect on the plant. For this reason, there is no need to place the plant on a window during the cold season. To prevent the root system from freezing, experienced gardeners place a small foam plate under the pot.

Insect pests

As a result of the influence of certain parasites that eat up the roots of the orchid, the plant loses its ability to absorb nutrients and water necessary for the crop. As a result of the attack of parasites, the laying of larvae in the top layer of soil, the leaves of the plant wither.

Why is this happening?

The wilting of a fragile flower can begin for several reasons.:

• 
  The first thing that comes to our mind when we see a wilting orchid is that it needs more water. However, this is not always the case. If only the lower leaves of a phalaenopsis wither, this means that having given all the nutrients to its upper “brothers,” it will soon dry out. This is a healthy, normal process that does not require intervention.

• The pot is too cramped, where the orchid’s root system is too compressed.
• If the watering regime has been disrupted and the orchid has long been “thirst” for direct rays of the sun. Dry air, a room with heating and no humidifier do not help the orchid to bloom.
• Root rotting. Orchids from the supermarket, wrapped in plastic and planted in cramped pots without holes, are watered abundantly, but there is nowhere for the excess moisture to evaporate.
• Excessive fertilization. The roots of the plant receive a kind of “burn”.
• Pests: aphids, scale insects, spider mites and others.
• Ethylene gas from heaters that use propane or kerosene for fuel can poison orchid buds! Paint fumes and tobacco smoke also do not contribute to a healthy atmosphere.

Methods for treating orchids

Once the cause of the plant's wilting is discovered, treatment can begin. The orchid is a fairly resilient plant and is more likely to be revived.

The simplest methods include getting rid of pests using special preparations, watering when the substrate is dry, irrigating the leaves, and wiping with a damp cloth. You can revive the plant by adjusting the watering, irrigation, and fertilizing regimes.

More complex measures include trimming the roots, getting rid of dry or rotten elements, changing the substrate, transplanting into another, more spacious pot, treating the root system with special means.

Transplant technology

If an orchid withers, you need to do an urgent transplant, especially when rotten, dry, injured roots are found. The technology consists of the following steps:

• carefully free the roots from the old substrate;
• carefully examine the roots;
• rinse them carefully under warm running water;
• Use a sharp sterile knife to cut off rotten and dry shoots;
• treat the sections with activated carbon.

Next, you need to leave the orchid without a substrate for several weeks. Then select a suitable pot, a substrate with the correct ratio of the necessary elements and plant the orchid.

Substrate for planting

There are several ways to plant an orchid:

1. Planting an orchid on a special block.

As such a block you can use fern leaves, tree bark, or some kind of driftwood.

Moss is laid out at the bottom of the pot, then we place the block itself. And we tie the orchid roots to it with a special thread. With this method of planting, the plant will need moisture. Therefore, for the first time, while the plant takes root, it is recommended to place it in a greenhouse.

2. This method involves planting an orchid in a special substrate.

You can either buy it ready-made or make it.

There are several ways to prepare such soil.

• For this you will need fern, forest moss and ordinary soil. Everything is taken in equal proportions and mixed. The substrate is ready.
• To prepare this substrate you will need forest moss and dry pine bark. Dry bark should be boiled for ten minutes, then cooled and this procedure must be repeated several more times. This is necessary to get rid of insects. Next, the finished cooled tree bark should be crumbled and mixed with moss. The soil for the orchid is ready.
• Another way to prepare a special substrate for orchids. You will need: pine bark and peat. Everything is taken in equal proportions, mixed, and also ready for use.

Withering of different parts of the orchid

The lethargy of different parts of the plant depends on certain reasons.

Butonov

Wilting of buds may be due to the fact that the plant does not have the strength to flower after the buds form. Other causes include pest attacks or fungal infections.

Root system

Roots can lose turgor due to an excess of fertilizers, exposure to heat, mechanical damage that is difficult to detect immediately, or fungal diseases. You also need to check the pot - perhaps it is too small for the roots to develop.

Leaf blades during flowering

The orchid spends all its energy on flowering. A healthy plant copes well with this, but if the crop is weakened, it lacks the ability to provide the necessary nutrition to the leaves.

After the purchase

If the orchid withers after purchase, you need to check the soil, since it is often not intended for the normal development of the plant. You should also pay attention to the pot - whether it matches the size of the crop. It is possible that wilting immediately after purchase is a plant reaction to stress.

What to do if the orchid fades?

The first thing to do is organize quarantine. Place the plant separately from the rest of your “green friends”. It is possible that the reason is the appearance of pests, so it is better to isolate the flower.

Attention! The main thing is not to perform rescue actions without finding out the reason! Otherwise, you can destroy the orchid. For example, it is known that novice gardeners try to water their pet as often as possible. And this regime is also destructive. Because if in this case, to resuscitate the orchid, you water it even more often, you will lose the flower forever.

It is necessary to carefully examine the condition of the orchid and evaluate:

• root system;
• substrate;
• leaves.

It is very important to find out whether the roots are rotting or drying out? Are there any visible parasites? Remember if you moved the pot? Have there been any noticeable changes in the microclimate recently? By answering these questions, you can draw up the right program of action to save your “green friend.”

Changes in external conditions: temperature, humidity

The cause of poor plant condition can be external conditions:

• dry air;
• low temperature;
• overheating from close proximity to the battery.

Reference! It is worth remembering that in nature, orchids are watered by rain every day. They love humidity! At the same time, the fresh wind of the tropics helps dry out excess moisture before a new downpour.

However, in apartments the microclimate is most often different: dry air comes from the radiators, and the lighting is insufficient. Our task is to bring the atmosphere of a city apartment as close as possible to the conditions of a tropical forest. At least in one single corner!

For this:

• humidify the air (purchase a special device);
• place the pot on stones that can be watered;
• increase the air temperature (for example, buy a heated mat);
• move the pot to a well-lit place;
• buy a phytolamp.

Phalaenopsis transplantation and soil replacement

For an orchid, the substrate is the real foundation of health. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately replant the plant as soon as you bring it from the store. It is possible that the reason for the poor condition of the flower is precisely poor-quality soil. In this case, replanting the plant is recommended. Remember, beauty does not require ordinary soil, but a mixture of crushed tree bark, sphagnum and small stones.

Phalaenopsis needs to be replanted if:

• you still have not replanted the plant since purchase;
• the orchid has not been replanted for more than a year;
• you doubt the quality of the substrate in which the flower is currently growing.

Signs of poor quality soil:

• compacts quickly;
• interferes with the penetration of oxygen to the root system;
• has recognized rot and mold.

Most often, replanting is required if the root system is damaged. The roots may either dry out or rot. The florist should know what healthy roots look like: they are light, hard, dense.

Replanting can save the plant. But for this you need:

• buy a new good pot for orchids;
• use high-quality soil (special substrate);
• remove old soil, as well as rotten or dry roots;
• soak the plant in a disinfectant solution;
• plant in a new container;
• Water only after two weeks.

Timely feeding

Sometimes the cause of flower disease is a lack of fertilizer. It is easy to determine; as a rule, you yourself remember very well the last time you fertilized orchids. If it was really a long time ago, then to save the orchid you just need to feed it!

Our beauty grows in a loose, light mixture that provides almost no nutrition. Therefore, it is recommended to draw up a feeding schedule. The frequency depends on the orchid variety. It is only important to remember that fertilizing should be light and regular.

Another danger is overfertilization. You cannot make a strong solution and feed the plant “for the future” to the maximum. This can cause a chemical burn to the roots!

Peculiarity! Be careful and follow the recommendations on the fertilizer label. Better yet, dissolve the powder even more than the manufacturer recommends. Just in case. After all, an orchid is such a sissy!

Prevention

To prevent premature wilting of an orchid, you need to follow the simple recommendations of experienced gardeners:

• the culture should be inspected frequently;
• treat pests in a timely manner;
• provide adequate lighting;
• establish the correct watering and irrigation regime in accordance with the humidity in the room;
• form the soil correctly and change it in a timely manner.

You should also take seriously the choice of a permanent place for culture. The orchid does not tolerate direct sunlight, drafts, or heat.

Features of proper care and cultivation

In total, there are about 25,000 species and subspecies of orchids and a large number of different hybrids. However, not all of them are suitable for home cultivation. For example, “phalaenopsis” and “cattleya” can grow exclusively in warm rooms, while another type of orchid, “celoginia”, cannot exist without cold. Therefore, when choosing an orchid, you should take this point into account.

One of the common species is “phalaenopsis”. He is very unpretentious, which is why he is loved in our latitudes.

An orchid grows exclusively on other plants. Therefore, in order for an orchid to take root at home, it is necessary to prepare a special substrate for it.

Excess fertilizer

Most fertilizers contain a certain feeding algorithm - they are often applied in large doses at once a couple of times a month. But not everyone knows that orchid roots are sensitive to phosphate and potassium salts, so if the concentration of the latter is too high, they can begin to dry out or rot.

It is better to take the advice of botanical scientists: add a couple of drops of nutrient solution with each watering - this way the salts will be supplied gradually and in low concentration, but regularly.

A sign of excess nutrition is the appearance of sticky spots on the leaves.

Hypothermia

If in winter the orchid began to wither and drop its flowers immediately after purchasing it in a store or changing the location of the pot, then hypothermia could have occurred during transportation or from drafts.

Already at temperatures below 15⁰C, wet roots receive enormous stress. Therefore, it is very important to pack the plant well before going outside and not to ventilate the room after watering.

Signs of frostbite include slimy yellow spots.

You can save an orchid. To do this, all damaged parts are removed—the entire leaf is cut off from the trunk, and the root or peduncle is cut to the first intact bud. The wounds are disinfected. As a rule, this is enough for treatment.

Why do leaves wither and turn yellow after transplanting?

Epiphytes and lithophytes are transplanted to a new location after the first flowering or as the pot becomes too small for the overgrown roots. The transplant is carried out according to the established scheme. Orchids are quite capricious, so in order to avoid mistakes, it is recommended to watch special videos and study the information.

For transplantation, select a suitable container and prepare the substrate. The roots are inspected and, if necessary, dry or damaged parts are removed with sharp garden shears. The sections are treated with crushed activated carbon to avoid fungal infection.

The leaves of the transplanted orchid began to wither

The transplant is secured with tray watering, a root biostimulator is added to the water, this will help the plant quickly adapt to new growth conditions. If, after transplantation, the leaf begins to dry out, turn yellow, and take on an unusually limp appearance, then this indicates a problem, a possible violation of the planting rules:

1. Aging. This natural cause may become relevant after transplantation. Changing the pot becomes a new stage in the development of the culture, so the reset process is activated. Wilting and yellowing of the lower plates is a sign that the flower is renewing itself. In this case, each fallen leaf is removed, no other actions are taken.
2. Overflow. After transplantation, a flower reacts to waterlogging by rapid yellowing of the lower part along with the stem. If this reason is discovered, it is advised to normalize the irrigation system and wait until the substrate dries completely.
3. Water quality. Plants are sensitive to hard water. Rust and chlorine that get to the root system after replanting can harm the plant. To avoid damage to the roots, hard water is softened by adding citric acid.
4. Incorrectly selected container and substrate. Repotting may fail if you choose a pot that is too small or too large. Lack of space compresses the roots and leads to yellowing; too much space provokes the accumulation of moisture, which is also harmful to the plant.
5. Moving, incorrect placement. The reason for yellowing and wilting after transplantation may be the wrong choice of location. Exotic flowers do not feel comfortable in the kitchen, where they are often adjacent to fruits and vegetables. Some fruits actively emit ethylene, which leads to the activation of processes inside the flower, which negatively affects its natural development.

Advice! After transplanting, during flowering, it is recommended to water the soil with warm, settled rain or melt water.

What happens to the plant?

Transplanting a flower into another pot is stressful for the plant . Due to this, it may become sick, lose leaves and even stop growing. The gardener's task is to help the plant during the period of adaptation to a new place.

Important! An orchid is a very capricious plant, so during the adaptation period it is necessary to pay much more attention to it.

After replanting, you should carefully monitor the condition of the flower: take care of the leaves and the new soil. You should not overdo it with “care”: at this time, the orchid requires rest and moderate watering.

Problems with the root system

The orchid has aerial roots, so assessing their condition directly in the pot is not difficult. The plant does not even have to be dug out of the ground and put under additional stress. This is where you should start to understand the reasons why the leaves began to fade.

Healthy roots have good turgor and a silver or green color; they are dense and smooth.

New roots are light, but when lowered into water they turn green. Darkening and discoloration closer to black or brown indicates that these parts are rotting. They feel slimy to the touch, and when pressed, liquid may leak out.

First of all, this is due to a lack of oxygen. Due to poor air exchange, the leaves are limp, wrinkled and wrinkled. You can save the plant by replanting it in a looser substrate in a pot with holes for ventilation.

The second option for the development of pathology is that the roots dry out. Causes: diseases, excessive and insufficient watering, etc.

So, if the orchid begins to wither and drop its buds when flowering, look at the root system.

A problem with the roots leads to disruption of the flower’s nutrition and respiration, which subsequently dies. The affected plant requires replanting.

Basics of proper orchid care

To prevent your orchid leaves from drying out again, properly care for it. This plant loves:

• High quality lighting . The duration of daylight should be at least 12 hours. If you do not have a window facing the sun, place a phytolamp next to the orchid. Turn it on when the sun's rays stop falling on the leaves of the plant.
• Regular watering . Water your orchid thoroughly whenever its substrate becomes dry. Ensure good drainage to prevent standing water. Then the overflow of soil will be excluded.
• Regular feeding. During the period of active growth and flowering, do not forget to feed the orchid. The recommended frequency is once every 2 weeks. Fertilizing is combined with watering. Give preference to mineral or organomineral fertilizers designed specifically for orchids.
• Loose soil . Try to loosen the substrate after each watering. This promotes soil aeration and prevents stagnation, which provokes the development of fungal diseases.
• Warm and humid air . The optimal air temperature for orchids is about 20 °C. At night, do not allow the temperature to drop below 15 ° C. During the day, try not to raise it to 30 °C or higher. If the air is dry, moisten it with improvised means (containers of water, wet laundry) or a special air humidifier.

Advice! To prevent fungal diseases of an orchid, spray it once a week with a solution of Fitosporin. This is a safe remedy with a weak antifungal effect. To treat a fungus that has already appeared, it is better to use powerful fungicides.

Take proper care of your orchid, and it will stop withering, the stems and leaves will become stronger, and flower stalks will appear. A healthy plant will delight you with long-lasting flowering and a pleasant aroma that fades in the morning or evening.

Poor quality soil

If the leaves have wilted and you are not sure of the quality of the soil, but the condition of the roots has deteriorated, then you should look for the reasons in two directions:

• initially unsuitable substrate - it is necessary to purchase a special soil for orchids, which is based on large pieces of bark;
• the soil is old - nothing can last forever, so over time the substrate is destroyed, crushed and compacted, losing its main property - breathability, and the orchids begin to suffocate. This process is accelerated by the presence of fungi or algae in the soil.

In this case, the plant requires replanting. If even after this the flower still disappears, then it is worth checking step by step whether it is kept in appropriate conditions.