What to Do When Orchid Leaf Tips Dry Out? Teach You the Correct Way to Handle It
Orchids often develop dry leaf tips, and sometimes even entire leaves wither. Beginner orchid growers don't know what to do. Orchid leaf tip drying is mainly caused by orchid anthracnose and round spot disease. When orchids suffer frost damage or late frost injury, dry or discolored leaf tips also easily form. Below, let's look at the specific solutions.
1. Caused by orchid anthracnose and round spot disease. This disease occurs in large amounts during the plum rain season or at the turn of summer and autumn when temperatures are high and rain is frequent. The solution is to spray 50% carbendazim 1000-fold solution or 50% captan 500-fold solution during the susceptible period, once every 10 days, spraying 3-4 times in a row.
In addition, when orchids suffer frost damage or late frost injury, dry or discolored leaf tips also easily form. Therefore, in areas where winter temperatures are below 0°C, orchids should be moved indoors before winter to a ventilated spot with sunlight for care. When moving them outdoors in spring, be careful to avoid late frost damage. The traditional experience "no wind in spring, no sun in summer, no drought in autumn, no dampness in winter" is very helpful for preventing orchid leaf drying.
For orchid leaves that have already developed dry tips, if the situation is not too serious, manual pruning can be used. With scissors (preferably disinfected with alcohol), cut in a "∧" shape about 10 mm below the dried part. This way, the pot can still remain full of green. If a fungicide is sprayed after pruning, so much the better.
Note: "No wind in spring, no sun in summer, no drought in autumn, no dampness in winter" means not moving orchids outdoors too early in spring, to avoid damage from strong winds; providing proper shade in summer to prevent scorching by the fierce sun; watering frequently in autumn to prevent drought; and keeping the potting soil from being too wet in winter to prevent freezing and root rot.