What to do when orchid leaves turn yellow? Here are the latest solutions
Orchids are one of the ten famous flowers of our country, and since ancient times they have been regarded as a symbol of nobility and elegance. Our country has a history of more than two thousand years of orchid cultivation. As one of the precious flowers, orchids are deeply loved by many people, and many people value the market profits involved and have begun large-scale orchid cultivation. However, many flower growers encounter the phenomenon of orchid leaves turning yellow during cultivation, which seriously affects the quality of the orchids, reduces economic returns, and gives people a real headache. But they do not know how to solve it? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.
1. Too much light
Orchids prefer a cool, shady growing environment and are rather demanding about light; they are not suited to long periods of exposure to light. When some flower growers cultivate them, due to improper handling, they are exposed to sunlight for long periods, so yellow leaves are very likely to result. Although they cannot be exposed to light for long periods, their growth cannot do without light either. If the light duration is too short, the leaves will lose their luster and gradually shrivel.
Solution: For leaf yellowing caused by light, the orchid can be moved to a shady place, such as inside a greenhouse, using the greenhouse to block the intense sunlight, and with a little watering, after about a few days, the leaves will slowly return to normal. If the leaves have already begun to wither, do not cut them off just for the sake of a nice appearance; let them fall off on their own, so as to avoid wound infection by bacteria.
2. Overwatering
Orchids like a moist environment during growth, but if watered too much, it is very easy to cause a “drowning” phenomenon, and this will lead to yellowing of the leaves. This is because with too much watering, there is too much standing water in the soil, and combined with poor soil drainage, the soil has poor permeability, so the root system suffers from lack of oxygen, eventually leading to rot and the appearance of yellow leaves.
Solution: When planting, master the correct watering method. Generally, water when the soil is dry. Do not water too much at one time; just keep the soil in a state of neither dry nor wet. At the same time, also pay attention to the air humidity. If the air is too dry, humidity can be increased by spraying water. If growing outdoors, pay attention to drainage and waterlogging prevention measures after rain.
3. Improper fertilisation
As with growing other crops, if you want orchids to grow quickly and robustly, fertilisation is indispensable. Nitrogen fertiliser can make plant leaves grow quickly. However, orchid roots have root nodules and have a certain ability to accumulate nitrogen themselves, so the amount of nitrogen fertiliser applied must be controlled. Some flower growers, in order to make them grow quickly, apply large amounts of nitrogen fertiliser, causing the nitrogen content in the soil to be too high, resulting in fertiliser burn and thus yellowing of the leaves.
Solution: Grasp the technique when fertilising. Each fertilisation should be light; be sure not to apply concentrated fertiliser, and do not apply unfermented liquid fertiliser. After fertilising, water once to dilute the fertiliser so that the plant can absorb it better and fertiliser burn is prevented.
4. Pests and diseases
When growing orchids, pests and diseases are often encountered. Many pests and diseases harm orchid leaves, ultimately causing the leaves to turn yellow and, in severe cases, causing the orchid to die. Pests and diseases are especially serious during the high-temperature, high-humidity period in summer. When they break out, people are often at a loss and can only watch as the orchids are destroyed.
Solution: Strengthen the prevention and control of pests and diseases when planting. After discovering pests and diseases, deal with them promptly. According to the different symptoms of the pests and diseases, determine which pest or disease is causing the harm, then apply the right treatment, carry out treatment measures well, and prevent yellow leaves.
The above is the entire content of what to do when orchid leaves turn yellow. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about orchid cultivation knowledge, please follow us.