What are the latest causes of orchid root rot?

The orchid is a traditional flower originating in our country, and together with “plum, bamboo and chrysanthemum” it is known as one of the “Four Gentlemen” of flowers. Chinese orchids are simple and elegant, fitting the Chinese character very well, so some people grow orchids at home to express their own noble character. But for beginners, problems are unavoidable, and root rot is one of the more troublesome ones. Root rot not only makes the orchid grow weakly, but in severe cases can even kill it. So what are the causes of orchid root rot? Let us take a look one by one below.

1. Poor growing environment

1. Light

There are many kinds of orchids; Chinese orchids alone include Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi and Cymbidium ensifolium, and different orchids have different sunlight needs, but most need at least 4 hours of light. With insufficient light or dim conditions, the orchid's photosynthesis is weak, and the potting soil does not dry easily, so water stays for a long time and affects root growth.

2. Ventilation

Orchids need ventilation that is just right, meaning it should be neither too strong nor too weak. Without ventilation, the growing environment is too stuffy and hot, watering does not dry easily, root respiration weakens, and roots soaked in water for a long time become swollen; with too much ventilation, the water in the pot is quickly blown dry, and if it is not replenished in time, the water stored in the roots is gradually used up and they slowly dry out.

3. Humidity

The orchid's requirement for air humidity, like ventilation, comes down to just the right humidity range. Both the temperature and humidity at the roots need to stay in a relatively mild state; if it is too dry or too wet, the orchid may develop root rot.

From this it can be seen that there are indeed quite a few causes of orchid root rot. The growing environment alone has three factors that may cause it. In fact, this kind of root rot is mostly caused by growers not understanding the orchid's growth habits well. This is a fairly common mistake that should not really happen, because if you choose to grow orchids you should first learn about their growth habits, yet many people still fail to do this.

2. Watering

Watering orchids should be based on the dryness and wetness of the potting soil and the temperature changes of the four seasons, choosing different watering methods to keep the potting soil from being too dry or too wet. In addition, when the temperature is too low or too high, watering should be stopped in time to prevent root rot from freezing injury or heat injury.

3. Fertilizing

Orchids have fleshy roots that store a large amount of water and cannot absorb highly concentrated fertilizer. Especially when there are wounds on the roots, the roots will suffer fertilizer burn and develop root rot. Therefore, when fertilizing, apply light fertilizer frequently. In addition, when using fermented organic fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer, do not place it too close to the roots, to avoid root rot.

4. Effects of pests and diseases

Pests and diseases can also threaten orchid roots. Usually when dealing with pests and diseases we only consider control measures and often do not check whether the roots have been affected, but this is actually necessary. If root rot appears, the plant should be taken out of the pot and treated in time.

The above are several causes of orchid root rot compiled by Qinnongwang for everyone. It can be seen that although orchids look rather plain, there are still many key points to growing them, and a slight mistake can lead to root rot and other problems. This also fits the Chinese character quite well: plain in appearance, yet with extremely high pursuits and a meticulous attitude toward life.