What effects does over-fertilizing orchids cause?

Appropriate, selective fertilization is a powerful measure to ensure strong orchid plants. Insufficient fertility or inaccurate selection will not cause fatal damage to orchid plants, nor will it have too great an impact on the growth and development of orchid plants, but excessive fertilization will cause varying degrees of negative effects on orchid plants, and in severe cases can cause death. Fertilizer burn often harms the roots and the pseudobulb, and the pseudobulb and roots are the source of life for orchid plants, so we should attach great importance to them. The root system of an orchid plant is divided into three layers. The first layer is the root skin, which wraps the root symbiotic orchid mycelium and directly absorbs fertilizer from the growing medium; the second layer is the orchid mycelium symbiont, which has a relatively high water content and is crystal clear, and whose main function is to convert and digest the fertilizer absorbed by the surface layer; the third layer is the root core of the orchid plant, which is responsible for transporting and conveying the nutrients and water needed for the growth of the orchid plant. The function of the orchid root system is like our stomach and intestines, undertaking the absorption, digestion, and supply of the nutrients and water needed by the orchid plant. The three layers of a healthy orchid root system are all white or milky white. Yellow or black are signs of an unhealthy root system. When fertilizer burn damages the first layer of orchid roots, it will not have an obvious impact on the growth of the orchid plant, and its harmfulness is relatively small. With careful observation, timely discovery, and appropriate adjustment of fertilization, it is very easy to correct. When fertilizer burn damages the second layer of the root system, the fertilizer burn is relatively serious. At first the root system stops growing, the root tips wither and turn black until the entire root system becomes completely rigid, and the absorption and digestive systems are completely paralyzed. At this time, the orchid plant is already in a very dangerous period. During the growing season or the peak growing season (after deliberate fertilization), the growth of the orchid plant should be carefully observed. Once the new shoots stop growing, great attention should be paid. There are mainly two reasons for new shoots stopping growth. One is that the growing medium is too fertilized, and the new root buds are harmed first, with an obvious reaction; the other is the outbreak of disease. In both cases, the pot should be repotted in time and corresponding measures should be taken in time. However, a small number of orchid plants may stop growing or grow slowly because they bloom or are divided relatively late and, due to the higher temperature at the time of division, do not have enough time to adapt to the pot. This is a normal phenomenon and there is no need to repot. After the first and second layers of the orchid root system become rigid and die, the orchid plant still will not fall over. At this time, the orchid plant relies only on the root core of the third layer to supply a certain amount of water to maintain life. At this time, it will do its utmost to differentiate new buds and grow new roots, but if the growing medium in the pot is too fertilized, when the new roots grow to 4-6 cm, the root cells of the second layer may be destroyed. In this cycle, the plant can only be grown smaller and smaller. Once the root cells of the second layer are damaged, the orchid plant is already on the edge of danger. At this time, the fertilizer burn continues to extend inward and harms the root core of the orchid plant. After the root core is damaged, it gradually turns black and dries up. At this point, the entire absorption, digestion, and supply system is declared completely paralyzed. Even so, the orchid plant still will not fall over quickly. The nutrients and water in the pseudobulb can still support the leaves for a period of time. At this time, the orchid plant is only one step away from death. Even if it is repotted and the medium is changed, rejuvenation will take 3-4 years of effort, and it will take at least 5 years before it can bloom again. Such an orchid plant is very troublesome to manage, and various pathogens will take advantage of the opportunity to invade, causing you great distress. Orchid plantscultivation, can only be done according to local conditions, guided by circumstances, and formulated according to the situation; there is no absolute. Mailing address: Song Mingyuan, Shangtujian Company, Tianjia'an Power Plant, Huainan, Anhui Home phone: 0554-3663358 Mobile: 13605547920