Here comes the succulent soil mix method, worth saving for later use

What is soft rot? Simply put, once an orchid contracts soft rot, its leaves turn brown (black) and also become soft and floppy, then gradually rot away. This disease is also highly destructive; in severe cases, the entire orchid may be affected. Moreover, the thicker the leaves of an orchid, the more soft rot favors it.

Leaves turning black and soft is not a symptom of the early stage of soft rot. At the very beginning, some block-shaped small white spots first appear on the leaves. These blocks slowly expand, and their color gradually darkens, generally turning blackish-brown after two days. As these block-shaped spots spread, in severe cases the entire leaf will droop limply, rot and exude water, accompanied by a foul odor.

One condition for orchids to develop soft rot is dampness. One type is high air humidity, such as continuous rainy weather. When such natural conditions cannot be changed, first avoid letting the orchid get rained on, then ensure the growing environment is well ventilated, so the leaves can stay ventilated, dry and fresh as much as possible.

Another cause may be excessive watering by humans. Overwatering causes water to accumulate in the pot or excessive moisture content, and the leaves are also affected by the damp soil layer and become damp. This all speeds up the spread of pathogens to a certain degree. So although orchids like moisture, they must not be allowed to sit in water or become overly wet, which not only easily causes root rot but also makes them very prone to infection.

There are also wounds possibly caused by humans during planting, or wounds left by insect bites. If these wounds are in dry conditions, they heal relatively easily, and wound infection occurs less often. But in a poorly ventilated and highly humid environment, wounds tend to exude water and rot, giving other pathogens an opportunity to take advantage.

If a small wound is found, you can spray the wound with potassium permanganate or carbendazim diluted 800-1000 times to sterilize and disinfect the wound. For those old, weak, diseased and damaged leaves with poor growth, prune off whatever can be pruned, so as to avoid consuming excess nutrients or dragging down the growth of other healthy leaves.