Why do orchid leaves turn yellow starting from the roots?

When an orchid turns yellow starting from the roots, it is usually stem rot or root rot, often caused by improper watering or planting material that is too fine, and by the disease that develops under high temperature and high humidity. There are many aspects to pay attention to when growing orchids, so what should you do when orchid roots turn yellow? Below we introduce the causes of yellowing orchid roots and the solutions.

1. Causes of orchid root rot: it is generally caused by watering too frequently, unsuitable soil, or lack of sunlight. When you find orchid root rot, you should deal with it promptly. First dig the orchid plant out of the pot and remove the soil.

2. At this point you can use scissors to cut off the rotten roots (the rotten roots must be cut off completely; you can start cutting from the upper part of the rotten root), then rinse the roots clean with clear water.

3. Then soak the remaining orchid roots in a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for 4 to 5 minutes, or apply charcoal powder or sulfur powder to the wounds, and leave them in a cool, dry place to air dry for about 1 day.

4. After the roots are dry, plant the orchid in sterilized river sand. Orchid cultivation requires the soil to be breathable, so sandy soil is generally used.

5. Right after planting, water thoroughly, and then there is no need to water for a week; just sprinkle a little water on the leaves. Under a temperature of around 20°C and semi-shaded conditions, new roots can sprout from the stem base in about 30 days.

Tips

When planting, you can also treat it with naphthalene acetic acid or rooting powder, which can promote the sprouting of new roots. When the new roots grow to about 10 cm, you can replant it with fresh potting soil.