Causes and solutions for dry, yellowing orchid leaf tips

Regarding why orchid leaves turn yellow, the causes are summarized below for the reference of fellow orchid growers:

Orchid leaves turning yellow may be due to the following factors:

First, a change in the orchid's environment, which causes poor water uptake by the leaves.

Second, if the orchid was newly potted before you bought it, it is somewhat unsuited to the soil, which temporarily affects nutrient absorption.

Third, for a newly purchased orchid, the watering and placement environment are not suitable for orchid growth.

Fourth, water-yellowing, which is caused by watering too much, leading to long-term waterlogged and constantly wet soil, poor aeration and even partial rotting of the fibrous roots. It shows as tender leaves turning dull yellow and lusterless, with new shoots shrinking.

Fifth, fertilizer-yellowing, which is caused by too much fertilizer, showing as old leaves and branch tips turning yellow and dropping, while new leaves, though thick and glossy, are generally uneven and not spread out flat. If it is a valuable flowering plant, you can scatter a layer of pak choi or radish seeds, let them sprout for a few days and then pull them out, to consume the nutrients.

Sixth, drought-yellowing, caused by not watering thoroughly or by dehydration over a long period; although the new leaves keep a normal color, the lower leaves gradually dry, yellow, drop and age from the bottom upward.

Seventh, alkaline-yellowing. Some southern flowers in particular prefer acidic soil, while the water in the north tends to be alkaline, so the leaves gradually fade, turn yellow and even drop. The simplest solution is to water with fermented rice-washing water or rainwater.

Orchids should be placed in a ventilated spot, avoiding direct sunlight.

Orchids often develop dry leaf tips, and even whole leaves withering. Flower lovers new to growing orchids do not know what to do. Dry orchid leaf tips are mainly caused by orchid anthracnose and round spot disease. When orchids suffer frost damage or late frost damage, dry or discolored leaf tips also easily form. Below are the specific solutions.

One, it is caused by orchid anthracnose and round spot disease. This disease occurs in large amounts during the plum rain season or at the turn of summer and autumn when it is hot and rainy. The solution is to spray 50% carbendazim 1000x solution or 50% captan 500x solution during the susceptible period, once every 10 days, for 3-4 consecutive sprays.

What to do when orchid leaf tips dry out

In addition, when orchids suffer frost damage or late frost damage, dry or discolored leaf tips also easily form. Therefore, in areas where the winter temperature is below 0°C, move the orchids indoors before winter to a ventilated spot with sunlight for care. When moving them outside in spring, be careful to avoid late frost damage. The traditional experience of "no wind in spring, no sun in summer, no drought in autumn, no dampness in winter" is of great benefit for preventing orchid leaves from drying out.

For orchid leaves whose tips have already dried out, if the situation is not too serious, you can use the manual pruning method: with scissors (preferably disinfected with alcohol), cut in a ∧ shape about 10 mm below the dried part, so the pot can still stay full of green; if you spray a fungicide after pruning, so much the better.

Note: "No wind in spring, no sun in summer, no drought in autumn, no dampness in winter" means do not move them outdoors too early in spring, to avoid damage from strong winds; in summer, provide appropriate shade to prevent scorching by the blazing sun; in autumn, water frequently to prevent drought; in winter, the potting soil must not be too wet, to prevent freezing and root rot.