What are the signs of fertilizer deficiency in orchids? These symptoms are very obvious

, Huabaike As the saying goes, "Clear orchids, muddy jasmine," meaning that orchids should be fertilized with light doses frequently, and strong fertilizer should be avoided. If the nutrients in the fertilizer cannot meet the growth needs of the orchid, various nutrient deficiency symptoms will appear. So do you know which fertilizer your orchid is lacking?

When it comes to fertilizing, the words people often mention are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but fertilizers are far from limited to these few. They also include magnesium, copper, manganese, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, boron, etc. When each element is lacking, the symptoms shown by orchids are different. Let's take a look together.

Signs of nitrogen deficiency in orchids

The nitrogen element mainly promotes leaf growth. When nitrogen is lacking, new leaves clearly grow poorly, being shorter and narrower than old leaves and thin in texture, with pale yellow leaf color and lack of luster.

Solution: Drench the roots with potassium sulfate compound fertilizer solution, or spray the leaves with urea solution in the evening, once every 3 to 5 days, spraying continuously 3 times, and the new leaves will gradually return to normal.

Signs of phosphorus deficiency in orchids

Phosphorus fertilizer mainly promotes the growth of leaf buds. When the orchid plant lacks phosphorus fertilizer, it shows slow growth of leaf buds, roots that do not grow for a long time, and curling at the leaf margins.

Solution: Choose potassium superphosphate extract to drench the roots, once every 10 days for 2 consecutive applications. Or spray phosphorus fertilizer on the leaf surface, once every 3 to 5 days, spraying 3 times continuously.

Signs of magnesium deficiency in orchids

When the orchid plant lacks magnesium, yellowing of the leaves appears. Especially in old leaves, the leaf tips and leaf margins turn yellow, and the leaf surface curls.

Solution: A 0.5% magnesium sulfate solution can be sprayed on the leaves in the evening, once every three to five days, spraying three to five times continuously, and it can be corrected.

Signs of potassium deficiency in orchids

Potassium deficiency in orchids shows as yellowing of leaf margins and leaf tips. At first the old leaves turn yellow, then it slowly spreads to the new leaves, and gradually changes from yellow to brown. The plant's leaves are also relatively soft and easily droop and bend. If exposed to strong light or low temperatures, the leaves will appear dehydrated.

Solution: First use a 0.5% potassium sulfate solution to water the roots and spray the leaves, or scatter wood ash.

Signs of manganese deficiency in orchids

If orchids lack manganese, they are very easily sunburned. Even with shading, sunburn-like spots still appear on the leaves, with spots within spots, and the flower buds do not develop. Neutral, calcareous and sandy soils are more prone to showing manganese deficiency symptoms.

Solution: Spray the leaves with a 0.3% manganese sulfate solution 3 times, and it can be corrected.

Signs of calcium deficiency in orchids

Calcium deficiency in orchids shows as leaf tips taking a hook shape, seriously affecting the plant's form.

Solution: Water the roots once with a 1.0% lime solution, or apply a 3% livestock calcium powder solution once, and it can be corrected.

Signs of iron deficiency in orchids

Iron deficiency in orchids mainly shows as the leaves of young leaves appearing yellow-white, with scorched brown spots appearing on the midrib and leaf tips.

Solution: Spray a 0.5% ferrous sulfate solution on the leaves, once every 3 days, spraying two or three times continuously, and it can be corrected.

Signs of zinc deficiency in orchids

Zinc deficiency in orchids mainly shows as rust-like spots appearing in the middle of the bottom leaves and gradually spreading to both ends. The leaf stalks of new leaves are clearly different from those of old leaves.

Solution: Spray the leaves with a 0.1% zinc sulfate solution, once every three to five days, spraying 3 times continuously, and it can be corrected.

Signs of copper deficiency in orchids

Copper deficiency in orchids mainly shows as leaf tips losing green color and turning gray-white, gradually spreading to the whole leaf, with growth gradually stopping.

Solution: Spray with a 0.2% copper sulfate solution, once every 7 days, spraying 2 times continuously, and it can be corrected.

Signs of boron deficiency in orchids

Boron deficiency in orchids shows as injury at the base of young leaves, with the leaf stalk ring extremely brittle and easily broken. Flower buds open slowly, the number of flowers decreases noticeably, and after flowering the plant's growth weakens noticeably.

Solution: Spray with a 0.3% borax or boric acid solution, once a week, spraying 3 times continuously, and it can be corrected.

Signs of molybdenum deficiency in orchids

Molybdenum deficiency in orchids shows as new plants also becoming noticeably dwarfed and unable to grow tall; old leaves lose green color, even becoming withered yellow, wilting and then necrotic.

Solution: Spray with a 0.1% ammonium molybdate solution, once every 3 days, spraying 3 times continuously, and it can be corrected.