Causes and Solutions for Split Leaves in the Middle of Phalaenopsis Orchid Leaves

With its elegant flower posture, the Phalaenopsis orchid has become the "white moonlight" in the hearts of countless flower lovers. Besides its intoxicating flower shape, it has diverse varieties and very rich colors, and in recent years it has also become one of the must-have flowers for the Lunar New Year. However, after buying this aristocrat among flowers and bringing it home, it is not as easy to grow as imagined, and it often suffers from the trouble of split leaves.

For flower growers, the most feared thing is cracking on the flowers or leaves, because besides greatly reducing the plant's ornamental appeal, such a situation also makes them worry that it is about to wither. If you also encounter the same situation, what should you do? In fact, to solve the problem of split leaves, you must first identify the cause.

First, you need to understand that vigorous leaf growth depends to a large extent on a healthy root system. If the roots are already poorly developed, it is like an unstable foundation for a building, so the leaves will naturally have problems. Second, the cause may also be that the plant's air environment is too dry, the humidity is insufficient, and the leaves crack from dryness due to lack of water. There is also the situation of improper fertilization, usually using fertilizer that is too highly concentrated, which scorches the leaves and causes cracking.

Only by figuring out the root of the problem can you treat it accordingly. Generally speaking, most causes are due to sharp temperature fluctuations, because when growers maintain them, most are grown in greenhouses. After it arrives at a flower lover's home and experiences large rises and falls within a short time, it acts like a ruthless "water pump," quickly drawing water out of the leaves, ultimately causing the leaves to lose water and crack. So what should be done when a similar situation occurs? First, to deal with dryness, of course you should increase the humidity around the flowerpot. At this time, you might as well prepare a small spray bottle and regularly spray a gentle mist of water toward the leaves and the surrounding environment.

In the cold winter, the plant's growth rate slows down at this time, so you can no longer spray water mist on it. Instead, keep the potting soil slightly on the dry side, and first get the plant steadily through winter. In winter temperatures, if conditions permit, you can keep the indoor temperature between 18°C and 30°C. If that cannot be done, put a windproof cover on the plant to reduce the plant being affected by cold. Regarding temperature requirements, if the overall temperature is above 30°C or below 10°C, it may enter a dormant state and stop growing.

In addition, when growing Phalaenopsis orchids, you also need to pay attention to fertilization. Spring and summer are the peak growing seasons and require supplemental nutrients so that the stems and leaves can grow vigorously. However, during fertilization, if the fertilizer concentration is too high, it is easy to cause an imbalance in soil pH. For beginner flower lovers, when choosing fertilizer, you can look for slow-release organic fertilizer, or directly buy fertilizer specially made for Phalaenopsis orchids.