Why Phalaenopsis Orchid Leaves Go Soft and How to Fix It

Whenever a holiday comes around, whether it is Chinese New Year or March 8th Women's Day, you can spot Phalaenopsis orchids at almost every stall in the flower market. Their bright reds and soft pinks make them especially festive, and plenty of people want to bring that beauty home, buying a few plants to grow.

But did you know? There is actually quite a lot to orchid care. They are native to tropical rainforests, where the environment is relatively humid and temperatures mostly sit around 18-23°C. If a plant lover takes one home and sets it straight on the balcony, problems in care easily follow. Over the following days the flowers begin to wither one by one, and the whole plant loses its vitality. So for a beginner grower, how can you keep a Phalaenopsis orchid thriving?

Often, while growing a Phalaenopsis orchid, the flowers still look full of life, but the leaves turn yellow and soft, and it is painful to look at. So what does this kind of situation usually mean? And how should you deal with it?

First, if the leaves have gone soft, the orchid may have just been brought home and is not yet used to the new environment. If it is placed on the balcony at this time and given too much during the day, the leaves easily go soft all over. In this case, shade it appropriately and let it settle, and it will be fine.

Second, after repotting, a Phalaenopsis orchid may also develop soft leaves. So in the few days before repotting, as long as the medium is not absurdly dry, do not water it yet, and do not fertilize it for a month either. Give it some time to adapt. Then, lack of water is also the most common cause. When a Phalaenopsis orchid lacks water, the first reaction shows in the state of the leaves. Some people see the base of the leaves start to turn yellow and later become wrinkled; this situation is most likely a lack of water, so water it right away.

Furthermore, you should also consider that the roots may have a problem. This is somewhat more troublesome than the previous situations, because if the roots rot they cannot absorb water and nutrients, and the leaves will wilt. At this point you need to repot promptly and change the medium, cutting away the rotten parts of the roots.

Finally, there are also certain varieties of Phalaenopsis orchids that during the flowering period prioritize supplying the flowers. If this leaves the leaves short of nutrition, they may go soft all over. In this case, they will gradually recover once the flowering period is over. If you cannot wait, you can simply cut off the flowers and focus on growing the plant.