Why Phalaenopsis Orchid Leaves Turn Yellow and How to Deal With It: Should Bottom Yellow Leaves Be Cut Off?

I believe anyone who has grown a Phalaenopsis orchid has surely had this doubt: "As it grows, the stems start leaning this way and that, some buds on the stems dry out and lose their moisture, and even some leaves feel soft and floppy to the touch, which looks quite uncomfortable." In terms of care, when you run into a situation like this, is it better to leave them, or just cut them off?

When beginners grow flowers, the most annoying thing is yellow leaves and fallen leaves, because they don't know how to handle it, and a pot of flowers that was perfectly fine not only loses its ornamental value when these problems appear, but its blooming period will also be affected later on. So how can this be avoided in everyday care?

First of all, when you encounter yellowing and dropping leaves while growing a Phalaenopsis orchid, don't panic, because this may also be a physiological reason of the orchid itself. Especially the leaves at the very bottom of the pot sometimes turn yellow or simply drop off. You don't need to worry about this situation, because this generally happens after winter ends, and growth resumes in spring. But if only one leaf turns yellow while the other leaves are normal in color, then you should pay attention to whether you have been watering too frequently. If you really are watering too much, quickly move the flower to a well-ventilated place so the medium dries faster. It could also be caused by fertilizer applied too strongly; in that case, you can first flush out the excess fertilizer with plenty of water, then put it in a ventilated place and the problem will be solved.

Secondly, if the Phalaenopsis seedling is relatively small, yellow leaves can also appear in this situation, because the root system of a small seedling is itself quite sensitive; as long as the temperature is a little too low, there is too much watering, or the fertilizer isn't applied right, it will cause yellow leaves. In this case, the yellow leaves often appear in succession, and sometimes two or three leaves turn yellow and drop at the same time.

Finally, if you really run into yellow leaves caused by root rot, then you should first carefully pull the Phalaenopsis orchid out of the pot, then clean off all the roots that have already rotted, then wrap it again with fresh sphagnum moss, and replant it back into the pot.

Put the pot in a warm place. After replanting, the orchid's watering should be controlled for the next half month; it is best to just mist the leaves a little. Once you see new roots growing, you can carry out care and management in the normal way.