The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Making the leap into growingorchidsis an exciting, but challenging prospect for the beginner.
But is yourorchid really dying?
They are environment-sensitive and vulnerable to all the same problems as other houseplants including pests and disease.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
You don’t have to give up on your prized plant when issues arise.
Left untreated problems can lead to early death but most can be remedied with adjustments to the care routine.
Some even look unattractive.
They sit there with no signs of growing new leaves or flowers.
It can go on formonths.
This is a natural part of the plant’s annual cycle.
you should probably continue with regular maintenance for your variety including adequate light, water, temperature and humidity.
For most species, water is reduced and fertilizer is withheld during the rest period.
Bright, indirect or shaded, indirect light will satisfy the plant’s needs.
You may want to move the orchid into a northeast window for several months.
Remember to provide a period of complete darkness during each 24-hour stretch.
Is My Orchid Dying or Resting?
It can be difficult to tell, during rest, if your orchid is thriving.
If you’re uncertain, inspect the plant’s leaves, crown and roots.
Almost all problems occur because of a miscalculation in the care routine.
Your orchid will let you know when it needs help.
The good news is most problems can be fixed before the plant is too far gone.
Here are some signs that your orchid is distressed and suggestions for nursing it back to robust health.
Leaves Turn Yellow and Drop
Almost all plants shed their oldest leaves it’s a natural process.
There is no need to worry when the bottom leaves on your orchid start to turn yellow.
A new leaf may already be emerging or will sprout fairly soon.
When new leaves turn yellow and drop off, the plant is either receiving too much light or water.
Just a few degrees of cooler temperatures can put an orchid back on track.
Withhold water for several weeks and follow with a reduced watering schedule until new, healthy leaves emerge.
Brown Tips On Leaves
When leaf tips turn brown, the orchid isn’t getting enough moisture.
Adjust the schedule to water more frequently and raise humidity.
Wrinkled Leaves
Wrinkled leaves are a sign of underwatering.
The leaves can actually fold up on themselves.
Give the plant a thorough watering but be sure to drain off excess.
Then water the normal amount but more frequently.
Affected leaves won’t straighten out, but they’ll eventually be replaced by healthy, normal ones.
If theroot is dead, you’ve got the option to remove it with a sterilized cutting tool.
Moving from a shaded location into bright, direct sunlight is the biggest reason orchids become sunburned.
This can take from several weeks to a month or more.
Do not cut the sunburned part out as this can lead to pest and bacteria problems.
If leaf spots increase in size and spread this indicates a more serious problem of fungal or bacterial disease.
This usually looks like water soaked spots or depressions.
These diseases thrive on high humidity but so do most orchids, so prevention is the best approach.
Water early in the day so the plant can dry out before temperatures reach their daytime high.
If bacteria or fungus does set in, immediately isolate the orchid.
Cut out all diseased parts sterilizing the tool after each cut.
Treat cut surfaces with afungicideand reduce water and humidity until you see signs of new healthy growth.
Pest Problems
Orchids grown as houseplants can attract the same pests as any other inside plant.
Most common are sap sucking insects like scale, aphids, thrips, mealybugs and spider mites.
An infestation results in mottled, disfigured, or chewed leaves.
Check the undersides of leaves for crusty or cottony white growth.
Brush insects off by hand or gently clean the leaves with a mild solution of soap and water.
Heavy infestations may require a treatment withneem oilor anotherpesticide.
Let the damaged leaves die andfall off naturallyunless signs of rot appear.
Orchid Viruses
The American Orchid Society has identified 30 different orchid viruses worldwide.
Other signs of orchid viruses include streaked or malformed flowers that fade and drop more quickly than normal.
There is unfortunately no cure for orchid viruses.
Limp Leaves or Soft Crown
The crown should be firm with little give when gently pressed.
If it feels soft or if the leaves are limp and droop abnormally, the potting medium is waterlogged.
Repot the orchidwith fresh growing materials.
Withhold water for a week and then resume an adjusted watering schedule.
Keep in mind that not all are on what we might consider a normal schedule for perennial plants.
Growth can be extremely slow.
A new leaf may appear but take several weeks to a month or more to reach maturity.
A flower spike may appear, shortly followed by buds that may take one or two weeks to open.
Be patient and check the orchid often.
Keep the potting material evenly moist and don’t venture to force the plant with extra watering or fertilizing.
Day length is an important factor for flowering.
Remember to keep the plant in full darkness during the night.
This is known as bud blast.
Avoid moving the plant after the flower spike appears.
Provide plenty of humidity and keep the potting mixture evenly moist.
Some plants are sensitive to airborne pollutants.
Air quality and good circulation are important but avoid exposing the plant to drafts and breezes.
Troubleshooting with Orchids.New York Botanical Garden.
Bud blast.American Orchid Society.
