Causes of orchid soft leaves: why they became lethargic and how to fix this problem?

Orchids are exotic plants that, with proper care, can last a few owners and delight with their beauty. They can become a real decoration of any home, but only some flower growers are able to properly grow a flower.

Moody orchids require special attention, therefore it is worth treating a flower with incredible trepidation and care. If nothing is done, the plant may wither away or even die. In the article, we will explain why the leaves of the orchid became lethargic and soft and what to do about it?

External features of a diseased flower

This phenomenon is quite natural, but only experienced flower growers know how to deal with such a problem. Do not worry if the lower leaves of this exotic miracle have wilted.. You do not need to immediately pick them off, because her leaves did not have time to give all their nutrients. They will fall away on their own as soon as the time comes.

You can learn more about diseases of the green cover of orchids, as well as see photos of affected leaves here.

Elastic leaves begin to gradually fall, they lose their experienced color and acquire strange wrinkled stains. This flower urgently needs help. In detail about what to do if the leaves of the orchid have lost turgor and wrinkle, we talked about in this material.

The main causes of wilting

It is hard for all gardeners to observe their own plant, which is beginning to die. They cared for and nurtured the plant, but nonetheless, problems arose that led to this outcome. Why did the orchid's baby become soft, and eventually all of them become lethargic? An important need remains to find out the true reason that led to the softness of the leaves.

1. Root overheating. Orchids are very thermophilic, so they prefer to be in appropriate places. It is worth noting that excessive overheating or direct sunlight can lead to the death of the flower. If the orchid is near the battery or on a warmed window sill, then you need to solve this problem as soon as possible. The sun's rays warm the soil, and all the moisture begins to evaporate gradually. The roots begin to become cold, so they lose all their ability to consume nutrients.
2. Soil compaction. The leaves of the plant can become soft when poor quality soil is used. It can prevent all mineral fertilizers and oxygen from entering. Experts recommend replanting the flower in new soil as often as possible, because it is frequent watering and salt deposits, the substrate is destroyed. It becomes more dense, and this causes a variety of diseases.
3. Lack of moisture. If the soil is too dry, then the death of the flower can be caused. You can not water the plant on a schedule, because it needs a special approach. Every day there are different changes in temperature, pressure and humidity. After a thorough assessment of the state of the plant, the amount of moisture needed should be determined.
4. Excess moisture. Exotic plants do not tolerate large amounts of moisture in the soil. Holes must be made in the pot to regulate the water, but if they are not so enough, the humidity will begin to rise. Often the leaves begin to fade due to stagnation of water in the soil. Care must be taken to ensure that the pallet is dry and the plant is protected from lower temperatures.
5. Incorrect feeding. Concentration of fertilizer levels can affect leaf condition. Orchids respond well enough to soil constituents. If the plant is overfed, the leaves will become soft, and the roots will turn black (about why leaves and roots turn black and how to help the plant, read here).
6. Pests and all kinds of diseases. The most common cause of leaf softness is the presence of pests. Nutcracker beetle larvae populate on the roots, damaging them. Because of this, plants begin to absorb moisture poorly and all substances that can positively affect flower growth.Advice! In this case, you need to rinse the orchid and plant in the updated soil. You can water the flower a week after transplanting.

Troubleshooting

If the plant is still overheated, then it needs to be placed in the shade for several days. Do not water it or spray it. Then you can move the flower to the illuminated areabut farther from heat sources.

To determine if the soil is too dry, you should slightly move the soil, but if it gives in poorly, then you need to carry out water procedures. The flower is placed in warm water for an hour, and then sprayed a little. The leaves should be wiped with a dry cloth.

Damaged roots can cause soft leaves, so treat the plant. The orchid must be carefully removed from the pot and examined the roots. All damaged areas must be removed and washed with warm water. Healthy root areas should be treated with dried cinnamon (how to grow orchid roots with root and other means can be found here). The plant is transplanted into new soil.

If the plant lacks moisture, then it should be watered more often. A large amount of fertilizer is eliminated quite easily.. You need to rinse the roots and get rid of excess fertilizer. They put the pot in the shade and just wait for it to fully recover.

Plant care

Orchid leaves can also become soft if the plant is stressed. To prevent this, you need to properly care for the flower after treatment. If the plant was brought from the store, then you need to give him proper care.

As soon as the plant is cured, you need to put it in the shade for several weeks, without worrying and not watering. As soon as the flower is isolated from other flowers, it will recover much faster. There is no need to speed up this process and expose a flower ahead of time. Internal minerals will begin their activation and allow the plant to be completely healed..

Watch the video: Wrinkly Phalaenopsis Orchid Leaves - Problem & Solution (November 2024).