Yellowing and wrinkling orchid leaves can be a sign of disease, result from mistakes in care or a completely natural process that occurs in some orchids. So what to do with yellowing orchid leaves? Here are the top 5 reasons why orchid leaves wrinkle and turn yellow, and practical tips for getting your plant back in shape!
Why do orchid leaves wrinkle and turn yellow?
1. Orchid leaves turn yellow because it is watered poorly
If we grow an orchid at too high a temperature, without taking care of maintaining high air humidity and watering it regularly, we can lead to its dehydration.This is manifested by the gradualwrinkling, yellowing and drying of the orchid leaveson all floors of the plant. Additionally, the orchid's roots are flat, wrinkled and dry. In this case, the orchid requires immediate hydration. Place the pot with the orchid in a bowl of water and let the plant slowly draw water until the leaves and roots regain turgor. Remove all dry organs from the plant.
The cause of the yellowing of the leaves may also be too intensive watering of the orchid. Flooded roots are cut off from air, so they stop taking up water and nutrients. As a result,orchid leaves turn yellow, lose their firmness, over timebrown spots appear on the leaf blade, and the plant wobbles in the pot as the root system is reduced. Then you need to replant the orchid to a fresh substrate and water it up to once a week.
2. Orchid leaves turn yellow because it is too dark
Orchid leaves also turn yellow due to poor lighting. This happens most often in the fall and winter season, when the amount of natural light is low. Due to the lack of light, especially in conditions of high air temperature and high humidity of the substrate, at the beginningthe leaves of the orchid become light green and then turn yellowAdditionally, the leaves become watery and brittle. In this case, the orchid should be moved to the brightest possible place and watering should be limited.
3. Orchid leaves turn yellow because it is too warm or too cold
Unsuitable air temperature can also cause yellowing of orchid leaves. If the temperature is too high , the orchid leaves quickly turn yellow and drydue to the rapid loss of water. Too low cultivation temperature also causesyellowing of the orchid leaves and additionally inhibits the development of new leavesThis leads to the loss of all leaves and the death of the entire plant.Orchids should be grown at their optimal temperature, which for most species ranges from 20-22 ° C. It should also be remembered that at night the air temperature should always be a few degrees lower than during the day. Otherwise, the orchid dies quickly. The temperature difference between day and night allows orchids to naturally metabolize and grow.4. Orchid leaves turn yellow from lack of fertilization
Deficiency of some nutrients may be manifested by yellowing orchid leaves. Most often it is a symptom of nitrogen or iron deficiency. In the case of nitrogen deficiency , older orchid leaves gradually turn lighter, prematurely turn yellow and dieIn the case of iron deficiency , the youngest leavesturn yellow, and often also just developing. In order to avoid nutrient deficiencies in orchids, from April to September, every 2-3 weeks, we use fertilizers with a high nitrogen content and microelements.
5. Orchid leaves turn yellow with aging
Yellowing and drying of the leaves of an orchid does not always indicate neglect or illness. Orchid leaves spontaneously turn yellow and die over time, which is a natural process. In orchids of the genus Phalaenopsis and Cattleya , the lower leaves gradually turn yellow and dry , with new leaves growing in their place at the top of the stem. In species that produce pseudobulbs, such as Dendrobium, the pseudobulbs that have finished flowering die after 3-4 years. During this timethe leaves turn yellow and lose their attractive appearanceDecaying organs should be gently removed from the plant.
Often, stress, such as from transplanting an orchid or moving it from the store to your home, can causeyellowing and shedding of orchidsThis is completely normal and should not be of concern as long as the leaves do not start in turn yellow rapidly throughout the plant.After bringing the orchid home or transplanting it into a new pot, we should leave the plant alone so that it acclimates to the new environment and regenerates after the stress.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
