Why does an orchid rot leaves and what to do with it?

Orchid is an unusually beautiful flower. Until recently, it was not very popular among amateur gardeners. But recently, the spread of orchids is gaining momentum. This is due to the emergence of a lot of information about caring for this magnificent plant, which made it clear to flower lovers that caring for it is not so difficult.

But, of course, there are some difficulties in the process of growing orchids, including the processes of decay of the leaves. How to deal with this and is it possible to prevent the loss of sheet plates, we will describe in the article below.

Life cycle

Let us briefly talk about what is normal in the process of growth and development of our beauty. She has a period of rest (rest) and a period of active growth and most often flowering. Phalaenopsis blooms on average about three months. Before that, flower stalks and buds are growing. But after the last flower has fallen, the overseas guest also does not go to rest for some time: about a couple of weeks.

Also, the yellowing of the lower leaves and leaves and their further falling off can be called a natural process for the flower. This is because the orchid cannot “feed” all of its leaves and therefore, when a sufficient number of new young leaf plates grows, it simply discards the old ones as unnecessary.

Why can leaf plates deteriorate?

ATTENTION: The reasons are quite elementary and lie on the surface, but violating the simplest rules for orchid care, you subject your pet to attacks of fungal diseases, which in 99% of cases cause leaf decay.

So, what can lead to the appearance of fungal infections on the plant:

1. Incorrect or irregular watering. This may be moisturizing too cold or warm water. Either too frequent or rare irrigation. Remember: you need to water the orchid with standing water at room temperature and only after the roots have stood for several days in a dry state. If the humidity of the room is high enough, you do not need to spray the leaves often - they will have enough moisture that is in the air.
2. Unsuitable top dressing. Fertilizers should only be used to feed orchids. Any other "common" mineral complexes are not suitable, since most often the amount of nitrogen is exceeded in them, which has a detrimental effect on orchids, and more precisely on their immunity. It is better to purchase fertilizer more expensive and at the same time save the life of the plant than to buy a cheaper drug that will harm the orchid.
3. Stagnant air. It is necessary to regularly ventilate the room in which the plant is located. After all, it is fresh air that perfectly fights fungal infections.
4. Insufficient lighting. The fungus loves dark indoor ones, therefore, if you do not provide the flower with a lot of light, thereby you will provide a natural habitat and development for infections. If there is a lack of natural light, seek the help of phytolamps for help.
5. Lack of visual inspection. The appearance of harmful insects can be noticed immediately and begin to fight them as soon as possible. But if the gardener neglects regular inspection of his plant, then, of course, he will notice the fungus only at the moment when the disease leads to a deterioration in the general condition of the orchid, including the decay of its leaves.

Means that can save the plant

Chemical

• “Fitoverm” (or its analogues: “Aktofit”, “Haupsin”) - the use of this drug does not harm a person, but it has a detrimental effect on pests. The remaining solution must not be drained into a pond or sewer. And the container in which the product was diluted is best burned, but in no case inhale the smoke that is formed during combustion.
• "Actellik" - this tool is usually used as a last resort, when Fitoverm or folk methods and tools can no longer cope.

Natural

IMPORTANT: The most common natural drug against various infections, including fungal infections, is a soap solution. For its preparation laundry soap is usually used.

A diseased leaves, root system is treated with a soap solution or they completely shed the soil. After treating the plant with a soapy solution every five days spray it several more times for prevention.

If the disease is caused by late blight

This disease is very dangerous for an orchid, because it can ruin a plant in just a matter of days. Therefore, when this fungus is detected, you need to act immediately:

1. Isolate the affected flower from other healthy ones.
2. Prepare sharp scissors, a knife or a blade. Treat them with alcohol or hold them for a few seconds over the fire.
3. Cut off all diseased areas and grab about 2-3 centimeters of healthy tissue.
4. Sprinkle the cut areas with powdered charcoal or cinnamon.
5. Wait for the wounds on the orchid to dry.
6. Treat living areas with a fungicidal preparation.

Do not forget to process the place where the infected orchid was. You must give in to the disinfection of the pot itself, but simply get rid of the soil.

When defeated by Petium

What to do if the leaves are rotten away due to the defeat of Pitium? It is worth noting that this infection most often first appears on the root system, and only then spreads to the ground part of the plant (how to resuscitate the flower if the roots have deteriorated or have already decayed, read here, and from this article you will learn what to do if the core of the orchid has rotted). The algorithm for combating this variety of fungus is the same as during infection with late blight.

But we can add to the above that single treatment with fungicides to a sick plant will not be enough. Therefore, this procedure needs to be repeated a couple more times with a break of one week to achieve one hundred percent result.

From wet bacterial rot

With this disease, proceed as in the first two cases. But it is recommended to treat the cropped areas with bacterial rot not with cinnamon or charcoal (since they may be powerless), but with iodine or brilliant green, but do this very carefully and not go too far (you can learn more about the causes of rotting on orchids and how to save it here).

And as a fungicide, it is better to choose copper-based products.. The most common drug is Bordeaux fluid. But here you need to be careful and give the orchid a rest from such a treatment, since copper with its frequent use closes the pores on the leaves, and the flower stops breathing.

Watch a video about orchid wet bacterial rot and flower treatments:

During fusarium wilting

This is one of the varieties of fungal infections, but this species is particularly survivable. Therefore, the method of combating Fusarium wilting will be similar, but it will have one “but”. When choosing a fungicidal drug, make sure that the instructions indicate that it is designed specifically to combat this type of disease.

TIP: After cutting off the affected areas, let them heal - this will happen within 3-4 hours. And also the duration of quarantine for the affected plant should be at least thirty days.

Watch the video about Fusarium wilting orchids and flower treatment methods:

With improper care

In this case, isolating the plant is not necessary. Just remove the affected areas of the leaves. Do not regret, because you certainly will not save them. After that, observe and conclude which orchid care item you violated, and immediately correct your mistake. We draw your attention to the fact that in any case, you need to act very quickly, since any damage to the orchid spreads very quickly.

Prevention

So, what to do so that your pet does not lose its health and luxurious appearance:

1. When choosing a place for an orchid, pay attention to the amount of light. This plant needs light all twelve months of the year and twelve hours a day.
2. Ventilate the room in which your pet grows more often.
3. It is not necessary to moisten the soil often. Wait for it to dry completely and only after two to three days water the flower.
4. Make sure that water does not remain on the leaves for a long time after spraying (about 30-40 minutes after this procedure, walk with a dry cloth and remove excess moisture).
5. As soon as you bring the orchid into the house, give it a thirty-day preventive quarantine and daily check its appearance.
6. If you decide to transplant the plant, be sure to decontaminate the soil before this. To do this, either pour plenty of boiling water over it, or warm it in the microwave for two to three minutes, or hold it in the freezer for several hours. These procedures will completely destroy existing pests.
7. Monitor the temperature in the room. If it is cool around the orchid, this will give even more chances for the development of fungal infections. The optimum temperature should be 18-23 degrees above zero. And do not forget about the obligatory difference in daily temperatures.

Conclusion

It would not be said that the orchid is not such a whimsical plant, but I want to argue a bit with this. This overseas flower reacts literally to every change in environmental conditions.

Therefore, in order to preserve the beauty of its plant, adhere to all orchid care guidelines as much as possible and try to keep it in the same conditions. She can even get used to low or high temperatures. But only if this indicator is constant. If you periodically change the living conditions for the flower, he will answer you with wilting.

Watch the video: Orchid Disease - Bacterial Brown Rot, spotting, treating and preventing (December 2024).