Orchids in distress: How to save your shriveled leaves!

Orchids in distress: How to save your shriveled leaves!

Orchids are very popular as houseplants and are characterized by their exotic beauty and long flowering period. However, many amateur gardeners may face a common problem: limp and shriveled leaves. These symptoms are often an alarm signal about the health of the plant, such as ruhr24.de and merkur.de report.

The most common causes of shriveled leaves on orchids are problems with water absorption. These plants tend to suffer from overwatering rather than lack of water. Healthy roots appear green or silvery and are firm; On the other hand, a brown, soft texture indicates root rot. If the roots are rotten, the plant should be removed from the pot and the harmful parts removed. Experts recommend immersing orchids in low-lime, room temperature water for 10 to 20 minutes once a week and ensuring that the substrate dries slightly between waterings.

Important care measures

Proper care is crucial to maintaining orchid health. This includes optimal humidity of 60 to 90 percent, which can be achieved by regularly spraying the leaves with lukewarm water in dry rooms. In addition, most orchid species prefer bright, but not directly sunny locations, such as east or west windows. Too much sunlight can cause burns and shriveled leaves. Conventional potting soil is often too dense; Therefore, a special orchid substrate with coarse components is necessary.

For fertilization, it is recommended to use special orchid fertilizer or highly diluted conventional fertilizer every three to four weeks during the growth phase from spring to autumn. Symptoms such as shriveled leaves could also indicate pest infestation, particularly mealybugs and mealybugs. In such cases, thorough control and treatment with suitable pesticides is necessary. By following these care measures, many problems can be eliminated and the plants can be revitalized.

– Submitted by West-East media