While at the end of the last century, orchids were a rarity in the home, today we can buy them in every supermarket. Phalaenopsis are particularly popular and also the easiest to grow, which certainly does not mean that we do not have to take care of them.
A beautiful and richly blooming orchid is an elegant decoration of the apartment, but only if it is successful. As soon as the first signs of yellowing appear on the leaves, we have to think carefully about what this exotic beauty might be missing here. In many cases, these are basic mistakes in watering and placing the flower pot.
It is not a manifestation of illness
In the fight to save the orchid, it is first necessary to eliminate the root cause of the problem, because yellowing is not a sign of disease, but a symptom of dissatisfaction with the conditions in which it lives. One of the most common mistakes we make is over watering. Waterlogging of the root system, which in nature is used to an airy environment. It is therefore logical that standing in water will certainly not be pleasant for them. If the substrate is soaked for a long time, the roots start to suffocate, later rot and lose the ability to absorb water. As a result of such overwatering, the orchid paradoxically starts to dry up.
Orchids are simply beautiful:
Neither water nor drought
So, as soon as you notice that the roots are turning soft and brown, immediate rescue action is required. Repot the orchid immediately and remove any damaged roots. Just like too much water bothers orchids too . It is a plant that comes from a tropical forest, therefore it is used to higher air humidity, which is usually sufficient in the given environment.
The plant sacrifices marginal leaves
In the event of a long-term lack of moisture, the plant will begin to defend itself by concentrating only on preserving the center of the leaf rosette and sacrificing the marginal leaves. Before they fall, these leaves will still be firm but wrinkled. In addition to such fatal mistakes, we can also commit other, seemingly smaller, but still serious mistakes when growing these plants. A big problem is, for example, inappropriate lighting.
Pay attention to the light
In order to keep these beauties in a healthy state, it is necessary to provide them with enough light, but not direct intense sunlight. Especially during the midday hours in summer, the leaves can be completely destroyed in a few days. First they turn yellow, then brown spots appear on the edges and the leaf falls off. How will it turn out if we don’t give the orchid even the minimum for it? In this case, the leaves will gradually turn pale, first the dark green color of a healthy leaf will change to light green, a few days later we will find a plant with yellow leaves in a flower pot. The point is that the plant cannot produce enough chlorophyll. Therefore, if possible, place the orchid on an east or south window, but always behind a curtain to be safe.
Limit nutrition
No flower can thrive without adequate nutrition. The orchid is no exception, so it is up to us to provide it with sufficient doses of nitrogen and magnesium. Nitrogen is necessary for the growth of green matter, and its deficiency can also be manifested by yellowing of the leaves. The problem starts from the oldest leaves and, compared to other causes, this time the veins will remain green for a longer time. So we can observe some kind of darker patterns that tell us exactly what the orchid can’t handle on its own. Get her a special fertilizer and feed her according to the instructions you will surely find on it. Does growing exotic splendor seem too complicated? Maybe only at first glance. But once we get used to living with them and you learn to distinguish between their demands and possible complaints, soon everything will be as the grower and his ward wish – and both will be satisfied.
