What you need to know in order to understand what to do if all the leaves have fallen off from the orchid?

Orchid is definitely a spectacular flower. A flowering plant is a bright and extraordinary decoration of any room. Only such an exotic beauty has a wayward character, requires some attention. That's because the flower’s homeland is tropical forests with a humid and hot climate. In our latitudes, orchids need additional care, otherwise problems with the beauty of the beauty will immediately arise.

Plant features

Most representatives of the genus Orchid, which are grown on window sills, belong to the class of epiphytic. These are plants that live on trees or other plants, using them as a support. However, they are not parasites.

Foliage for epiphytes is of great importance. Not only thanks to rhizomes, but also leaf blades, orchids maintain water balance, receive nutrients. The leaves also take an active role in the process of photosynthesis.

Background of the problem

The first signs of leaves falling off are yellowing of the plate, as well as blackening at the points of attachment to the base (we explained in this article about why the leaves and roots of orchids turn black and how to help the plant). In the early stages, you can consider the problem, and what the reason is related to: natural or unnatural processes.

Another harbinger is the appearance of roughness on the surface of the leaf, because a healthy flower has smooth and juicy leaves. This symptom indicates the beginning of the destruction of superficial tissues. If you do not take any action, it is possible to lose the leaf.

Effects

The appearance of yellowed parts of exotism indicates various diseases or aging. The main danger is not to tighten, but to react at the same time at the first symptoms. In time, help the diseased plant, as the consequences are fraught with:

1. complete drying of the roots;
2. deterioration in general condition against the background of infectious diseases;
3. developmental impairment;
4. the cessation of flowering.

Foliage turns yellow, and subsequently falls away. The plant is in survival mode. And the loss of leaves is similar to dumping ballast, but buds, blossoming flowers also fall off, the flower stalk dries, and root problems arise. This may indicate various, even serious, health problems. Especially if this happens in a fairly short period of time. An urgent need to find out the cause of something was wrong.

Natural and unnatural process

From time to time, the orchid discards old leaves. There is nothing wrong with this process, on the contrary, it is considered the norm. A similar process is associated with the life cycle of a plant. The leaf plate begins to gradually turn yellow, becoming a bright yellow color, after it wrinkles, darkens and dries out. First of all, the lower leaves turn yellow. Natural death occurs after 1-5 years.

Even the green mass can change color, and then crumble, during flowering - the specifics of some varieties of Orchids. Perhaps the flower is at rest, hibernating. This condition is also observed not in all varieties.

The differences between natural physiological processes and external factors are that:

• the bottom sheet dies out every 1-5 years;
• the process does not affect the general condition of the plant;
• there is no massive leaf fall.

Causes

A healthy leaf has a green color, it is strong, fleshy, firmly adheres to the stem. If it turns yellow, wilts or falls away - this is a signal about the violation of the normal process of the plant’s vital activity, unless natural aging is to blame.

Orchids are somewhat moody and whimsical plants. They can react negatively to a change of residence, lighting, changes in temperature and humidity - all this affects the appearance of beauties. Therefore, it is not always easy to determine the cause of falling leaves, but it is still important. Key factors:

• microclimate of the room;
• malnutrition;
• illnesses.
• natural process;
• improper lighting;
• low-quality or old substrate;
• irrational watering;
• irregular use of fertilizers;
• inappropriate water quality;
• inappropriate neighbors;
• lack of optimal temperature and humidity parameters of the air;
• damage by infectious diseases or harmful insects (learn more about diseases of the green cover of orchids, as well as see photos of affected leaves here).

You can watch the video to learn how to conduct a pest test, as a possible cause of falling orchid leaves:

Instruction for action

When only foliage falls

Many beginner gardeners are concerned about the question, why did all the leaves fall off, but are the roots still alive? When the green mass falls off the plant, you should not panic. First you need to understand why the leaves turned yellow and fallen. Perhaps it is a flower aging. If not, then carefully examine the beauty, which parts also look unhealthy. After proceed with the following actions:

1. review the features of care;
2. move the flower to partial shade;
3. exclude irrigation with tap water;
4. remove the flower away if there are cordilina, yucca, peperomia or araucaria in the neighborhood;
5. during the first two weeks, do not fertilize, and then weakly concentrated preparations based on nitrogen, for the growth rate of young shoots;
6. inspect the orchid for small parasites or infections, if the reason is urgent to take action;
7. treat the plant with special chemicals;
8. change the pot if necessary;
9. update the ground.

When the flowers also fall

Improper care of the plant at home, may lead to the question, why do flowers turn yellow and fall? One reason may be a lack of fluid, which can occur when there is no watering at all. A plant needs a minimum amount of water, which dissolves the minerals found in the soil and nourishes the root system. This is the reason why the leaves turn yellow, dry and fall, and the flowers also dry. Action taken:

1. we extract an orchid from a flowerpot;
2. immersed in a bowl of water until the clay coma is deoxidized (note that water should not fall on the leaves);
3. if necessary, put in a new pot.

Similar symptoms indicate overfeeding of an exotic beauty with mineral fertilizers. Then we carry out the same activities, and within 2-3 months it is not worth making any nutrients.

When the roots disappear

This condition, unfortunately, is quite common. When when leaves fall, the root system also dies (about whether it is possible to save an orchid without roots and leaves and how to do it, we told here). If all the leaves of the plant have already fallen, and the process has begun, when the roots disappear, then there may be several reasons. This is possible with waterlogging of the soil, when liquid stagnation occurs in the pot and leaves and roots rot. Or with Fusarium wilting caused by mold fungi (how to save an orchid from mold, read here, and from this article you will learn how to understand that a bay has occurred and how to save a plant).

If symptoms are found:

1. sanitize the trimmer;
2. get a flower from the pot;
3. soak the roots in warm, clean water;
4. carefully inspect and touch all the roots;
5. trim damaged, soft, dry places with a prepared, sharp tool (more about why orchid leaves became sluggish and how to fix this problem, read here);
6. treat the slices with an antiseptic that does not contain alcohol (ground cinnamon, powdered activated carbon);
7. to kill or to prevent infections, treat the flower with a fungicide;
8. put the orchid in a new pot, it should be transparent and slightly cramped;
9. mandatory presence of a drainage layer;
10. sprinkle the plant with a new soil enriched with minerals;
11. You can fertilize after 2 weeks;
12. optimize growing conditions, because it is possible to reanimate a flower only in a favorable environment.

When all the foliage has fallen

It happens that the plant has lost all its green mass, while the root system is lively and green. In this case:

1. we extract an orchid from a flowerpot;
2. we clear of soil;
3. leave the roots in the water for a couple of hours to replenish with liquid;
4. inspect the root system, foliage for harmful insects;
5. dry leaves are also cut to a healthy tissue;
6. places of cuts are disinfected;
7. after drying the wounds, put the flower in a flowerpot with new soil;
8. we process live kidneys with cytokinin ointment;
9. use nitrogen top dressing 1 time in 7-10 days.

The ideal option is quarantine:

1. Move the plant to a warm place with diffused sunlight.
2. Monitor irrigation frequency and water quality.
3. Minimize water treatments.
4. Also carefully monitor the further condition of the orchid.

Prevention

To avoid such unpleasant situations is possible only with proper care of the orchid:

• Maintaining a comfortable temperature in summer: + 22-25ºС, in winter + 16-18ºС. The difference in temperature differences should not exceed 5ºС.
• Lighting is required diffused, with a daylight duration of 14 hours.
• Choose a pot that fits the flower in size.
• Humidity within 50-60%. Be sure to regularly ventilate the room.
• Renew substrate every 2-3 years.
• Water once a week, in between the soil should completely dry.
• Water temperature should be 35-40ºС.
• Spray 5 times a day. Exclude the procedure during the flowering period.

I do not like the plant to be near cacti. Their presence negatively affects the condition of the flower. Without knowing such nuances, one can long and unsuccessfully guess at the causes of falling leaves and buds.

Watch the video: How to know what's wrong with a Phalaenopsis Orchid from its leaves (December 2024).