Indoor Orchid Care

How To Know When Your Orchid is Sick

8 Comments

Orchid DiseasesOrchid care takes time to master. Sometimes when you are just starting to get the hang of it, something suddenly happens that kills your plants. I read one such blog post about the Tawain Orchid Virus.

That blog post prompted me to write about these types of problems and things you can prevent or cure. Knowing to spot early on that something is wrong is a very good way to prevent this from happening. One technique that orchid growers use is to check the leaves.

An orchid’s health can be easily seen through its leaves. If the leaves are starting to have brown spots, brown or black tips or starting to turn yellow, then you’ve got a definite problem. Here are some of the things you can do to save them from total destruction.

Black Tips And Brown Spots

If you find that these are showing up mainly on the body of your orchids leaves then this might just be sun burn. Move your orchids away from direct sunlight and observe them for a week. If the spots continue to grow then this might just be a case of bacterial or fungal infection. One way to treat this is by cutting off the affected part and applying fungicides.

If the tip of the leaves continue wilting and turning black after moving them away from the sun, then this might be because of too many minerals from either your fertilizer or water. Too many salt minerals can be fatal to orchids. Try changing the kind of water you are using. Avoid softened water and minimize the use of fertilizers.

If the spots are turning black and are multiplying, then this might be a viral infection. This kind of infection is to fatal orchids. Sadly, there is currently no definite cure for viral infections.

Yellow Leaves

Most orchid growers know this as a natural occurrence when orchid’s leaves are growing old. So do not worry. They will soon be replaced by new ones. This might also just be because of too much sunlight or exposure to sudden change of temperature. The most common thing to do is to change the lighting.

Remember to use the leaves in determining the diagnosis of your plant’s health. Be keen in spotting the warning signs to prevent your orchids from going down the drain.

What remedies have worked for your orchids? Please leave a comment below.

For more information about dangers that can hurt your orchids, here are 5 Warning Signs Your Orchids are in Trouble.

Orchid care takes time to master. Sometimes when you are just starting to get the hang of it, something suddenly happens that kills your plants. Knowing to spot early on that something is wrong is a very good way to prevent this from happening. One technique that orchid growers do is to check the leaves.

An orchid’s health can be easily seen through its leaves. If the leaves are starting to have brown spots, brown or black tips or starting to turn yellow, then you’ve got a definite problem. Here are some of the things you can do to save them from total destruction:

Black Tips And Brown Spots

If you find that these are showing up mainly on the body of your orchids leaves then this might just be sun burn. Move your orchids away from direct sunlight and observe them for a week. If the spots continue to grow then this might just be a case of bacterial or fungal infection. One way to treat this is by cutting off the affected part and applying fungicides.

If the tip of the leaves continue wilting and turning black after moving them away from the sun, then this might be because of too much minerals from either your fertilizer or water. Too much salt minerals can be fatal to orchids. Try changing the kind of water you are using. Avoid softened water and minimize the use of fertilizers.

If the spots are turning black and are multiplying, then this might be a viral infection. This kind of infection is to fatal orchids. Orchid care says that there is currently no definite cure for viral infections.

Yellow Leaves

Most orchid growers know this as a natural occurrence when orchid’s leaves are growing old. So do not worry. They will soon be replaced by new ones. This might also just be because of too much sunlight or exposure to sudden change of temperature. The most common thing to do is to change lighting.

Remember that orchid care tells us to use the leaves in determining the diagnosis of our plant’s health. Be keen in spotting the warning signs to prevent your orchids from going down the drain.

Your Comments

8 Comments so far

  1. Jessica says:

    I’m wondering if my moth orchid is having a problem. The leaves aren’t as succulent and green as they usually are and the bottom of each leaf is a burgundy reddish color.

    Is it getting too much sunlight? I have it in a south-east facing window next to two other orchids who are blooming and happy.

    There is also a white ring on one of the leaves that is pea-sized. It seems chalky, so I don’t know if it’s a fungus or perhaps something got on the leaves that I can easily remove.

    It just started flowering again, however, so I’m thinking that’s a pretty good sign! I just don’t like the droopy, reddish leaves.

    Do you have any advice? Thanks!

    • Mary Ann says:

      It sounds like your orchid may need more light but in a more shaded spot. The white spot could actually be sunburn, and the darker leaves usually mean that you need more light. Sometimes one orchid can just be a little more finicky than others, like people. This is a good article about lighting changes and requirements for orchids. New flowers are always a good sign. 🙂 With the change in seasons, this orchid just may need a few adjustments. Thanks! – Mary Ann

  2. Rachel says:

    So my orchid has two stems and one all buds have fallen off. Top of plant some roots are getting dry and shriveling up. Some roots are a little mushy. What does this mean and how can I fix it.

    • Mary Ann says:

      You need to trim away any roots that are unhealthy and repot. It sounds like you are either underwatering or overwatering, but you definitely have root damage. You need to get that under control quickly by trimming away any unhealthy roots and using fresh potting media to prevent anything from spreading. Here’s a great article from the American Orchid Society all about watering. Thanks and good luck! – Mary Ann

  3. john says:

    I just inherited a Phalaenopsis Orchid that had white/purple flowers, but all the flowers fell off and the stalk is turning brown from the top down. Is it dead or dying? What should I do?

    • Mary Ann says:

      It sounds like your flower has gone into dormancy. It should grow a new spike in a few months. Continue to care for it and have patience. 🙂 – Mary Ann

  4. robert says:

    not sure what orchid I have but it was left in the conservatory over winter, and it nearly got down to freezing. the leaves are now dying back from the ends, one has already fallen off.what can I do to get it growing again?


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