Orchids are among the most beautiful houseplants. It's all the more a shame when their dark green, shiny leaves suddenly become stunted, sticky or split. Which symptoms are a sign of care errors and which are signs of illness? We list the most common causes.
The orchids have sticky leaves? Scale insects are to blame
If your favorite orchid's leaves become sticky, check for other signs of scale insect infestation. They attack houseplants in winter and spring when the orchids have weakened after the end of the flowering period. Scale insects can be seen with the naked eye. They are brown and are found on the back of the leaves. Take 100 ml of soft soap and dissolve it in 100 ml of water. Then spray all parts of the plant with the home remedy until they get really wet. Place the orchid in a dark corner of the room until its shoots and leaves are completely dry. The home remedy makes them sensitive to sunlight and they can burn.
Wrinkled leaves on orchids: signs of lack of water
If the orchid cannot absorb enough water through its roots and aerial roots, its leaves will shrivel. Look at the roots - if they are also shriveled and light green, then you should water the exotic plant thoroughly every 7 days. Give the plant a dip so that the roots can soak up. Mist the aerial roots regularly so that they can get enough moisture.
If the orchids have stunted, yellow leaves: care mistakes
Orchids develop stunted leaves in winter and spring. This is mainly because the plant received less sunlight than usual during the winter months. Plants that are on a windowsill facing east or north often turn yellow in winter. In spring, when the old leaves fall and are replaced by new ones, the plant has no resources to produce leaves. The result is deformed and stunted leaves.
What you can do? Place the plant in a sunny place, even in winter. She needs the direct light to collect energy for the next phase. Regular fertilization can also have a positive effect because it provides important nutrients for the growth phase. To be on the safe side, check whether the orchid is getting enough water. It shouldn't be too dry.
The orchid leaves are splitting: why are there cracks?
Cracks on orchid leaves are not uncommon. They mainly occur during transport or repotting. This is minor damage, which then leads to cracks. Young leaves in particular can be damaged. However, the split leaves are not diseased and you do not need to worry about the plant. It will recover as long as you place it in a sunny location.
Orchid Leaf Problems: Common Diseases
It's not just care errors and pest infestations that can have a negative impact on the plants. There are also various diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi. We list the most common causes of leaf drop.
Orchids have spots on the leaves
Leaf spot fungi are one of the most common causes of spotted leaves on orchids. These can be treated with fungicides from the garden center. You should cut off all diseased plant parts and dispose of them with household waste.
Black or dark brown, round spots spread on the leaf surface. If the spots form a strange mosaic, then it is a virus. Mosaic virus cannot be cured and will spread quickly if you place houseplants close together. Therefore, you should dispose of the diseased plants as quickly as possible.
Light spots on the leaves indicate spider mite infestation. Check the undersides of the leaves for signs. You can easily combat the affected plants with home remedies such as rapeseed oil.
Orchid Problems: The plant turns yellow-brown and the leaves fall off
Leaf drop is not always caused by disease. However, if you notice that the shoots first turn yellow and then brown, then the plant is suffering from black rot. Discard the diseased plants and place the healthy ones in a sunny and warm place. If you have repotted the diseased plants with a new substrate, then this may be the reason. Sometimes the orchid soil is infected. Throw them away with household waste and disinfect the pots and any garden tools you used on the sick specimens.
Wrinkled, limp or wilted leaves are a sign that the plant is suffering. It can be a care mistake, but certain germs and pests are often to blame for the poor condition of the plant. Then you need to act quickly so that you can save your exotic animal.
