In recent years its popularity has increased so much that it is now considered the queen of exotic houseplants: the orchid. Their large flowers delight the eye for months. But if something is wrong with the care, the exotic can become limp and drop its buds. A sure sign of root rot in orchids is the dried stems and leaves. We list the possible care errors that lead to this and the possible solutions.
Recognizing root rot in orchids: What to do if the plant has received too much water?
WrongWatering is the most common reasonwhy orchids suffer from root rot. If the plant receives too much water, waterlogging can form and the roots will rot. They can no longer absorb water and provide the flower with nutrients. As a result, the above-ground parts of the plant begin to dry out. This is first noticeable in the flowers and buds falling off. Then the leaves become limp and if you don't do anything, the whole plant will die.
Possible watering errors that promote root rot in orchids
Leaving the orchids in the dipping bath for too long.Even though they are actually tropical plants, they don't need too much water. An immersion bath should therefore ideally last around 15 minutes. This is how long a healthy plant needs for its roots to soak up. When the grass turns green, you can remove the orchid from the immersion bath.
Do not allow the water to drain after the immersion bath.If you don't leave the orchid in the bath for about half an hour so thatDrain off excess watercan, then the roots will be in the water and rot.
Treat the orchids to a dip too often.In principle, the exotic needs to be watered every 7 to 10 days. The rule of thumb applies: It is better to let the substrate dry and only then water it than to water it regularly but too little.
Mist too often in winter.If the humidity in the room is low, the orchid must be misted. This means that the leaves and aerial roots remain vital and do not dry out. But be careful - if you mist your plant too often, you risk root rot. In principle, it is enough if you spray the orchid once a day - and this should be done in the morning, only with lime-free water.
Water the orchid from above.If you water the orchids from above, you cannot check whether the roots have become saturated. The excess water may gradually drip off. So the roots are in water and rot. But the leaves and stems can also rot and then promote root rot.
Water with ice cold wateror watering with ice cubes can cause major damage to the roots. Only use lukewarm rainwater or decalcified tap water.
Possible solutions:If the orchid is in water for a short period of time, stop watering for the next 12 days. Wait until the plant recovers and the substrate dries out well. Check morning and evening for excess water in the saucer and throw it away.
If you have watered the orchid incorrectly for too long, you can change the substrate. In this case too, the following applies: water the new substrate sparingly.
Use potting soil instead of orchid substrate
Orchids need a special substrate. Conventional potting soil is not suitable for the exotic plant. The roots cannot dry well, waterlogging occurs because the soil is too dense and the soil becomes moldy.
In this case, only one thing helps: repot and cut off any damaged roots. Use sharp and clean scissors.
Cut off healthy aerial roots
Sometimes the orchid produces many aerial roots that protrude over the edge of the pot. One wonders whether theseAerial roots cut offhave to be. In some cases this makes sense, but it is usually not recommended. Healthy aerial roots can absorb nutrients and moisture from the air. If the underground roots rot, the aerial roots can still save the plant.
Possible solution: Once you have cut off the aerial roots, there is no going back. However, you can continue to care for the plant and it will form new aerial roots.
By the way, above-ground roots that have brown spots are also not a problem. We explain what this is all aboutin this article.
Avoid root rot on orchids: Wrong location
Everyone already knows that the orchid comes from tropical forests, where it grows on trees. But many assume that the exotic animal is used to the lack of light. In principle this is true - of course an orchid that is designed for light shade cando not thrive in the blazing sun. But even the dark bathroom without windows does not offer the best possible conditions. The plant needs a sunny place in the house and is not suitable for dark rooms and corners.
