Status: 12.01.2024, 19:18 PM
By: Ines Alms
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Improper care is the most common cause of yellow leaves on the orchid. In most cases, however, the plant can still be saved with the following measures.
Orchids are considered demanding houseplants, and yellow leaves can be a sign of various care mistakes. However, there is also a natural cause for the discoloration. Here's why orchids develop yellow leaves and how to effectively fix the problem. Basically, you should not remove the yellow leaves so as not to stress and endanger the plant additionally.
1. Overfertilization – nutrients only in moderation
Something's wrong here, isn't it? Poor care is not always the cause of yellow leaves on the orchid. © Zoonar/Imago
Since the substrate in an orchid pot does not provide many nutrients, regular fertilization of the orchid is important. However, too much of it leads to yellow leaves, sometimes with brown dots.
Solution: Always suspend fertilization between October and March. If the plant does not recover, it should be repotted in new substrate and fertilized less in the future.
2. Sunburn – location is key
If the yellow leaves show a large brown or even black spot, sometimes also on the edges of the leaves, it could be sunburn. Standing directly by the window, this can happen quickly even in intense spring sunlight.
Solution: The plant won't die, but create optimal lighting conditions. Place the orchid in a bright place but away from direct sunlight. An east or west window is ideal to provide the necessary brightness, while a translucent curtain provides protection for south-facing windows. Leave the leaf on the plant until it is overgrown by rejuvenating plants or falls off on its own. A room temperature of 15 to 25 degrees Celsius and high humidity between 50 and 80 percent are ideal.
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3. Lack of water or root rot – know the needs of the orchid
Insufficient watering can also lead to yellow leaves. Orchids need a balanced amount of water and enough humidity. If watered in excess, root rot can be another cause of yellow leaves. It occurs when the orchid's roots remain moist for too long due to too frequent or excessive watering and waterlogging.
Solution: Carefully inspect the substrate and roots for signs of rot. Cut off rotten and mushy roots and transplant the orchid into fresh substrate. Water the orchid about once a week in the summer and every two weeks in the winter. Do not water the plant too intensively – preferably with an immersion bath – and drain off any excess water from the saucer immediately. Avoid calcareous water.
4. Leaf renewal – a natural process
It doesn't always have to be something dramatic when a leaf turns yellow. As the orchid grows, it sheds older leaves over time to put the energy into new shoots, for example.
Solution: Just wait for the leaf to fall off the plant on its own. Otherwise, you could injure the orchid in such a way that pests and diseases have an easy time at the wound sites.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model to optimize at her own discretion. All information has been carefully verified. Learn more about our AI principles here.