A lack of water causes the leaves to wither - this is how the rescue plan works
Orchid experts tirelessly preach to water orchids sparingly. The airy orchid substrate (€ 7.98 at Amazon *) should not dry out completely. If you are too stingy with water, the leaves will wilt and hang limply. If the aerial roots are almost white as a result of extreme drought, the damage can be repaired as follows:
- Pour lime-free, lukewarm water into a bucket
- Place the pot in it up to the root neck
- Soak until no more air bubbles rise
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If you now take the orchid out of the water, the previously white aerial roots have turned a deep green again. Water or immerse the plant once or twice a week in summer and every 2 weeks in winter to keep the water balance in balance.
Waterlogging blocks the water supply - this is how you solve the problem
An excess of water causes wilting symptoms in orchids similar to drought. If brown, rotten roots shimmer through the transparent pot walls, the plant suffers from waterlogging. As a result of the rot, the aerial roots no longer transport moisture into the leaves, so that they wither. How to act correctly now:
- Pot the orchid to completely remove the wet substrate
- Cut off any mushy roots with a sharp, disinfected knife
- Do not cut off the withered leaves
Pot the orchid in fresh substrate. The plant is not watered or immersed for the first 5 to 6 days. Only the leaves are sprayed with soft water every day. Once the orchid has recovered from the stress, resume the care protocol with extended watering or dipping intervals.
Tips
If only the lower leaf of a Phalaenopsis is drooping withered and flaccid, it is a normal aging process. In the further process, the orchid draws the remaining nutrients from the leaf, so that it turns yellow. Once it's completely dead, pluck or cut out the leaf.
