The orchid will fade: why is this happening, what to do, how to save the plant?

Home orchids are especially popular with lovers of home flowers. These plants are specially bred for residential premises, but the exotic flower has its own characteristics in the care. It got its name due to the similarity of inflorescences with a butterfly.

Reference. The most expensive orchid variety is growing in Malaysia, the cost of its escape is about $ 5,000, a rare species blooms for the first time in 15 years.

Danger of wilting

Long away not everyone knows what to do if the orchid became lethargic, its leaves turn yellow and dry, began to fall off the buds. These symptoms can occur for various reasons. If you do not take action, the plant may die completely.

ATTENTION: The largest Orchid family has between 20,000 and 25,000 species, representing 1/10 of all existing plants on the planet.

Improper care leads to wilting

Each florist who has encountered such a problem naturally wonders: why did the orchid wither, what to do with it, and how to save the plant from death? The natural causes of wilting include the following:

The most common cause of lethargy is a change in habitual conditions. In greenhouses, flower shops adjusted their temperature and humidity. A sharp change in habitat can cause a peculiar shock to the plant. This can make the orchid look wilted. If, under proper conditions, the flower comes to life in 2-3 days, then the reason was the move.
When purchasing a plant in the cold season, you should take care of its transportation. If it freezes on the way home, it is most likely that it will throw off the buds, or the leaves will start to turn yellow. For a moist and moistened root system, even a short stay in the cold is fatal. Given this circumstance, a delicate orchid must be packaged warmly during transportation.
The plant does not tolerate prolonged exposure to sunlight. The heat dries the roots, which causes the wilting of the flowers and leaves of the plant. Orchid belongs to epiphytes - plants with bare roots, with which they cling to other stronger representatives of the flora. In the wild, an orchid escapes from intense sunlight behind the leaves of its pylon.
Abundant watering can cause rotting of the roots, and insufficient will dry the plant. The soil in the pot should be moist, a good balance can be achieved by watering the flower often, but little by little. An excess, like a lack of moisture, destroys the root system, which leads to wilting of the orchid.
Orchid is a tropical plant that lives in high humidity. Dry climate, central heating evaporates moisture, so necessary for normal growth, as a result, the plant begins to hurt. Additional moisture can be created by placing the pot in a tray with moss, expanded clay or plain sand pre-laid in it. Periodically, it is necessary to add water to the pan.
Dense soil in the pot interferes with air circulation, due to a lack of oxygen, the root system "suffocates". This circumstance should be taken into account when transplanting the plant into another container. The soil must be loose, passing air and moisture.
The temperature in the room where the flower is located should not be less than 20 ºС, otherwise the flower will begin to undercool.
The orchid is sensitive to drafts, especially to cold air circulation, therefore it is not recommended to leave it in a draft. Ventilating the room, it is better to move the plant into the next room.
Another reason for wilting is the illiterate use of fertilizers. The plant should be fed in a certain period, given the concentration of minerals, which should correspond to the variety and age of the flower. Excess fertilizer will not affect the condition of leaves and flowers in the best way.

Watch the video about orchid content errors leading to wilting:

Orchid Pests

Pests also cause flower death:

Scale - a pest, settles on the leaves of the plant, forming growths of a dark color. The appearance of scabies indicates illiterate care. Typically, the pest starts at high temperature in the room.
If a parasite is found, the orchid should be isolated. The affected leaves should be washed and cleaned of pests, under running warm water, then treated with the “Actellik” or “Fitoferm” preparation.
Aphids, as well as scale insects, start up due to improper carelack of watering and humidity. Aphids can be seen with the naked eye. Small pests settle on leaves and flowers, sucking juices out of them.
The affected parts are covered with a sticky film. The pest is removed from the plant with a soapy solution. You can spray the plant with onion infusion, for which finely chopped onions are poured with boiling water and kept for 5-6 hours. Processing should be carried out every 4 hours for 3 days.
Mealybug infects a flower overfed with nitrogen fertilizer. The pest has an elongated fluffy body, white. It affects all parts of the plant and multiplies very quickly.
After removing the worm, the affected area should be wiped with a cotton swab dipped in soapy water. Next, the whole plant must be sprayed with the Fitoferm preparation, re-treatment is carried out after a week. The orchid should be inspected daily, and remove pests that have appeared.
A spider mite is considered a dangerous pest because it is difficult to detect. The appearance of a thin cobweb on any part of the orchid is the first sign of its activity.
In the advanced stage, the leaves of the plant become covered with pale yellow spots, curl and dry. Pests start on orchids if the air in the room is too dry.
To save the plant, first of all, the external parts of the orchid are washed with a solution on laundry soap. Getting rid of a spider mite will not be easy. Insecticides should be alternated, it is recommended to process the flower with Actelikom, Thiophos or Neoron. A sick plant should create greenhouse conditions by placing the pot in a transparent plastic bag for 3 days.
Gossips - small jumping pests that live on the surface of the substrate.
Insects harm young roots and start up mainly from an excess of moisture.
You can overcome the pest with the Fitoferm drug. The soil in the pot should be dried and reduced watering of the plant.
Thrips - small pests that infect flowers, leaves and roots of a plant.
Signs of damage appear in the form of forming dressings on the roots, black dots on the petals and yellowing foliage.
Pests are destroyed by intosecticidal agents and daily washing of the plant with warm water.

Orchid does not cause allergic reactions, has a variety of aromas - from the subtle notes of honey, to the smell of rotten meat.

Watch a video about orchid pests and how to deal with them:

How to identify the source of the problem?

In order to save a fading flower and find the source of the disease, you should first carefully examine it. Healthy roots must be resilient, dense and firm.. Sick sprouts look like hollow tubes. If a pest is found, then the type of insect should be recognized by signs.

IMPORTANT: Leaves most often suffer from pests - spots, cracks form on them. Flowers are less affected by parasites - black dots are signs. If no insects are found, then the conditions for keeping and caring for the flower should be considered - do they comply with established standards.

Perhaps the flower is cold or not enough light and moisture. In such cases, the foliage of the plant looks lethargic, and the buds do not open and fall. The natural aging process of orchids should also be considered.

Details about why the orchid flowers and buds fade and how to solve this problem, read here, and from this article you will learn about what to do if the orchid has sluggish leaves and why this happens.

What should be done so that the orchid does not fade?

So that the orchid does not fade, it should be given due attention:

Correct temperature conditions. The orchid grows best at a constant temperature within 25 ºС. Temperature difference day and night should not exceed 5 ºС.
Lighting should be bright and diffuse, for normal growth, the plant needs 10 hours of light day. It is better to place an orchid on a window located on the east or west side. On the south side, the flower must be shaded so that the leaves do not burn. In the north - the orchid will not bloom, while the leaves will be painted in dark green. In winter, the plant should be provided with additional light.
Humidity and watering also play an important role in preserving inflorescences. To create the necessary moisture, the orchid should be sprayed with a fine spray, you must try not to touch the flowers. In addition, an ordinary household humidifier can help to increase humidity. The orchid should be watered with soft water, watering can also be carried out by immersing the pot in a container of water. When buds appear on the flower, the volume of water needs to be reduced, after they begin to bloom, they return to the normal watering mode.
The substrate must have good breathability.
Proper pruning will significantly extend the flowering and life of the plant. It also requires timely flower transplantation with an increased volume of the root system.
Pest protection is ensured by proper orchid care. It is recommended that you regularly and carefully inspect the flower to prevent damage by harmful insects.
Inflorescences can wither due to the natural aging of the plant. This must also be taken into account.

Conclusion

The flowering species largely depends on external factors - the sun, water, temperature. A gentle and beautiful orchid, with careful care, will long delight you with unusual flowers with a delicate aroma, decorating the interior of any home.