subject: Follow These 5 Simple Tips If Your Orchid Gets Yellow Leaves [print this page] Even with the best intentions of care, our orchids will occasionally show signs of ill health. One common concern with orchid growers is when their beautiful orchid gets yellow leaves. There are various reasons for this, but the good news is that most of them are relatively easy to fix when action is taken early.Here are 5 of the most common reasons why your orchid leaves may be turning yellow and what you can do about it:1. The most common reason is simply age. As with many other plants, their leaves turn a yellowish color with age as they begin to die. If the only yellow leaves on your orchid are the ones at the lowest point on your plant, you'd be safe to assume their yellowish color is due to age and they will naturally fall off in due course. Those of you who cannot wait to rid their beautiful orchid of the unsightly yellow leaves, can cut them off with a sterilized blade or shears. It's important to sterilize the cutting edge to avoid infection to the exposed area of the stem.2. Another very common reason that you're orchid may have yellow leaves is that it's seeing too much light; usually it's too much sunlight. Reconsider the positioning of your indoor orchids if they are under intense artificial light. If the problem is too much light and you've successfully repositioned the orchid, don't expect the leaves to return to a healthy green. If the leaves don't get any worse, or if no other leaves turn yellow, you'll know that too much light was the problem.3. Too much water can be a cause for orchid's yellow leaves, but this is not too common. You could stop watering for awhile and see if there are any improvements. What's more likely is that too much water has contributed to fungus growth in the roots of the orchid. Fungus growth in the orchid roots will usually show itself with yellow spots, sometimes with a black ring around them, rather than a full yellow leaf. If you are still unsure, you'll have to repot the orchid to get a good look at the roots.4. Soil lacking in nitrogen is another cause for yellow leaves in orchids. Speak with your local garden store about appropriate feed rich in nitrogen that will suit your orchid, and re-pot with that.5. Lastly, if you are housing your orchid indoors, consider its location and what exposure it has to other chemicals or substances. An orchid in the kitchen or bathroom exposed to chemical cleaning sprays can display a yellowish discoloration in the leaves. Try moving the orchid to a different room or outdoors if suitable.It's highly likely that if your orchid gets yellow leaves, it will be attributed to one of these causes. Knowing this will help you to avoid the problems, and maintain healthy, vibrant, and beautiful orchids all year.
Follow These 5 Simple Tips If Your Orchid Gets Yellow Leaves
