If the orchid is in trouble: why do the leaves and roots turn black and how to help the plant?

What can be more beautiful and attractive than a blooming orchid. However, maintaining plants in a healthy state is not an easy task. They are quite demanding of home growing conditions.

The admission of minimal errors in care will entail serious consequences. A flower may become more susceptible to disease and pests. How to help a plant if its leaves or roots are blackened is described in the article. We also recommend watching a useful video on this topic.

What it is?

Foliage black is a rather specific but common phenomenon among phalaenopsis.. The external picture of blackening depends on the type of disease and the severity. The foliage darkens in whole or in part, and this manifests itself in the form:

• dark blotches, spots of different diameters, which are point or merge (about what to do if spots appeared on the leaves and flowers of the orchid, read here);
• in the middle of the plate is black rot;
• foliage neurosis;
• wet gray or brown spots;
• watery, rapidly darkening areas;
• the sheet plate becomes brownish-black with black dots;
• blackness at the base of the leaf, which quickly disappears;
• the leaf is overgrown with fungal spores of black color (on how to save an orchid from mold on the roots, leaves and other parts of the plant, read here).

Read more about how to grow orchid roots with root and other means, read here, and how to reanimate a plant without roots, we told in this article.

Possible reasons

There are quite a lot of reasons for blackening the indoor flower, from a banal thermal burn to a serious infection that can not be treated. It is possible that the wrong thing is to blame:

1. humid or dry indoor air;
2. increased air temperature, more than + 30ºС;
3. sudden changes in temperature;
4. not regular watering;
5. decay from overflow (about how to understand and what to do if a flower has gulf, read here);
6. attack of harmful insects;
7. bactericidal disease;
8. hypothermia of an orchid.

You can learn more about the types of orchid diseases, as well as see photos of affected leaves, here.

The consequences of the blackening of the plant

During a visual examination of the phalaenopsis, dark spots, blotches, black tips or roots are noticeable - this is a signal to action. The plant needs emergency assistance. If the treatment does not arrive at the right time, then the orchid is on the verge of death (we described in our material about whether the orchid can be saved without roots and leaves and how to do it). It is possible that in the later stages, this lesion can cause the process of decay of the orchid: there will be dots on the flowers and the stem, gradually the whole flower will turn black, and in such a case, doing something is already pointless.

What to do if black dots or spots appear?

Unfortunately, dark spots are more likely to result from infection of the orchid with a bacterial, viral or fungal infection.

At the base of the leaves, closer to the trunk

If dark rings appear, points with convex pores. Symptoms are like a sunburn. However, the affected areas have the ability to increase in size.

Possible disease - phylostictosis or black spotting. This is an infectious disease that spreads in an environment of elevated temperature and humidity.

Anthracnose is also similar in symptoms. It occurs when water stagnates in the sinuses of the plant, and a sufficiently high humidity in the room.

The plant can be saved by a series of actions:

1. isolate a diseased plant;
2. remove diseased areas;
3. disinfect the sections with an antiseptic;
4. process the plant with a fungicide solution ("Skor", "Topsin-M").

Prevention:

• good lighting;
• regular airing;
• optimal temperature and humidity.

At the tips of the leaves

At the orchid, the tips and edges of the leaves turned black - the plant suffers from improper care. A similar problem is observed if low humidity in the room, the presence of drafts, hypothermia of orchids, overfeeding with fertilizers.

How to help the plant:

1. optimization of temperature and humidity conditions;
2. pruning of damaged leaves;
3. Phalaenopsis transfer to the room without drafts, but with good ventilation;
4. reduce the frequency and dosage of mineral fertilizers.

On the roots

The flower has black and dry air roots. Possible reasons why the roots turn black:

• The root burn, which the plant received as a result of a rather high concentration of mineral fertilizers.
• Irrigation water selected is not high quality, with a high content of salts, chlorine.
• Burn due to excess dosage of root stimulants.

Help: root burn, can not be treated.

To reduce the level of salts in the soil:

1. rinse the orchid in a pot under running water for 5-10 minutes;
2. damaged, black areas of the root system to remove;
3. treat slices with crushed activated carbon;
4. change soil if necessary.

To avoid the disease, the flower needs prevention:

• at first the plant should not be fed, after three months use a low concentration of bait;
• fertilizers should be applied only to slightly moistened soil;
• water for irrigation use boiled or filtered.

Watch the video about the causes of blackening of the roots of the orchid and its treatment:

Plant care

To avoid such unpleasant situations is possible only with proper care of the orchid:

1. Maintaining a comfortable temperature in summer: + 22-25ºС, in winter + 16-18ºС. The difference in temperature differences should not exceed 5ºС.
2. Lighting is required diffused, with a daylight duration of 14 hours. In summer, intense sunlight needs to be shaded.
3. Humidity within 50-60%. Be sure to regularly ventilate the room.
4. Choose a proven, high quality substrate.
5. Water once a week with warm, soft water. At intervals, the soil should completely dry.
6. Fertilize orchids 2 times a month, especially during the flowering period. Top dressing should be used with a predominant content of potassium and iron.
7. It is better to spray Phalaenopsis up to 5 times a day. Exclude the procedure during the flowering period. Be sure to ensure that the water does not stagnate in the sinuses of the flower.

Conclusion

No diseases can harm an exotic beauty if there is good immunity. Therefore, it is best to strengthen the plant, creating optimal conditions, than after treating.

Inspect regularly and pay attention to even minor changes. After all, these may be the first signs of an incipient disease, which is easier to neutralize at an early stage.

Watch the video: Rejuvenating stressed Orchids Part 1 - Limp, leathery leaves (May 2024).