There’s nothing to worry about if your orchid stem is turning brown after the blooms fade away. This signals that the stem has finished supporting the life of the flower and it’s entered a period of rest. This is part of the natural life cycle of the orchid plant. Here’s what to do about the brown stem, and when it becomes a problem. Blooms have faded What to do with the brown stem Cut the brown, dried out stem back…
It’s not so easy to tell if you’re overwatering your orchid, as some of the results are the same as if you’re under-watering the plant. However, the most obvious and most common signs of over watering from my experience are the leaves becoming limp, often crinkled in appearance and almost leathery, with the established leaves becoming yellow. That being said, there are manny more signs so read on to learn more. Read on to find out seven signs that you’re…
First of all, don’t rush to the conclusion that your orchid is actually dying if it’s looking a bit poorly, or the leaves and flowers are dropping off, or there’s no new growth or blooms in sight. This guide helps you become a detective to identify the problems behind the orchid’s difficulties and perhaps put them right. Of course, sometimes you just have to throw the plant away and start over again for the most serious issues, but usually, you…
Your orchid not blooming may be the result of a number of issues. These could be environmental (such as temperature), your standard of care (watering for example) or because of the type of orchid itself (its individual life cycle, perhaps). I cover the major elements to look at when your orchid is not producing blooms. Bloomed once and is not blooming again If your orchid is not reblooming and you expect it to, first of all check the variety of…
Despite their delicate-looking blooms, it isn’t that difficult to grow and care for orchids in the home. The keys to being a successful orchid grower, as with any indoor plant, is to provide them with the right growing environment (temperature, light and humidity) and the correct care (watering and fertiliser). Plus, there’s knowing what to do when you encounter problems with your orchid, including pests and diseases. I explain what’s needed for healthy and strong orchids in this article. Two…
Orchids, just like any other plants, indoors or in the garden, are prone to pests and diseases. Orchid pests and diseases are nothing out of the ordinary and many can be controlled or treated. Here are the most common orchid pests and diseases, including scale insects and thrips, and sooty black disease. Before I talk about pests and diseases, sometimes people confuse pests and disease issues with environmental issues. If your orchid has yellow leaves, read this guide. If your…
To repot an orchid is a straightforward task if you choose the right pot, the correct growing medium and arrange it all properly. The trick is to know when to repot the plant for successful future growth. This article covers all of this and more, especially for the popular Phalaenopsis orchids, which are my personal favourite. Signs you need to repot your orchid Tangled roots Orchids have naturally tangled roots but tightly mixed up roots indicate a lack of air…
First of all, be sure that your orchid has actually stopped blooming. Some orchids, after blooming, may take a break and then bloom again. Some species have a few flowers at the end of a stem (spike) and then will sequentially bloom again. Once you’re sure the blooming period is over, you need to cut the flower stem/spike back to encourage reblooming for phalaenopsis orchids. It’s not necessary to throw the plant out as there can be up to 10…
Figuring out why your orchid leaves are turning yellow is going to take some detective work. Quite a few environmental reasons (e.g. watering, temperature) and some pests and diseases cause this problem with your orchid plant. I also have this guide on why orchid leaves sometimes turn brown. That said, here are the main reasons why this may be happening and what to do about them. Natural ageing process First of all, yellow leaves may be a part of the…
As with orchid leaves turning yellow, orchid leaves turning brown can be due to a variety of problems. The key to narrowing down the real issue, whether it’s environmental, a care issue, pests or disease, is to notice where the leaf has turned brown. And if it’s just the older leaves or the newer ones as well. This guide helps you become the detective you need to be to identify and solve these problems. I start with what I think…