Orchid leaves spots - what to do
Content:
Orchid is an exotic plant that has recently become popular with indoor flower lovers. If the care is violated, the plant quickly loses its attractiveness. Spots of different colors appear on the leaves of the orchid. To solve the problem, you need to know the possible causes of stains and how to deal with them.
The main reasons for the appearance of spots on the leaves
On an orchid, spots on the leaves are a sign that the plant has become infected with pathogenic organisms. The penetration of infection occurs in different ways:
- Perhaps the plant was not transplanted for a long time, the substrate was overwhelmed and thickened. The orchid's roots lack oxygen, so the plant is weakened.
- There is no drainage at the bottom of the flowerpot, excess moisture accumulates, and waterlogging occurs. The roots get wet, rot, and dark spots appear on the leaves. It is necessary to transplant the specimen, having previously removed all infected parts.
- Excessive dryness of the air can also cause fungal infection.
What's with the orchid
- The orchid is very fond of light, but direct sunlight can cause yellow burns on the leaves. In this case, it is necessary to rearrange the flowerpot to another place.
- An exotic beauty requires a lot of free space. If the flowerpots are very close, the flower suffers from a lack of air. The plant should not be placed near the open window - drafts are contraindicated for it.
If you figure out what exactly the plant has weakened, then you can predict the period of recovery and resumption of flowering.
Orchid disease
Types of pigmentation
Experienced flower growers warn that spots on orchid leaves are the first sign that the flower is sick. If you look closely at the affected crops, you can see that the spots come in different colors.
Brown spots
Brown or brown spots on the leaves can be dry, wet, oily. Dry spots indicate high humidity in the room where the orchid is growing. The process of spreading dark spots is fast: more and more new foci appear, which can only be eliminated by removing damaged plant fragments.
Black spots
On an orchid, black dots on the leaves may indicate one of two diseases: chlorosis or late blight. With late blight, the leaves change color twice. First they turn purple and then turn black. The disease occurs due to high humidity. With chlorosis, blackened leaves curl into tubes and fall off. If you do not respond to the change in the color of the leaves, the disease will develop and the plant will die.
Yellow spots
Spots of yellow color on orchid leaves can be of a different nature. Small dots are sunburn. Obviously, the flowerpot was in direct sunlight. The stains will disappear if the container with the flower is moved to a cooler place. If the yellow spots are small, this is an indicator that a fungal infection has settled on the orchid.
Orchid has yellow spots
Other possible spots
Spots on orchid leaves are not only yellow, black or brown, but also in other colors.
White spots on orchid leaves indicate that bacteria that cause a disease called powdery mildew have settled on the plant. It spreads from bottom to top: after the leaves, the stems are covered with spots, the roots are affected by the latter.
Sometimes reddish bright spots appear on the leaves. They can be a sign of different problems. This is how burns from the bright rays of the sun appear. Sometimes bright spots are a sign of disease, such as anthracnose or brown rot. If insects are affected by a scale insect or a spider mite, the flower can also become covered with similar spots.
Need treatment
Reasons for the appearance of stains
Spotting on the leaves of a plant can occur for various reasons. This is how viral, bacterial or fungal diseases manifest themselves. Sometimes the reason may be low air temperature in the place where the flower pot is located. To understand why spots appear on the leaves, you need to know what orchid diseases are.
Bacterial spot
Bacterial spots can be of different shades depending on the causative agent of the disease and the type of flower:
- If there are black spots on the orchid leaves, then the plant is infected with bacteria of the genus Bacillus. At first, the color of the spots is yellow or whitish, and they turn black over time.
- If the spots are wet, brown in color, they are caused by bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas, Erwinia or Burkholderia gladioli.
Exposure to low temperatures
The southern beauty is very moody and does not withstand temperatures above 28 ° C. The optimum temperature for its development is 20-25 ° C. The plant can grow at 15 ° C, but then it becomes vulnerable to infection.
At low air temperatures and high humidity, spots on the leaves of a flower appear due to damage by brown bacterial rot. At first they are watery, then darken and grow.
Orchid viral diseases
Sometimes this flower, like a person, gets sick with a viral infection. The virus can be on the trunk or leaves for a long time, and not manifest itself in any way. As soon as the living conditions of the plant deteriorate (change in temperature, humidity, moving to a new place), the virus activates, begins to actively multiply and infect the flowers standing nearby.
To prevent a viral infection, indoor flowers need to be periodically treated with fungicides.
Fungal diseases
These diseases include anthracnose (powdery mildew). It can be distinguished by a soft whitish bloom on the leaves of the plant. Then they dry out and fall off. The causes of the disease are high humidity and high air temperature.
Anthracnose development scheme:
- black spots appear on the leaves;
- they grow and cover the entire leaf;
- dents appear.
How to save an orchid if it has stains
Orchid pests
Due to harmful insects, not only spots appear on the orchid, but also a sticky coating on the leaves. Insects often spread infectious diseases. Flower pests include: scale insects, mealy and root bugs, aphids, whiteflies and mushroom mosquitoes.
Shield
The insect settles on the trunk of the flower or under the leaves, which is why bumps form on them.So the pest protects its eggs, from which new individuals appear and spread throughout the plant. The parasites suck out the juice, covering the leaf with a sticky bloom. It is an excellent medium for the emergence of a sooty fungus that clogs the pores in the tissues of the flower. As a result, the plant is acutely aware of the lack of oxygen.
You can save the orchid if you clean off all the bumps and treat with an insecticidal agent that has a gastrointestinal effect. When used, the plant absorbs poison and becomes poisonous itself. The scabbard that sucks the juice is poisoned and dies. Dried "plaques" are removed with a toothbrush and then re-treated.
Scabbard on the orchid
Scorms
If small mealybugs have settled on an orchid, it is very difficult to remove them. Microscopically, parasites hide in buds and reproduce by larvae. The worm entangles the larva with threads, attaching it to the plant so that the hatched individuals can feed. Adult parasites and larvae suck out the sap of the flower. Small specks remain on the leaves. A weakened plant loses its ability to resist disease. You can destroy the pest with an insecticidal agent that penetrates the gastrointestinal tract of parasites.
It is more difficult to heal the plant if the worm has settled on the roots. The rootbug is similar to the mealybug, but smaller in size. It is impossible to see the pest under the soil layer, but its presence can be judged by the leaves falling down, yellow spots on them and the gradual wrinkling of the plates due to lack of nutrition.
Aphid
If sticky spots appear on the flowers on orchids, this is a sign of aphid damage. The insect reproduces very quickly, feeds on cell sap, so the damaged leaves are sticky. Subsequently, a fungus develops on them. Light green pests merge with the leaves, so you may not notice them at first. When the leaves begin to curl on the plant, you need to sound the alarm. They fight the pest with the help of chemical insecticides, biological products or folk remedies.
New pest - aphids
Whitefly
The appearance of white streaks on the leaves and stems indicates the appearance of the whitefly, a moth-like insect. The pest is very dangerous, as it sucks the juice from the tissues of the orchid. If a butterfly flies near a flower, you need to transfer it to a cool place, spray it with poison and wrap it in a bag to create a greenhouse effect.
Mushroom gnats
In early spring, mushroom mosquitoes (sciarids) may appear in flowerpots. This is due to the fact that in spring, when there is not enough solar heat, the soil dries out poorly, and it becomes cool in the room. To destroy mosquitoes, it is necessary to dry the soil or replace it with fresh one and cover it with sand. Additionally, you need to treat the soil with an insecticide.
Prevention of spotted diseases
Orchid is a capricious beauty. It is better to pay attention to it every day (to follow the rules of care, watering, feeding), than then to treat diseases. Preventive measures will help keep the flower healthy:
- Compliance with the feeding regime. It is necessary to purchase special fertilizers, on the packaging of which there is a note "For orchids". You cannot use universal fertilizers for indoor plants, since they contain a lot of nitrogen, which is not suitable for the orchid family.
- Balanced watering. The orchid is moisture-loving, but does not tolerate excessive moisture. It is necessary to water it only when the soil is completely dry (in this case, the flower pot becomes light). In this state, the roots are white. The pot with the plant is placed in a wider vessel, spilled well with water and left for 30 minutes so that the roots are saturated with moisture. For irrigation, take warm water with a low salt content.
- Timely airing of the room. The plant needs good air circulation, but it does not tolerate drafts.
- Adequate amount of light. Orchid is a light-loving plant that needs additional lighting in the winter.
- Regular replanting. This should be done every two years in the spring. A special soil for orchids is suitable as a soil.
It's time to transplant the flower
Orchid is a plant that can delight with its beauty for more than a dozen years. To prevent spots of different colors from appearing on the leaves, you need to follow the rules of care (watering, temperature, illumination) and protect the flower from pests.
