Why are orchid leaves turning soft? How to save them

1. Diseases

Reason: Orchids are more susceptible to soft rot. Once infected, their base will begin to rot, causing problems with nutrient transmission and resulting in the leaves being unable to obtain water and nutrients. When nutrients are not supplied, its leaves will become soft and weak due to dehydration, and will eventually turn yellow and wither.

Measures: Spray 500 times dilution of Benomyl on the diseased parts of the plant, generally once every ten to fifteen days, for three consecutive times. After spraying the medicine, move it to a well-ventilated place for maintenance.

2. Lack of water

Reason: If the soil in the pot becomes dry and is not watered in time during normal maintenance, its leaves will become soft due to lack of water. Long-term water shortage will also cause the leaves to turn yellow and wither, and become dull in color.

Measures: Replenish water to the plants in time. At the beginning, you can water them less, in small amounts and multiple times, so that the plants can gradually restore their ability to absorb water.

3. Lack of potassium fertilizer

Reason: Potassium fertilizer generally has an anti-lodging effect. If the plant lacks potassium fertilizer, its leaves will appear soft and weak.

Measures: It is necessary to apply water and potassium fertilizer, but it should not be too concentrated. You can soak wood ash in water to let it settle, and then use the clean water on the top to water the plants.

4. Insufficient light

Reason: Orchids need a certain amount of light to grow, but they cannot tolerate direct sunlight, so they need to be kept in semi-shaded place. However, if it is kept in a shady environment for a long time and the plant is unable to access sunlight, the leaves will not be able to synthesize nutrients through photosynthesis, and the small temperature difference between day and night is not conducive to the accumulation of nutrients in the leaves. Over time, the leaves will become thin and weak and easily become soft.

Measures: It is necessary to provide it with appropriate light to promote plant growth. It is best to move it to a semi-shaded place with a certain amount of scattered light for maintenance, so that the light will not be too strong and is suitable for its growth.