Do not give up and do not throw away an orchid if its stem is exposed.
It has become common to see the Phalaenopsis indoor orchid on our windowsills. But in the case of inappropriate indoor conditions or improper care, you can often see an orchid without leaves, although under favorable conditions the plant blooms almost all year round.
Why does an orchid lose its leaves?
Phalaenopsis with proper care has juicy green leaves and beautiful butterfly flowers, different in color, appearance, and aroma. An orchid without leaves happens if its native tropical conditions are not created: sufficient lighting, moderate humidity, a lot of heat. If the necessary conditions are not met, the orchid gets sick, withers “in sight”, and may even die altogether. If an orchid loses its leaves, it means:
- ambient air temperature is not met;
- too abundant or insufficient irrigation;
- problems with feeding;
- her roots are damaged;
- unsuitable soil for the plant.
Most often, the root system that has rotted due to excessive moisture is the cause of the bare stem. Perhaps you also overdid it with fertilizers.
If you see that your orchid remains without leaves, then you need to urgently take measures to save the plant, in other words, you need to resuscitate the orchid.
Orchid without leaves. What shall I do?
First, let’s deal with the roots. It is necessary to remove the plant from the pot and examine the root system. Slippery to the touch, uneven in color, soft roots should be simply cut, sprinkled with activated carbon, dried, treated with fungicide and anti-stress drugs. After manipulations, you can plant the plant in fresh soil.
Now we should analyze the microclimate in the room where our beautiful orchid grows. The plant does not have:
- be in direct sunlight;
- to be in hot conditions (25 degrees Celsius for an orchid is already stress);
- “to suffocate” (ventilation of the room is a prerequisite);
- feel drafts.
