How to Treat Your Orchid's Yellow Leaves

There are a number of reasons why your orchid has yellow leaves. It is wise to find out the reason before you take action. Go through some of these points to find out what might be the cause of leaf discoloration.

Here are some reasons with instructions on what to do to remedy the situation:

• Fungus: this can be seen as yellow spots on the leaves with a black ring around them. It is important to wash your hands when you touch an infected plant and not to touch the leaves with wet hands to avoid spreading disease on your plants. A fungicide should be applied.
• Bacteria: a bacterial infection can be seen as yellow spots on the leaves of your plants. A good bactericide is recommended to clear this up. Again avoid handling the plant when you have touched the infected leaves.
• Over watering: too much water to your plant will cause the roots to rot. Allow your plant to completely dry out before watering and try to give them less water when you water them. If this looks like it is the problem it is wise to check the roots and cut off brown or decaying roots.
• Too much light: unlike many plants orchids are sensitive to too much light. Remove your plant from direct light. The leaves will not regain their color but you should not see any more yellowing if this is the problem. Check on your plants carefully for a few days.
• Low temperatures: many orchids are sensitive to colder temperatures and you will find yellow spots developing on the leaves. If this happens check whether the temperature is dropping at night or whether there are any cold drafts. As winter approaches that warm place may not be as warm as it used to be. Try to move your plants to a warmer environment.
• Yellow leaves at the base of the plant: If you see yellow leaves at the base of the plant or just after blooming you may consider that this is a natural growth cycle of the plant. Leaves do get old and die while new ones will sprout in their place. Just get rid of them and you will very likely see new growth underneath.

If your orchid has yellow leaves, remember, the best solution to a problem is to try to prevent it. You can do this by checking your plants everyday. If you catch a problem in time it will not be too hard to remedy. The worst problems are those that turn chronic due to neglect. So take care of your orchids and they will reward you by giving you an abundance of beautiful flowers.

You can visit http://www.fixorchidproblems.com to learn more about orchid yellow leaves and how to fix orchid problems.