Despite the rather refined and aristocratic appearance, phalaenopsis - undemanding plants orchid families. On a 10-point scale of plant growing complexity (10 points is the maximum level of sophistication), the laboriousness of caring for orchids of this species does not exceed two points. True, there is one caveat - it is necessary for the roots to provide comfort. Otherwise, this handsome man will not stay long in your collection.

PHALENOPSIS ROOT SYSTEM: ORIGINS OF PROBLEMS

There are several reasons for root rotting: excessive watering, hypothermia of the roots, inappropriate capacity, poor soil. Many novice flower growers, remembering that phalaenopsis comes from the tropics, are in a hurry to moisten the soil of the plant as often and as plentifully as possible, thereby causing the plant more harm than good. The orchid really loves moisture, but in an overly moist soil mixture, the roots are deprived of the oxygen necessary for their development and begin to rot. Therefore, it is better to water no more than once every two weeks, and then if you notice that all the roots in the pot have become light silver.

Watering is carried out by immersion in a larger container of water. There should be enough life-giving moisture so that it overflows into a pot with a flower. It is desirable that . The duration of the procedure is no more than 30 minutes. Be sure to drain excess liquid from the pan, then wipe the pan dry.

It is not necessary to have a transparent flowerpot, but it is more convenient to monitor the state of the phalaenopsis root system in the substrate with it. It should be a pot with many holes with a diameter of 0.5 to 1.5 cm. Often, flower shops sell soil that is not particularly suitable for orchids. It quickly "blooms" and sour. The thing is that phalaenopsis refers to epiphates. Their root system is presented in the form of aerial roots that absorb moisture directly from the atmospheric air. Nutrients "adorable epidendrum" receives when watering. The substrate serves more to give the plant stability and ensure growth in an upright position.

What is the best substrate for flowers? For this, pine bark is quite suitable for you. You can buy it at any specialized store, or cook it yourself.

Tip 2. Boil the harvested bark before use to kill possible fungal infections and pest larvae. In addition, after boiling, the moisture capacity of the bark increases.

They are used to germinate the roots of children, and it is better not to add it to the substrate for an adult plant. It can cause stagnant waterlogging, lack of oxygen and the creation of an acidic environment.

In addition, various fungi and bacterial diseases can be the cause of root rot. But I will talk about this next time (the material is being prepared). I will only note here that at the first suspicion of an infection, isolate the diseased plant from healthy ones. Carefully inspect your collection to prevent an epidemic among flowers.

RESCUE OPERATION

But if you notice that at the same time several leaves have lost their elasticity, and the roots have begun to turn yellow en masse, then hurry to remove the “butterfly” from the flowerpot. Inspect it, thoroughly rinse all the "air", cut off dry and rotting roots, clean the stem from the scales of dry leaves, dried flower stalks. Is there mold on the plant? Place the flower for a few minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

At this time, prepare a new "house" for the orchid. For example, take plastic cup, for stability, pour pebbles on the bottom, fill with water. There should be enough water so that the flower you place does not touch the surface of the water.

Tip 3. To prevent the "moth" from falling through, build supports from improvised material.

If you have enough dry air in the room, then the water evaporated in a glass will not be enough. To increase humidity, some flower growers place the plant in a plastic bag, make ventilation holes in it. Periodically, the package is opened, ventilated. Often in such a "bathhouse" the process begins to mold from excess moisture, so make sure that too much water condensate does not form on the walls of the greenhouse.

The orchid is considered a rather whimsical plant. No one is immune from mistakes. How to save an orchid if the roots are rotten? For this flower, this is by no means a sentence, because along with capricious care, epiphytes also have vitality.

Possible reasons

The Phalaenopsis orchid has a characteristic root structure for epiphytes. Epiphytic tropical flowers lack small and thin roots through which ordinary plants receive nutrients and moisture. This role is performed by the upper spongy part of the root - velamen. All orchid roots are covered with a layer of dead hollow cells, which absorb water from environment. If for some reason this process is disturbed, then the plant gets sick and then dies. How to revive an orchid if the reason is not yet clear?

A likely cause of root rot can be:

1. A long-standing and highly compacted substrate. The soil in the pot eventually crumbles, becomes too heavy and dense, which causes stagnation of water. The roots do not receive oxygen and begin to rot. For this reason, small particles in the soil should not be allowed. Ready-made special mixtures sold in specialized stores are often of poor quality. It is quite possible to prepare the substrate yourself from boiled pine bark and sphagnum moss.
2. Lack of light. With a lack of sunlight, some of the absorbed water remains on the surface. Too wet soil is detrimental to the roots. But due to the small amount of light and insufficient watering, the orchid's roots dry out.
3. Wrong top dressing. Orchid roots are extremely delicate. They can get a chemical burn from an excessive concentration of fertilizers, especially potash and phosphorus. The surface layer is broken, and the plant does not receive sufficient nutrition.
4. Transplant damage. If the root system is damaged during transplantation, for example, if a small cut is made, then there is a possibility of infection through damage and decay in the future.
5. Pest damage. Sometimes phalaenopsis is attacked by click beetles that feed on the roots of the plant.
6. fungal infection.

Almost all causes of rotting of the root system are usually associated with waterlogging of the soil. Very often this happens in the autumn-winter period, when the orchid is at rest. It requires much less moisture, and watering should be significantly limited. Resuscitation of an orchid directly depends on the reason that caused its need. Only after finding out the culprit, you can understand how to act correctly.

When the roots rot...

Symptoms of the disease

For the cultivation of epiphytes, it is recommended to use transparent containers, partly for the reason that this way you can control the condition of the root system. Healthy roots are firm, firm, smooth, and greyish-green in color. If it is possible to diagnose the disease in time, then it will be much easier to reanimate the plant.

The characteristic signs of malaise are:

• the leaves have become soft and not elastic (watering does not help);
• on the inner walls of the pot, a plaque of algae or spores is clearly visible;
• aerial roots do not look the same as before (darkened, dried out, etc.);
• the flower staggers in the pot, as it is not held by rotten roots.

If at least one of these symptoms is observed, then the plant should be immediately removed and examined. The longer the orchid is without roots, the more difficult it is to revive it. Symptoms that undeniably confirm the putrefactive process are:

• the acquisition of rhizomes of dark brown shades;
• the presence of slimy and weeping areas;
• the appearance of liquid from the root when pressed;
• decomposition of the tissue of rhizomes into separate threads.

So, the diagnosis is established. What to do now? Rotten roots cannot be restored in any way. This process is completely irreversible. How to grow roots, and save the plant? After all, without roots, it cannot survive.

Urgently in intensive care…

The following steps should be taken:

• the orchid is taken out of the pot;
• the root system is cleaned of soil residues and thoroughly washed;
• all rotten roots are ruthlessly cut off with the help of a disinfected tool (scissors, knife), only healthy tissue is left;
• cut points are treated with crushed coal and fungicide;
• if traces of mold are found, then it is necessary to hold the flower in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for several minutes.

Only now can the damage be fully assessed. Further actions depend on whether the roots remain.

Rescue Methods

In any case, an orchid left without roots is worth trying to save. You can try the following recovery options:

• transplanting into a regular substrate;
• using regular drying and dosed watering;
• in a mini greenhouse.

Option 1 is acceptable only if the plant has living roots, and it is able to feed in the usual way for it. We restore the missing roots by planting a flower in a small pot (no more than 6-8 cm in diameter) with ordinary soil. Root primordia are activated quite quickly if lighting is provided for at least 12 hours a day and a constant temperature of + 22-25 ° C (even at night). Humidity also needs to be kept high. Watering should be extremely careful, placing the pot in a container of water for half an hour, and only after the substrate has completely dried. After 2-3 weeks, the first fresh root will appear.

If all the roots of an orchid have rotted, then you will have to work hard. It is first necessary to remove all rotten roots and leaves, then treat the outlet with any root growth stimulator. A glass cup or other sufficiently deep container is taken, an orchid is placed in it so that there is a distance from the outlet to the bottom of the vessel. Usually some special devices for hanging (wire, sticks, etc.) are used. In the morning, such an amount of soft, filtered water is poured into the vessel so that the leaves are not wetted, and the lower part is immersed in the liquid. After 6-7 hours, the water is drained, and the orchid is dried. Water is recommended to be sweetened with sugar syrup or honey, and the plant is regularly treated with growth stimulants.

Most effective way saving the epiphyte left without roots is to place it in a mini-greenhouse. A small container is half filled with steamed sphagnum. A layer of expanded clay is necessarily poured under the bottom. The affected outlet is laid out on a moistened substrate. Now you need to place the pot in a mini-greenhouse so that the following constant parameters are maintained there:

• air temperature +22-28°C;
• illumination 12-14 hours;
• humidity not less than 70%.

The soil must be periodically moistened. It is imperative to ventilate the greenhouse, and inspect the plant for the appearance of new putrefactive foci. If everything is done correctly, then in a couple of weeks the plant will begin to grow new roots. When they reach 4-5 cm, the flower can be placed under normal conditions.

But there are also directly opposite situations when the roots dry out. The reason is the wrong watering regime, as a result of which the plant receives less moisture. If the situation is not immediately corrected, then the peduncles will dry out, and then the leaves.

It is not at all difficult to follow all the rules for caring for orchids, you just need to carefully monitor your pet in order to make timely adjustments.

When indoor orchids are sold in a store at a price 2-3 times lower than usual, or when acquaintances offer to pick up a drying plant for free, it's hard to resist. Even if the leaves of the orchid turned yellow and began to dry, and the roots turned brown, you can save such a plant. You just need to transplant it correctly. Indoor orchids are rather capricious plants. This is due to the fact that their homeland is a tropical jungle. It is difficult enough to maintain a mode suitable for a flower in room conditions.

Improper care can lead to the fact that in a few weeks you will be thinking about how to resuscitate the orchid from the consequences. Very often, orchids begin to have difficulties with roots. Don't be disheartened. A withered plant, even with rotten roots, can be reanimated. In order to understand how to resurrect a dying plant, it is necessary to deal with the factors of problems. Often, the fact that the roots rot is to blame for the wrong care. The orchid loves diffused light. Very often, difficulties with the root system in orchids begin in the autumn-winter period. Therefore, from September to March, you need to take extremely close care of the plants. In the warm season, actively growing, blooming orchids feel comfortable in natural conditions, easily enduring the lack of lighting, heating and additional humidification. What is the reason that orchids die at home, and how to save a beautiful flower?

How to understand that something is wrong with the orchid?

The orchid will definitely give you warning signals, and first of all it will be:

§ dried and fading leaves;

§ poor growth.

In this case, only an immediate replacement of conditions and resuscitation can help and give the flower a second life. The first thing to do before reanimating an orchid is to check the roots. Ideally, the processes should be light in color. From above, they are covered with a greenish substance - velamen. The shell performs several functions. Protects a thin long root from various damages and participates in the "feeding" of the plant. Small tips are visible to the naked eye. They absorb water from the substrate.

Why do orchids turn yellow leaves?

Yellowing and drying of orchid leaves can be caused by various reasons. Usually this is a violation of the conditions of detention, when the leaves fall due to the death of the roots.

First of all, check the condition of the root system - it is very easy to distinguish living roots from dead ones in orchids. Orchid roots rotted if they turned brown, lost their elasticity, crumpled, soaked areas appeared on them. Viable orchid roots should be light in color (as a rule, they are green).

If the leaves of your orchid have turned yellow, become flabby and lethargic, it may have suffered from overheating. Where is the pot of your plant? If on the windowsill, next to a window that is not covered with blinds or curtains, or in the immediate vicinity of a central heating battery, then it is likely that the plant is sick precisely from excessive heat. Note that the leaves will not recover immediately, but after three to four days with proper care. To avoid reheating, change the location of the flower pot. Remember that the orchid does not like scorching sunlight, so it is better to shade it or place it some distance from the window.

An orchid can be saved, even if it is left almost without roots. To do this, you need to transplant it, after removing dead leaves and roots.

The 3 Conditions That Most Often Lead to Root Rot

1. The quality of the substrate. Sphagnum fibers or coconut in the substrate should retain elasticity, pieces of bark should not crumble much. When the particles of the substrate for indoor orchids begin to mold and rot, fine debris is formed. When watering, it absorbs a lot of water, sometimes turns into a gruel, upon contact with which the roots begin to rot. Prepare a fresh substrate, albeit from small, but whole and elastic pieces, between which air freely penetrates.

2. Lighting. The higher the temperature of the orchid, the more light it needs. At home, in winter, you need to choose light window sills for orchids, since the air in the living quarters is too hot. The combination of excess heat (both during the day and at night) with a lack of light depresses the plants, causes yellowing of the leaves and root rot.

3. Humidity. Keep the humidity high for orchids as much as possible. Daily spraying of leaves and roots from a fine spray is useful (just make sure that water does not drain into the leaf axils). The substrate, on the contrary, should be well ventilated and dry out between waterings. Avoid mold and musty odors.

The main ways to save an orchid

How to save an orchid - method 1

If the orchid has enough living roots left, then after cleaning the root system, it can be planted in a small pot filled with substrate. Since weakened roots will not allow the orchid to gain a foothold in the pot enough, for the first time it needs to be strengthened additionally. Like all patients, the affected orchid needs to organize sparing conditions: place it in a well-lit place, but protected from direct sunlight, and ensure the correct drinking regimen. It should be remembered that weakened roots will not be able to fully absorb moisture from the substrate, so you need to water the orchid very carefully, slightly moistening the substrate from the spray bottle. Excellent results in the restoration of the root system are given by the lower watering of the orchid, when water is poured into a saucer in which the pot stands.

How to save an orchid - method 2

How to save an orchid - method 3

You can reanimate an orchid with ordinary water. To do this, it is placed in a container of water in such a way that only the very tip of its lower part touches the water. After 12 hours, the water is drained, and after another 12 hours, it is poured again. At the same time, the air temperature should be at least + 25 ° C. The appearance of roots with this method should be expected in 6-10 weeks, but sometimes this period can stretch up to six months.

The use of growth regulators when nursing an orchid

Experienced flower growers recommend using growth regulators that help strengthen immune system plants. The most commonly used "Epin" (or otherwise - "Epin-Extra"), as well as "Zircon". These drugs help the orchid regain strength. Dilute "Epin" should be in a dosage of 1 liter - 1 drop. In this solution, you can soak the plant from 20 minutes to 2 hours. But remember that growth regulators alone are not a magic panacea for all orchid diseases. In order for the plant to feel good, it is necessary to create favorable growing conditions for it, including maintaining high humidity and sufficient lighting in the room. We hope you now know how to reanimate a Phalaenopsis orchid. Take care of the plant wisely, observing all the agrotechnical rules for growing, avoiding overflow, hypothermia or overheating.

How to revive a dried orchid video

At home, growing a beautiful, healthy and regularly blooming orchid is quite difficult. This type of tropical plant requires a very careful and most attentive attitude to yourself. Serious violations of growing technology can cause serious diseases of the plant, as well as deprive it of leaves or part of the roots.

Hypothermia, drafts, overheating, excessively abundant watering, exposure to scorching sunlight or significant shading can lead to the death of such an indoor flower as an orchid.

General information

Indoor orchids belong to the category of rather capricious plants, which is associated with the place of natural growth of the flower. It is native to tropical jungles. Sometimes it is incredibly difficult to maintain the optimal mode for such a flower at home. Wrong or untimely care leads to sad consequences.

However, to draw hasty conclusions, and even more so to recognize the flower as dead in such a situation, is premature. Withered as a result of care violations indoor plant you can try to save or reanimate.

External signs that the roots are rotting

If a room orchid has rotted or the roots have just begun to rot, then you should not panic and throw away the diseased plant. Such violations of the root system in tropical plants are extremely common and are a very common problem for both established flower growers and novice florists.

In many ways, it is precisely because of the frequent painful conditions of orchid roots that it is customary to refer to capricious houseplants, which many do not dare to grow at home. In fact, this opinion is considered not entirely correct. It is difficult enough to find another flowering houseplant that has high level survivability on a par with an orchid.

The main condition for trouble-free growing of plants is the observance of orchid care technology. To make a choice correct scheme treatment of the plant is possible only after the discovery of the probable cause of the disease.

Possible reasons why the roots begin to rot

Many indoor orchid owners have problems with root rot. Most often they rot due to violations of the lighting regime. If rotten roots are found, then you should think about such a reason as a lack of daylight.The root system also rots due to insufficient or improper watering.

If a grower who grows an orchid notices that the roots of the plant become brown or black in color, and the top layer is removed and liquid is released when pressed on it, then we are talking about the fact that the root system has rotted, and urgent action must be taken.

The degree of damage to the root system that has rotted can be not only light or medium, but also severe. It is possible to save a flower even with severe damage to the roots, if healthy tissues are almost completely absent.

To correctly determine the stage of damage to the root system, you need to move the orchid. This should be done very carefully. If the plant sits firmly and securely in the planting substrate, then most likely the main problem is some dehydration of the tissues. With this reason, the roots can be saved by simply saturating them with plenty of liquid.

Orchids: causes of root rot (video)

Resuscitation methods

Even indoor flower has a completely dead root system, you should not make the main mistake of beginner growers and throw away the plant. You can revive it in several ways.

Instructions for saving an orchid when the roots rot:

• cut off all rotten areas from the plant with a disinfected sharp knife;
• if the rotten areas are not completely cut off, then the decay process will spread to other healthy tissues;
• you can disinfect a knife or scissors by simply dipping them in boiling water, calcining them on a fire, or wiping them with alcohol-containing compounds;
• you need to cut any rotten areas, even if as a result of such manipulation only a growth point with healthy leaves remains;
• perform high-quality processing of all sections of the cuts.

Many flower growers lubricate the resulting sections with ordinary pharmacy greenery. However, it should be remembered that a feature of such a solution is a very strong overdrying of sections up to a burn condition. Therefore, it is advisable to use a more gentle, but no less effective remedy, represented by activated carbon crushed to a powder state.

It is necessary to lubricate the sections with such a powder very carefully, avoiding even small areas. Next, you should leave the flower alone for two or three days. As a rule, these days the plant should be placed in some kind of mini-greenhouse.

At the next stage, the roots remaining unaffected by putrefactive processes should be soaked for a day in a special strengthening solution. As a rule, a special composition "Kornevin" is used. After such soaking, it is required to transplant the orchid into a new and high-quality planting substrate, and also cover it with moss. Location needs special attention flower pot in the most lit place, but with the absence of direct sunlight.

You can find out how to properly process orchid roots.

Of course, the decay of the root system in an orchid is one of the most severe lesions. As a rule, the plant signals the grower with its appearance long before such severe lesions. The flower may experience a delay in growth and development, yellowing of the leaves, or a significant decrease in tissue turgor.

To protect the orchid from such serious consequences, simple care requirements should be observed:

• It is required to provide optimal light conditions for growth and development, which should be represented by soft, diffused and not too bright light.
• For watering, it is necessary to estimate the volume of the root system of the plant, and also take into account the period of activity. With a significant root system, the orchid needs abundant and frequent watering with clean and warm tap water.
• When watering, the substrate should be moistened with high quality, and then dry. It is unacceptable to keep a room orchid in a too moist substrate.
• At the dormant stage, a houseplant requires a reduction in the frequency and volume of watering.

How to save an orchid with blackening roots (video)

In addition, it should be clarified that transplanted orchids do not need to be watered. For the proper development of the root system, a planting substrate based on sphagnum or pine bark should be used. Periodically, the condition of the shoots of the plant should be checked. Landing is carried out in landing tanks with transparent walls.

Hello dear orchid lovers.

I offer you tips to know how to buy discounted flowers, what to look for when buying and how to save a dying orchid at home. More precisely, this is a story about what to do if you decide to buy an unhealthy plant, and in particular, phalaenopsis.

My regular readers know that I work in a flower shop. The benefit of my profession is the knowledge of all the secrets and pitfalls that can be hidden in beautiful flower pots. Often going to the store you can read on the price tag: "markdown". This is where the danger lies for beginners in floriculture.

Discounted flowers: how to save an orchid

Those flower growers who, like me, fell in love with this tropical beauty, sooner or later decide to buy phalaenopsis, which are discounted in flower shops. I want to immediately reveal to you the secret of discounting such plants. Knowing the reasons and some subtleties that must be observed when buying, you can buy a completely healthy plant. A professional home care behind an orchid will make you the owner of beautiful flowers after a while.

Reasons for the markdown

The first reason for the markdown of phalaenopsis in flower companies is the lack of flowers on the peduncles.

There may also be no flowers in several cases:

• the plant has faded;
• experienced shock during transportation;
• due to the inexperience of the sellers in the store, it was flooded and if it was not bought in the near future, then in protest the falik can drop flowers (if it is bought, the new owner of the plant will receive such a surprise).

The second reason for the markdown is the drying out of the roots. The first sign is that the orchid is falling out of the pot.

For this reason, you may never know. Experienced sellers will be able to hide it. This is the most difficult case to treat. But you can try. How to save a dying orchid in this case, I told you in the article "What to do if the roots of an orchid dry."

The reason for the drying of the roots can be:

• poor conditions in the greenhouse (we do not really welcome plants brought from the Ukrainian "New Line"). Often from there we get orchids with a bunch of boogers and fungi;
• if the plant was flooded at wholesale depots (the plant may not show its diseases for a long time);
• water burns chemicals(how to save an orchid in this case at the end of the post I will tell in the video). Plants from Holland are often overfed.

The third reason is the phalaenopsis bay.

This is the most common cause root rot. With diligence, an inexperienced seller can water an orchi like other plants, which is absolutely unacceptable with its rare watering regimen.

In the photo you see the roots that have suffered from overflow. In the store, they can be identified by appearance(seen through the transparent walls of the pot).

How to save an orchid without roots

I offer you my experience of saving a discounted plant. Reason for markdown: fallen flowers. The reason for the fall of flowers: chemical burns and insufficient lighting.

So you went to flower shop and decided to buy a discounted plant. What should be considered in this case and what to pay attention to.

• Visually assess the plant (if there are flowers, the condition of the roots).
• Be sure to ask about the type and color of the discounted plant. I am at work, when processing and discounting a plant, I always leave such a thing in a pot (see photo). At home in flowers that have faded, I also make such notes.

• Try to imperceptibly test the condition of the soil in the pot with your finger. If there is a decent "swamp" - refuse to buy.
• If the pot is not completely filled with roots, this should alert you: there is a possibility that the roots were removed from the orchi.
• If you are not yet an experienced grower, then do not risk buying plants with obvious signs of disease.
• A plant falling out of a pot also indicates problems with the root system.
• White rough spots on the leaves should not scare you - perhaps this is a simple coating from hard water.
• But spots on leaves, peduncles or roots of a different color or wet spots white color, should alert you.
• green moss on inside the pot will tell you about the overflow. If the root system does not arouse suspicion, buy, but immediately transplant into a new pot and a new substrate.
• Be sure to inspect the orchid for the presence of harmful insects. Note that they may not be visible to the naked eye. Their presence will be given out by a sticky coating, a cobweb in the axils of the leaves. Look also at the substrate in the pot.

Here are some of my little secrets. I hope you take note of at least some of them. In conclusion, I suggest you travel to the wonderful world of orchids in Thailand.