Leaf fall on an orchid is not always due to the natural growth cycle. If the plant loses its leaves without fresh shoots appearing, a detailed analysis of the background cannot be avoided. For your orientation, we have compiled common causes for you here with practical tips for solving the problem.
A wrong location or care mistakes can be the reason why the orchid loses leaves
Lack of light - the insidious cause of leaf fall
Orchids are not among the true sun worshipers. In the native rain forests, it prefers to cavort under the protective canopy of mighty trees, as the sunlight is pleasantly filtered here. In the permanently shady location, however, photosynthesis gradually comes to a standstill and the orchid loses all its leaves. If you move the plant to a bright location on the west or east window, the foliage will regenerate quickly.
Compacted substrate causes leaf fall
If an orchid is in the substrate for too many years, the organic components decompose. In the long run, the orchid soil compacts so much that root damage occurs. This results in a reduced supply of water and nutrients to the leaves, so that sooner or later they fall off. If you can identify this cause as a trigger, repot the orchid promptly. That is how it goes:
- Dip the roots in soft water to soften them
- Repot the leafless orchid to remove all remains of the substrate
- If necessary, cut off dried, diseased aerial roots
In the new pot, first fill in a 2-3 cm layer of expanded clay (€19.73). A handful of the fresh substrate is placed on top. Pot the orchid with a twisting motion, add the rest of the orchid soil and water.
tips
If an orchid has lost all its leaves, a special nitrogen fertilizer will stimulate growth again. At the bright, warm window seat, add the liquid fertilizer to the irrigation or immersion water every 2 weeks. Blossoms are not wanted at this critical stage and are cut off because they consume too much energy. An orchid is only strong enough for the next bloom when it has 2 healthy leaves.