Rot on orchids: what is it, the reasons for its appearance and how to deal with it?

Beauty orchid pleases with its flowering and magnificent appearance. But there are times when the leaves and core of the flower rot. These unpleasant phenomena can cause both improper care of the flower, and various fungal infections.

The article will tell you about the reasons for this process, and in addition we will talk about methods to combat rot and prevent this disease. It will also be interesting to see a useful video on this topic.

What it is?

Orchid roots darken (turn black or brown), when pressed, water flows out, the top layer is simply removed and a semblance of thread is exposed.

What parts of the plant can be affected?

Orchids can rot:

• leaves;
• root;
• core;
• peduncle.

Photo

Next, you can see photos of different types of rot orchids:

Brown rot

Black rot

Root rot

Fusarium rot. About what to do if the orchid has fusarium, read here.

Gray rot

What are the reasons?

Fungal

The main prerequisite in this situation is the development of a different family of fungal diseases that appear due to improper watering. The fungus pitium often affects the leaves of different types of orchid. It is worth noting that the orchid rots at the base and further, only if the roots are affected. The procedure proceeds rapidly, before the death of the plant from the stage of the lesion takes place in the literal sense of the word 2-3 days. With such a problem, flower growers are most often found in winter or in autumn, when the soil dries worse.

Bacterial

Sometimes in appearance, healthy orchids become infected with bacterial decay. It may not manifest itself instantly and, once in ideal warm and humid conditions, plants in some cases die in just a few days.

ATTENTION: Bacterial rot can occur when sending orchids with roots entwined with sphagnum moss over long distances or when sending plants in pots in the cool season. Previously, such plants came from southeastern suppliers, and in some cases customers received not plants, but individual roots and leaves.

Infectious

Infectious diseases, depending on the background pathogen, occur fungal, bacterial and viral. However, only the latter are not amenable to treatment, since it is possible to quickly cope with the right choice of drugs with fungal and bacterial lesions that come across much more often.

Improper care

Often, an orchid is watered from a watering can, the water flowing into the pan may not evaporate for a long time, which causes decay of the lower part of the roots. As a result, the water balance of the plant is disturbed, and the upper part of the root system does not receive nutrients and water, and soon the plant dies.

Treatment: what is being treated?

Chemical

In case of decay of the orchid, its direct processing with chemical agents will be required.

Contact

Contact (the drug penetrates the aphids):

1. Spruzit-AF Schädlingsfrei.
2. Roxion D.
3. Permethrin, Neoron.
4. Neudosan Neu Blattlausfrei.

Do not forget that after processing with these substances, orchids cannot be thrown in bright sunlight - the leaves turn yellow.

Intestinal

Intestinal - the drug enters the body through the mouth:

• Actellik.
• Actara.
• Arrivo.
• Fitoverm.
• Inta-Wrapping.

System

Systemic (substances enter the plant sap). This category includes all sprays for controlling all pests on orchids and other domestic plants:

1. Methyl mercaptophos.
2. Phosphamide.
3. Lizetan-Plus-Zierpflanzenspray.
4. Bi 58.

TIP: When working with sprays, carefully read the instructions.so as not to supercool and freeze plants with compressed gas. An essential requirement in running variants is to repeat treatments up to three times.

You should not use the same drug anymore: aphids get used to the drugs used. Secondary treatments must be carried out after 2 weeks.

Folk

Soap solution

With this simple recipe for treating black or other rot, you can help the plant:

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing detergent with 1 liter of water, rinse the plant well.
2. If we use homemade soap (Soviet, dark), we wash all the leaves with foam.

Thistle tincture

Rosehip infusion will help to cure a flower from gray or black rot:

1. We take 10 grams of dry or 100 grams of fresh thyroid (type of ferns), soak for one day in warm water, and then boil for half an hour in boiling water.
2. Cool the infusion, spray the plants twice a week.

A similar method is good for plants that respond poorly to chemicals.

Citrus

1. Pour 100 grams of dried citrus peel with 1 liter of boiling water and let it brew for 3 days.
2. Spray the plants.
3. Dry citrus peels can be placed on top of the substrate.

Onion

Onions also help to fight fungal diseases of orchids.:

1. Grind the onion until gruel and quench with boiling water.
2. We insist 6-7 hours, spray the plant.

Step-by-step instruction: what should I do if the plant starts to hurt and rot?

Sheet

You will need to trim damaged leaves (tools must be treated with alcohol or calcined), disinfect the cut with activated charcoal, cinnamon or an antiseptic without alcohol.

About why orchids rot leaves and what to do about it, read here.

Root

To help a sick plant, perform a series of actions:

1. they take the plant out of the pot, shake off the soil;
2. inspect the roots, establishing the degree of their defeat;
3. cut dead roots with sharp scissors or a knife;
4. slices sprinkled with charcoal;
5. if there are a large number of trimmed roots, the plant is placed for several minutes in a solution of furatsilina or manganese in order to disinfect; after a minute they are dried;
6. it is impossible to leave rotten areas during pruning, especially if they are at the base of the flower;
7. the plant is placed in the ground without watering;
8. put in a bright place, closed from direct sunlight.

Read more about how to resuscitate an orchid if the roots deteriorate or have already rotted, read in our material.

Watch a video about resuscitation of an orchid with root rot:

Barrel and peduncle

In case of decay of the trunk, peduncle, quarantine of the flower is optional, if there is a peduncle with buds, they must be cut, leaving a piece of the stem with 2-3 buds. They are needed when the bush decides to produce a baby from a peduncle, not a neck. Fertilizers should not be used now. Watering should be ordinary as the root system dries.

You can find out why the trunk of the orchid is damaged and what to do if its core has rotted, you can find out here.

Prevention

It is important not to allow the propagation of the fungal infection and to start treatment on time, otherwise it will be unrealistic to save the orchid.

To prevent brown rot, it is possible to spray the orchid with copper sulfate once a month. The best prevention of numerous fungal diseases, to which black rot belongs, is the fulfillment of absolutely all the rules for the care of orchids.

When planting an orchid, you need to use high-quality disinfected soil - this will be the best prevention of root rot. When watering an orchid, it is possible to use special substances that increase its resistance to diseases. Then the occurrence of gray rot may be eliminated. Well, you do not need to forget about proper care.

As you can see saving an orchid if the roots rot is difficult, but possible. Of course, in order for the plant to not completely disappear, you will need to tinker with, to get acquainted with a huge number of specialized literature, and even learn new skills. However, first of all, it remains to be understood why the roots of an orchid begin to deteriorate, the leaves turn yellow.

White aerial roots do not speak of any pathology at all, probably the plant simply has a need for watering. But if the shoots of the roots turn yellow, the shoots inside the pot turn white - this is already bad.

Immediately review the conditions in which your flower is located, and eliminate all conditions that may cause the roots to rot: do not overdo it with watering, adhere to the lighting regimen, and prevent fungal infections in a timely manner. As a rule, healthy plants do not turn yellow, but delight with their flowering appearance.

How to find out whether the roots are dead or living?

If the root is strong, resilient - this is the criterion of its viability. And vice versa: if the root looks perfectly healthy, but when pressed with a finger or a nail, it simply squeezes through, in this case, most likely, this root is already dead.

It happens that a healthy root somewhere in one place contains a necrotic area. A plant will need this kind of root, since it is not much to feed it fully, and can even be harmful: a dead site can be the basis of infection for the stems of the plant. For this reason, be careful when looking at the roots.

IMPORTANT: It is a mistake to assume that if the upper part of the flower is normal, then the roots are all right. After all, the pathogenic process in the roots does not take place quickly, and if you find timely diseased roots, you will have time to save the resuscitated rotten orchid.

Conclusion

Remember, an orchid is only affected when it is exhausted.. And in order for her immune system to be strong constantly, adhere to absolutely all conditions of proper care and hygiene. And then you do not need to take urgent measures to save the flower.