Leaf Problems

Leaves are limp and wrinkly

Root Rot

When the roots have rotted away, the plant cannot absorb water, leading to the limpness and wrinkling of leaves. Plants maintain their shape through water pressure, and water needs to be restored in order for the plant to recover. You may notice th...

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Plant is too dry

If the plant is too dry from either underwatering or low humidity, wrinkles and limpness will occur in the leaves. Plants maintain their shape through water pressure, and water needs to be restored in order for the plant to recover. The medium will...

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Leaves become limp, then turn black

Cold Shock can happen when plants are exposed to excessively cold temperatures (potentially any temperature under 50F (10C)). This can be from transporting the plant without insulating it during cold weather (such as when taking it home from the gro...

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Bush snails are present

Snails can eat the roots which prevents water absorption.

Leaf blemishes

ONLY leaf tips are black

This is caused from excessive buildup of salts, usually fertilizer salts but can also be from using very hard water. Flush the plant out with soft water - rainwater, distilled water or water purified by reverse osmosis work best. If the media looks l...

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Leaves have paler, white pitting or a silvery appearance

This can be caused by thrips or by a toxic chemical reaction. If you have sprayed your plants with one of the more “hardcore” pesticides or fungicides, then this is a possible result. If you have treated your plants with weaker pesticides or fungic...

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Leaves (and possibly pseudobulbs) have irregular dark spots

This is a fungal infection, usually one of the soft rots, but can be anything. Remove infected parts, if possible, and treat with an appropriate fungicide. Watch plants carefully for signs of continued infection. Black rot progresses extremely rapidl...

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Leaves (and possibly pseudobulbs) have irregular smaller dark spots, usually with a yellow outline

This is a bacterial infection, such as pseudomonas or xanthomonas. Increase air movement and treat with a weak application of wettable sulfur or any other applicable bactericide. Hydrogen peroxide or copper-bearing fungicides can be used to help cont...

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Leaves (and possibly pseudobulbs) have blush of red, pink, purple, orange

If just the margins of the leaves have this coloration, it is a sign that the plant is getting the optimal amount of light.

Leaves are chartreuse or yellow-green

Typically, bright green or chartreuse leaves is a bad sign in other plants, but it is the picture of health for most orchids. There are some exceptions where dark green is the picture of health, but typically cattleyas, dendrobiums, Catasetinae, som...

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My plant has tiny leaf spots and is an Oncidium-type plant

It is unclear what causes these spots, but plants in this group are susceptible to this spotting. No action is needed, but some growers have noticed that by keeping the leaves dry, treating with fungicide, and reducing the amount of direct sun the p...

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Yellow Leaves

Leaves have turned yellow, then black or mushy around areas where water pools on the plant

This is a cultural (how you grow it) problem. Either water your plant in such a way as to not get the leaves wet or increase airflow or heat to dry the plant adequately within a several hours of watering.

Older leaves (lower leaves) become a bright, school-bus yellow and gradually fall off, typically one at a time, usually with not many other blemishes

This is just an old leaf falling off. This happens from time to time. Usually, pseudobulbs (on plants that have pseudobulbs) will be left behind as green but if they are old enough, they will also yellow and eventually dehydrate as well.

Younger leaves have watercolor-y blotches of yellow fading into green in no particular pattern, then develop abnormally

This is usually caused by mineral deficiency, but in rare cases, can be the sign of a virus. The only way to know if it is a virus is to test for it. Fertilize the plant first with a well-balanced fertilizer to see if it greens up to eliminate the ...

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Younger leaves become yellow, mushy, and the plant declines

This is usually temperature shock. The water you are using is too cold or too hot. The ideal water temperature for orchids is lukewarm - between warm and cold water, similar to how tropical rain is cool, but not cold.

Leaves on Paphiopedilum-types start as green, but then the bases turn yellow

This is only prevalent on truly epiphytic paphiopedilums such as rothschildianum, philippinense, lowii, etc, that are sensitive to phosphorus. Flush the media and use a fertilizer with less phosphorus (the middle number of the NPK value).

Leaves have streaks

Leaves, plants, or pseudobulbs have elongated, irregular streaks that may start as yellow, but turn to black quickly

This could possibly be a virus infection. Although unlikely, it is also possible that it is a fungal infection. Test for viruses.

Leaves or stems have circular lesions that are a grayish-brown and usually have concentric rings

If the lesions are the size of a penny or dime, it is usually caused by a virus. If the lesions are larger or continue to spread and brown the leaves, especially after the plant gets wet, then it is a fungal infection. Treat with a sulfur-based fun...

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Leaves are misshapen/deformed, and may have a residue on them

Leaves are pleated or have ridges parallel to the veins, especially in Paphiopedi-lum/Phragmipedium

This is usually caused by polyploidy, or more simply, the plant has extra chromosomes. Unlike in humans or animals, where extra chromosomes are a bad thing, in plants, extra chromosomes can result in extra vigor making for a more robust plant and be...

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Leaves are folded or pleated perpendicular to the veins, usually resembling an accordion

This is typical in Oncidium and Miltoniopsis, as well as other thin-leafed plants. The cause is lack of water during plant growth or irregular watering during growth. It may also be from root rot, which will prevent the plant from properly taking u...

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Leaves or pseudobulbs have yellowish or whitish striping in the leaves

This is variegation, which is normal, harmless, and sometimes (esp. Cymbidium and Vanda [Neofinetia] falcata) very desirable.

Leaves are deformed (or not) and there is sticky sap on the underside of the leaf

A few sticky droplets in predictable places is normal, but if the entire leaf becomes sticky with other blemishes, you likely have some kind of pest issue. Sometimes, a black smut accompanies the sticky residue, indicating that it’s been going on fo...

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Leaves are dropping off

Lower leaves are dropping off

If it is just one or two leaves at the base of a monopodial orchid, such as phalaenopsis or vanda, or on the old backbulbs of a sympodial orchid, such as a cattleya or oncidium, that fall off over the period of a few months, and the plant is replacin...

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Leaves are dropping off a Dendrobium-type or Catasetum-type orchid suddenly

These types of orchids are deciduous; they drop leaves as fall approaches to conserve water. Reduce watering to emulate their environment and harden them off for spring flowering. Cease fertilization until growth is spotted in the spring.