The orchid is one of the easiest flowering houseplants to keep. Therefore it’s not a big surprise this plant is so popular. But the fact that orchids are easy to keep doesn’t mean that they remain beautiful without any attention. In this article we’ll explain what you need to do with an orchid with yellow leaves. It can easily be solved, so there’s no need to throw it away!
Orchid with yellow leaves
There are several factors that can cause the leaves of an orchid to become discolored, such as temperature and sunlight:
Temperature
The best temperature for an orchid is between 20 ºC and 22 ºC. The plant can handle temperatures between 16 ºC and 30 ºC, but only for a short period of time. If it’s too cold, the leaves may turn yellow and eventually fall out. Orchids also don’t like sudden temperature fluctuations.
Sunlight
Place your orchid in a bright spot, but not in direct sunlight. If your orchid has yellow leaves, it means the plant is receiving too much light. Move it to the center of the room, or use see through curtains to create some shade. A place that’s too dark isn’t good either, because then the flower buds can fall out or the leaves become dark green.
What to do?
So, we now know how to prevent an orchid with yellow leaves. But what do you do if it has already happened? Firstly, it is important that you find another place for your orchid, with a better temperature and / or in a place with a little more shade. Then you take the yellow leaves off your plant and take care of it as normal.
Keep your orchid away from draughts and do not place it close to a hot radiator. Also be careful with fruit, because certain species excrete a gas that makes your plant age faster.
Also see: Orchid care: How do I take care of an orchid flower?
