The reason orchid stems turn yellow and die is because the stem (or flower spike) naturally turns yellow and brown and dies after displaying flowers. A yellowing stem does not necessarily mean the orchid is unwell, as it is a natural part of the orchid’s life cycle.
It should be noted that what is commonly referred to as an “orchid stem” is actually known as the flower stem, I refer to it as the stem throughout the article.
| Symptoms of yellowing orchid stems: | Yellow Orchid Stem Pattern: |
| The stem of the orchid turns yellow from above. Eventually, the stem of the orchid dries out and turns yellow/brown. | Orchid stems turn yellow and die after displaying flowers. If the flowers have fallen, the stem turns yellow and dies. |
| The stem of the orchid appears yellow and burnt. Stem yellowing should not just occur from the top of the stem. | Orchids naturally grow in shade and cannot tolerate direct sunlight, causing the leaves and stems to turn fiery yellow. |
| The stems and leaves of orchids turn yellow, then the roots die. | Orchid roots die from overwatering, slow-draining soil, and compacted soil. This prevents the roots from absorbing moisture and transporting the roots to the leaves and stems, causing them to turn yellow. |
Read on to find out what to do to save your yellow stem orchid…
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Orchid stems naturally turn yellow and brown after flowering
Orchid stems turn yellow and dry out when the orchid has finished flowering. Orchid stems always turn yellow and die after the flowers drop, as this is a natural part of the plant cycle and does not mean the orchid will die.
Orchid stems usually bear only one set of flowers per year (there may be exceptions to this), then turn yellow and dry out.
Usually once the the flowers have fallenthe orchid turns yellow from above and dries up.
how to save it…
As long as the leaves are green and the roots look healthy (green and fleshy after watering, with a slightly gray appearance indicates healthy roots), then you don’t have to do anything because the orchid is healthy .
Some orchid experts believe that you should allow the stem to turn yellow and dry out as the orchid reclaims the nutrients it has invested in the stem. This can take time, preventing your orchid from displaying flowers for very long.
But others (myself included) think it is good to cut the stem of the yellowing orchid all the way to the base with a pair of very sharp pruners, after it starts to turn yellow, as this encourages growth of a new stem (or peduncle). ).
Pruning encourages the growth of a healthy new stem that can bear more flowers, so you won’t have to wait as long for new flowers, especially if you take good care of your orchid by placing it in a light. bright and indirect and using specific lighting. orchid. fertilizer.
You can also cut the stem of the yellowish flower. just above a node that has not produced flowers, if part of the stem is still green. In fact, a new stem can grow from the node, which will then flower naturally for the next few weeks, if the conditions are right.
Cutting an inch above the node of a phalaenopsis orchid will allow a new flower spike to grow to display more blooms.It should be noted that flowers growing from a node are usually smaller than the first bloom produced from a new flower stem, so I recommend cutting the stem at the base as this encourages flower growth. a new, much stronger flower stalk with a taller stem. number of flowers.
(For more tips and solutions for flowering orchids, read my article, Why is my orchid not blooming??)
Sunburn causes orchid stems to turn yellow
Orchid stems turn yellow when exposed to too much sun. The stems and leaves of orchids are suited to growing under the shade of a canopy and need indirect light or filtered light. If exposed to direct sunlight, the leaves and stem will turn yellow.
Most houseplant orchids are phalaenopsis orchids (moth orchids) which: grow in tropical forests as epiphytes (grow on other trees) in their natural environment, where they receive bright indirect light or scattered light between the leaves.
Phalaenopsis (moth) orchids are the most common indoor plants. Its stems and leaves are sensitive to sunlight, causing them to turn fiery yellow.Therefore, the leaves and stems of orchids are very sensitive to the sun and quickly turn a burnt yellow.
how to save it…
Move the orchid to an area with bright indirect light to avoid burning the plant.
If the stem is severely scorched from green to yellow, it will not regain its appearance and will be too damaged to support blooms.
Personally, I recommend just cutting the stem at the base with sharp pruners, if it is damaged by sunlight. Cutting the damaged stem back to the base allows the orchid to focus its energy and resources on growing a healthy new stem that can support stronger blooms when the conditions are right.
It should be noted that orchids can sprout and bloom a new stem at any time of the year, but they tend to bloom in spring and summer due to bright light and day length.
In order for the orchid to receive the nutrients necessary for its growth, I recommend using a specific fertilizer for orchids, which provides the orchids with the appropriate nutrients and the optimal concentration, so that the orchid can devote its energy to the growth of a new flower stalk and showing flowers
The stem of the orchid turns yellow due to excess water
Yellow orchid stems and leaves may indicate that orchid roots are dying due to root rot. Orchids need porous soil that dries out slightly between waterings. If the potting mix remains too wet or the soil is too compact, the roots will die and the stem and leaves will turn yellow.
Orchid with yellow leaves, dying roots and stem turning from yellow to brown.Orchids are epiphytes that grow on trees (as opposed to terrestrial plants that grow on the ground) in their native tropical environment.
Orchid orchids should therefore be grown in potting mix that mimics their natural conditions, allowing good drainage and allowing air to circulate around the roots, with ideal humidity conditions.
Orchids grow best in potting soil. If the orchid is in normal potting soil or compacted moss, this potting soil will hold too much moisture around the roots and be too compact for the orchid to tolerate, causing the roots to rot and die.
If too many roots die, the remaining roots cannot absorb enough moisture or nutrients to support the leaves and stems, causing flowers to drop and the stem and leaves to yellow.
how to save it…
To save the orchid it is important to water less so that the soil dries out a little between each watering. (read my article, How often do you water the orchids?).
Misting the leaves to increase humidity can also reduce stress on the orchid.
Remove the orchid from the potting soil and inspect the roots. Healthy roots should be green immediately after watering and turn a little gray between waterings as they develop a thick, firm texture.
Diseased roots turn gray, wrinkled and turn papery as they die due to excess water and soil compaction. (If you don’t know what an overwatered orchid looks like, read my article, Is my orchid overwatered or underwatered??)
Cut off unhealthy dying roots with a pair of sharp pruners, either to regrow healthy growth or to get back to the base.
Replace the potting mix with pine bark orchid potting mix that mimics the original conditions of the orchid, allowing good drainage and allowing air to circulate around the roots.
Repot the orchid in a pot with drainage holes in the bottom, ideally a clear plastic pot, so you can see the condition of the roots and more easily see when the orchid needs watering.
Orchid roots can also photosynthesise, which helps the orchid regenerate, so a transparent pot will also allow sunlight to reach the roots. (read my article, best pots for orchids).
The transparent orchid pots help the orchid roots to photosynthesize. It’s best to wait for the yellow leaves to fall off on their own, as pulling or cutting can cause unnecessary wounds that can become infected.
Cut off the yellow stalk (flower stalk) of the orchid if it has turned yellow and is completely dead, as this can help encourage new growth.
Water the orchid once a week, mist the leaves and roots to increase humidity, and place the orchid in direct sunlight and the orchid should recover.
(For more information, read my article, how to save a yellow leaf orchid).
Key learning points:
- The reason orchid stems turn yellow after the orchid flowers drop is because it is a natural part of the orchid’s life cycle. After the orchid blooms, the stem that supports the flowers turns yellow from above and dries out before a new stem can grow and produce more flowers.
- The stems and leaves of orchids can turn yellow if they receive too much direct sunlight. Orchids are adapted to shade growing, and their delicate leaves and stems can turn yellow from sunburn.
- Yellowing orchid stems and leaves may indicate that the orchid has root rot. Too much water and compacted soil can cause roots to rot, preventing them from transporting nutrients and moisture to the leaves, causing stems and leaves to turn yellow and die.
- Cut the yellowing stem of the orchid all the way to the base with a sharp pair or pruning shears, as it can no longer display flowers. Pruning the yellow stem can promote the growth of a new flower spike which can produce more flowers.