Orchid care takes time to master. Sometimes when you are just starting to get the hang of it, something suddenly happens that kills your plants.
Knowing how to spot early on that something is wrong is a very good way to prevent this from happening. One technique that orchid growers use is to check the leaves.
An orchid's health can be easily seen through its leaves. If the leaves are starting to have brown spots, brown or black tips or starting to turn yellow, then you've got a definite problem. Here are some of the things you can do to save them from total destruction.
Black Tips And Brown Spots
If you find that these are showing up mainly on the body of your orchids leaves then this might just be sun burn. Move your orchids away from direct sunlight and observe them for a week. If the spots continue to grow, then this might be a case of bacterial or fungal infection. One way to treat this is by cutting off the affected part and applying fungicides.
If the tip of the leaves continue wilting and turning black after moving them away from the sun, then this might be because of too many minerals from either your fertilizer or water. Too many salt minerals can be fatal to orchids. Try changing the kind of water you are using. Avoid softened water and minimize the use of fertilizers.
If the spots are turning black and multiplying, then this might be a viral infection. This kind of infection is fatal to orchids. Sadly, there is currently no definite cure for viral infections.
Yellow Leaves
Most orchid growers know this as a natural occurrence when an orchid's leaves are growing old. So do not worry. They will soon be replaced by new ones. This might also just be because of too much sunlight or exposure to a sudden change of temperature. The most common thing to do is to change the lighting.
Remember to use the leaves in determining the diagnosis of your plant's health. Be keen in spotting the warning signs to prevent your orchids from going down the drain. There are more ways to determine the health of your orchids, but one proven way that most orchids experts use is through the leaves.
Keep these things in mind and surely you will have orchids living longer than most beginning orchid growers do.
For more information about dangers that can hurt your orchids, download my totally FREE 5-Day Orchid Insider training course by going here: "Orchid Care Secrets".
Mary Ann Berdak is the publisher of http://www.orchidcarezone.com/ - a top online destination for orchid care tips and advice.