The orchid tree is quite robust and yet care errors can severely affect it and thus promote diseases. However, if you intervene quickly, you can protect your plant from the worst.
In the tropics, orchid trees (bauhinia) adorn gardens and parks. The plants enchant with their colorful flowers and provide exotic charm. Anyone who cultivates the orchid tree in our latitudes has to make some compromises, because the plants that come from Asia are not hardy.
Anyone who suspects that they are bringing a real mimosa into their home is wrong. Orchid trees are actually quite robust, as long as their needs are taken care of. Often, diseased plants are the result of improper care. Find out below how this can be avoided from the start and which diseases and pests can be dangerous for the orchid tree.
Recognizing signs of disease on the leaves
If you keep an eye on your plants, you will quickly notice if something is wrong. An alarm sign, for example, is discoloration of the leaves. Yellow, brownish or black discoloration on the upper side of the leaves usually indicates care errors. The plant indicates that something is missing or, conversely, that it has become too much.
Incorrect watering and fertilizing behavior can lead to a deficiency or oversupply of the plant. A sure instinct is therefore required. The soil must not dry out. Therefore, you should reach for the watering can at the latest when the top layer of soil has dried.
If the plant is too wet, this can also be noticed by discolouration of the leaves. If the irrigation water cannot drain off, it accumulates in the planter, which attacks the roots. The lack of nutrients can then manifest itself in the form of discolored leaves. While the orchid tree needs quite a bit of nutrients during the growing season, the plant does not receive any additional nutrients during the winter. Anyone who still fertilizes shouldn't be surprised if they over-fertilize, the plants start to grow uncontrollably or the leaves discolour.
The discolouration of theLeaves can also have entirely natural causes and indicate the age of the foliage. The leaves wither and are dropped. If this happens in the winter quarters, there is usually no cause for concern. In late winter, the formation of new foliage reliably begins.
Possible diseases & pests on orchid trees
» Aphids
Hardly any plant is safe from them and the orchid tree can also be attacked by aphids. The vermin measure only a few millimeters and may be overlooked at first glance.
» Tip: The orchid tree should be checked regularly. Damage can occur, especially in winter quarters.
Detect:
If the infestation is already advanced, you won't be able to miss it anymore. It can happen that the shoot tips dry up and the leaves are covered with a silvery film. If you touch the leaves with your hands, you will feel their surface sticky to the touch. This coating is caused by honeydew. These are the excrements of the aphid.
Control:
Control of aphids is also possible without the use of chemical pest control. For example, the pests have natural predators in the ladybird and the larvae of the lacewing. In the case of a light infestation, it is usually sufficient to treat the plant with a hard jet of water. A more stubborn infestation can be easily combated with a decoction of stinging nettles or field horsetails, which is filled into a plant sprayer.
» Tip: Spray the plant several times a day and separate the orchid tree from other plants to prevent the infestation from spreading.
» root rot
While aphids and their tracks are clearly noticeable on the upper side of the leaves, there is initially no sign of the beginning of root rot. Only on closer inspection does it become clear that the plant is not growing as usual and you will probably wrinkle your nose too, as a putrid smell is starting to rise from the soil. These are all signs that the plant has been exposed to too much moisture over a period of time.
Control:
Root rot cannot be controlled directly. If it is recognized in time, it can help to remove the plant from the planter immediately. The roots are freed from the wet and sticky substrate and dried if necessary. The orchid tree is then placed in a new planter and planted in dry soil. Well willpoured carefully and waited. If fresh shoots appear, the campaign was successful. However, root rot is usually recognized too late and the plant can no longer be saved.
Prevention:
The main cause of root rot is waterlogging. When planting, you should consider that the irrigation water must always drain off well. You can create the appropriate conditions with a planter that has sufficient drainage holes. Before planting, place a drainage made of potsherds on the bottom of the container. Now it depends on the appropriate casting behavior. Water regularly without flooding the plant. The thumb test helps to check the condition of the soil. If the soil has dried slightly, it is poured. If the substrate feels wet, you have to wait and see.
The basis for he althy plants
| Care measure | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Find location | • The orchid trees need a sunny location. • Only a few hours of sunshine per day are not enough, the plant can be in full sun. • The plants are sensitive to drafts and should therefore be protected. |
| Select substrate | • The substrate should be permeable. • The planter must not become waterlogged. • The soil can be enriched with humus. |
| Water the orchid tree | • The need for liquid is particularly high during the growing season. • The plant must not dry out. • Potted plants should be watered daily in summer. • When watering is a bit of finesse necessary to avoid waterlogging. |
| Fertilize orchid tree | • During the growth phase, liquid fertilizer can be added directly to the irrigation water every three weeks. • In winter, the orchid trees are not fertilized. |
Consequences of care mistakes
» Wrong location
If the plants don't get enough sun, they will retard their growth. Sufficient hours of sunshine are also needed for flowering. If the plants are too draughty, they can react with leaf fall.
» Wrong substrate
The plant will still thrive quite well in a rather nutrient-poor substrate, since the nutrient requirement is not to be estimated too high. If the soil is too heavy and the irrigation water cannot drain off, it accumulates in the planter and waterlogging occurs. This often happens unnoticed while watering continues happily. persistentWaterlogging leads to root rot and ultimately to the death of the plant.
» casting error
If you don't water enough, the leaves will wilt. Prolonged dehydration can lead to the drying up of leaves and buds. Watering too much leads to waterlogging with the consequences already described.
» Fertilization error
If the soil in the planter is too meager, the orchid tree will not develop optimally and will not produce any flowers. If there is over-fertilization, which happens particularly often in winter quarters, the shoots grow uncontrolled and misshapen. The plant is deprived of the power to flower.