Why does your Phalaenopsis Belem have sudden leaf drop? Diagnose the cause and fix it with our step-by-step guide.
Excessive moisture in the orchid medium leads to anaerobic conditions, causing the roots of your Phalaenopsis to decay. When roots cannot transport water and nutrients, the plant sheds leaves as a stress response to preserve hydration for the core.
Phalaenopsis Belem is sensitive to rapid fluctuations in ambient temperature, particularly sudden drops below 15°C (60°F). Sudden cold drafts can trigger an abscission response where the plant drops leaves to mitigate metabolic damage.
If the surrounding humidity drops significantly below the preferred 50-70% range, the orchid may lose moisture through transpiration faster than the roots can replace it. This causes the plant to shed older leaves to reduce surface area and conserve water.
A bacterial infection often enters through damaged tissue or water trapped in the leaf crown, leading to rapid tissue breakdown. As the infection progresses, it can cause systemic stress that leads to premature leaf drop.
Your plant might also be experiencing one of these issues:
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