---
title: "Why does my orchids leaf look like this? Please help me. I have my…"
description: "Why does my orchids leaf look like this? Please help me. I have my orchid in water and in indirect light."
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/b6oQhpvl0j7uCIczwvLg2W"
community: "The Orchid Oasis"
author: "Marica"
published: "2026-01-19T03:28:03.739247Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/UitIh-zaEfGhcnxZzA5zFp9j5nvG0MSUw12GJ_P7j-U/w7nweSBoRPCWLTS0LWmmpw.webp?size=large"
---

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# Why does my orchids leaf look like this? Please help me. I have my…

_Posted by Marica on 2026-01-19_

Why does my orchids leaf look like this? Please help me. I have my orchid in water and in indirect light.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/UitIh-zaEfGhcnxZzA5zFp9j5nvG0MSUw12GJ_P7j-U/w7nweSBoRPCWLTS0LWmmpw.webp?size=large)

## 1 comment

### Waspinator commented on 2026-01-19

It's probably suffocating; orchids are epiphytes (they cling to trees in the wild) and should get plenty of air and dry out between waterings. If the roots are constantly in water, they can very easily rot. It looks like your roots are still okay, but it shouldn't be submerged long term. For water culture, you'd suspend them above a pool of water with the roots not in the pool to keep humidity up, and let the roots soak (for most areas, 5-20 minutes, or more often or a full hour soak if you live somewhere especially dry) about once or twice a week. Otherwise, you can switch it to orchid bark or try mounted care

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