Orchids are known for their gorgeous and appealing appearance among other flowering plants. They have creeping characteristics, which makes them visually attractive, especially when they are blooming flowers. Orchids are loved by people for not only their beauty but also the fragrance they spread out. Most of the orchids smell in a manner that they are not quite fragrant or even unpleasant. Some of them smell bad too.
There are over 28,000 types of known orchids around the globe. It is difficult to judge all of them in the sense of, which one smells good and which one is bad. If you are sensing that the orchid that you planted recently or a random one in front of your house is smelling bad, then your speculation is right. In this article we will go through the points: do orchids really smells bad, reasons for their smelling bad, what they smell like, their time of smelling, and many more. So hold your noose tight and continue reading.
Key Takeaways
- Orchids can smell bad due to their natural ability to release odor or it can be a bacterial infection.
- Naturally fragrant orchid is a great use for making good smelled soap, and face wash such products.
- In nature, orchid releases smell in the morning and evening to attack insect for pollination.
- Wounds on the orchid due to bacterial infection can cause odors to spread in the air.
Do Orchids Really Smell Bad?
In a straight answer, Yes, orchids do smells bad. Not all of them but a majority from the vast number of species smells bad. Although you find this answer unfamiliar because most of the orchid species that you have come across in nurseries and shops rarely smell bad. Now not to be confused with if a single species of orchid plant can smell fragrant and bad at the same time. No, that doesn’t happen. There is also a difference between your orchid which usually releases fragrance to its becoming smell stinky.
Reasons for Orchids Smell Bad
There is more than one reason for your orchid to smell bad. Some are due to their natural genetically formed and some are for different environmental and human lead reasons. Altogether we present you some of the reasons of your orchid smells bad:
Naturally smelly
Almost all of the bad smelled orchid species naturally smell bad. There are various speculations by the horticulturalists about their being smell bad. Some say these species releases bad smell to keep vegan animals away. Just like fragrant-releasing species attract small insects for reproduction. Insects sit on one orchid and fly away with pollen stuck on their back. Then dropping the seeds on other orchid plants as they sit on them. Some of the worst-smelled orchid species are:
- Bulbophyllum Echinolabium
- Bulbophyllum Orientale
- Bulbophyllum Psychoon
- Bulbophyllum beccarii
- Bulbophyllum Carunculatum
Potting medium
It is not all the time that the orchid is foul smelled for their natural characteristic is the only reason. One important clue may rely on the potting medium it has been planted into. If the potting medium is being used for a long time and some reason the pot has broken down or the air circulation or drainage system is poor. It can cause the root to get infected with bacteria attack and cause the orchid to smell bad.
Bacterial infection
Bacterial infection in orchids causes different abnormal deformities within them. These attract often happen naturally and sometimes due to manmade influences. These bacterial infection causes the cells and organs such as root, leaves, and stems to melt down, causing a bad smell.
- Erwinia: Erwinia is one of the primary bacterial infections that happen to orchids. A bacteria called Pectobacterium carotovorum is responsible for this disease. This bacterium causes the leaves of orchids to rot, releasing a stink smell to release.
- Bacterial Brown Spot: If the lesion on the leaf seems to be water-soaked and eventually turns black then this could be a Bacterial brown spot. These diseases are spread due to the normal watering formulation. It also makes the leaf rot and releases a bad odor.
- Root Rotting: Bacterial infection can cause the root of the orchid to root. A wilting plant with brown or black roots is a sign of root rot. If the infection starts from the leaf but ultimately attacks the root, then it is a black root. Root rotting causes the plant to wilt and it releases a bad smell.
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Orchids with Fragrance: When The Smell Starts and Fragrance Characteristics
Usually, orchids smell good or bad when they are blooming flowers only. Orchids release fragrance and odors with these flower petals. They do it during morning and evening when sunlight amplifies their fragrance. During the night, like almost all other flowers, the orchid too closes the petal vents of its flower, causing the smell to disappear. Some orchid is poisonous; thus they release odor day or night to keep the vegan animals away.
But if the smell is caused by bacterial infections then there is no time limit for releasing bad odor. To sort this issue out, you have to take care of the bacterial infection.
Talking about the bad smelled orchid, let’s not forget about the fragrance-spreading orchids. Orchids are mostly known for their attractive and appealing fragrances. Some of the most beautiful fragrant orchid species are:
- Brassavola nodosa: Popularly known as Lady of the Night, releases a lily-of-the-valley flower-like fragrance in the evening.
- Cattleya Bicolor: Otherwise known as Cattleya walkeriana smells like a soft rose fragrance mixed with a touch of cinnamon.
- Dendrobium Kingiaum: Also known as Pink Rock Orchid, has a smell of mixed clover, honey, or baby powders.
- Encyclia Cordigera: It releases a sophisticated fragrance of chocolate and roses.
- Rhynchostylis gigantea: Smells like hard strong spicy citrus.
What Different Bad-Smelling Orchids Species Smell Like?
The smell is not always that good for all orchids! If the smell is for natural reasons, there can be varieties of smells among different species. It is quite impossible to categorize the different types of bad smells they usually process. In most cases, orchids that are foul smelled are likely to smell like decaying animals, woods, rotten foods, different animals’ poop, burning cigarettes, etc. If the orchid is rotting due to bacterial infection, then almost all the time it will smell like rotten fish. Some of the most foul smelled orchid species and their smell are given below:
- Bulbophyllum echinolabium smells like dog droppings.
- Bulbophyllum beccarii smells like decaying animals.
- Bulbophyllum orientale smells like rotting bananas or apples.
- Bulbophyllum carunculatum smells like rotten cheese.
- Bulbophyllum psychoon smells like pond scum or rotting fish.
5 Tips for Preventing Bacterial Infections for Orchids
If you think that your orchid plant is smelling, then first identify the species if it is a naturally smelly one. If not, then the most probable reason for smelling bad is a bacterial infection. You can take the below measures to prevent your orchid smell bad.
1. Repotting the orchid
As mentioned earlier, a lack of drainage system and malfunction of the potting medium can lead to bacterial attacks on orchids. So check how is the potting medium doing. Replace it with a better drainage systemic pot that has air circulation capability. If possible, change the soils with more compost mixed soil to increase fertility.
2. Care of the wound
If the orchid plant has already been affected by bacteria, take care of the infected wound to prevent further spreading. Use chemical fungicides such as Thiphanate Methyl, Iprodione, Vinclozolin, or Physan to treat infected areas. If the infection seems out of hand, then trim off the infected leaves and spikes.
3. Use pesticides
Pests and insects cause bacterial spreading from one orchid to another. It is necessary to keep pests numbers in control. Apply chemical pesticides or homegrown solutions like neem oil and soapy water. You can apply moderate-temperature hot water too.
4. Light & air circulation
Most bacterial and fungus attack happens due to a lack of air circulation and light. Proper light and air circulation help to keep the environment not too humid and moist. Without light and fresh air, the growth of bacteria and fungus is a must.
5. Stop overwatering
Overwatering causes the soil to get too moist. It leads to bacterial infection and ultimately root rotting. It makes the plant not getting enough nutrition to grow and bloom. Water in twice in the summer and once when it is cold. Before watering, touch the soil to see if it is dry or wet.
FAQs
If your orchid has a rotting issue then you will notice black, squishy roots, yellowing leaves, wilted flower, stem, and leaves. There will be a bacterial infection and other floppy veins in the orchid.
Make sure the plant is adequately fed and watered (not too much, not too little) and receiving enough sunlight. Keep the air circulation moderate to prevent excessive humidity and moisture.
Your orchid can smell like rotten eggs because the potting medium isn’t draining water as required, causing the soil to smell like a sour odor or rotten eggs.
Final Thoughts
Orchids aren’t only judged by their flowers. They are known for their creeper structure and decorative appearance. Their flower often releases appealing fragrances. But at the same time, some of the orchid species have a bad reputation for having foul odors. These smells come naturally as they are inherited in the orchids’ genetics. If you have an orchid that started to smell foul in recent times, you should give a close look at that. This might be a bacterial attack and without proper care, your orchid can perish easily. As it stands out, it is better to have an orchid that looks good and even provides fragrance but not a foul smell.
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