Can someone help revive this plant?! I originally have it on the living room but it just seems to be wilting. I have another orchid that is in our guestroom that has no direct sunlight and is thriving very well. I tried moving this orchid to be on the same room as the other but it doesnt seem to be thriving very well even after that. :(
I’m a new orchid parent, and on the advice of some of the amazing Planta folks, I get a lot of my info from YouTube. I’ve learned that you should prune orchids back after they’ve bloomed to enhance the chances of them blooming again within six to eight weeks. Also, orchids’ roots need light and air. They actually photosynthesize through their roots. Perhaps a more experienced orchid parent can weigh in on this, as I could be wrong? 🙏🏼 Either way, YouTube is a good source of information.
1 gilla
Penny gave great advice. She is completely right that you can cut the spike back to the node right before the last flower you might get a second blooming. From the photo, it looks like you have one leaf that is yellowing. I recommend cutting the spike back to the base to let the plant focus on root growth and leaf production. Typically, when you bring home a plant, they are in sphagnum that is tightly packed. That’s not a great setup for the home grower. Orchids like water but love for their roots to dry out. I would repot using a mix of 50% sphagnum 50% bark. That will allow moisture to hang around long enough for the roots to take in what they want without cutting off air circulation. If you are a heavy waterer you can reduce the amount of sphagnum in your mix. The key is a loose airy mix that will allow the roots to dry between waterings. Be gentle while you’re removing the sphagnum, but don’t worry if you break some roots. It happens and orchids are resilient. Examine the roots for health and pests. Cut away any dead or dying roots. Healthy roots are firm and green when wet, silvery when dry. Dead roots are paper or mushy, brown or black. I would use an orchid pot with ventilated sides. They are typically clear so you can examine the roots. If you don’t have one on hand, you can add holes to the pot it came in or any other plastic pot you have on hand. The spot looks a tad dark. Phalanopsis don’t have to have a ton of light but they do need some. Bright indirect is best. Direct light can burn it. I have mine in a west window that is shaded from harsh afternoon rays. I find caring for orchids very regarding and mildly frustrating. Luckily they are tough plants. As long as you don’t drown it you will do great. Good luck!
1 gillaI agree with both comments above. Just want to add that just because the flowers are finished blooming, it doesn’t mean the orchid is dying. It needs to have a growth season for its roots and leaves too- focus on the health of the actual plant, not necessarily the flowers (although I know they are the most fun part.)
2 gillningar