---
title: "Does anyone know why the top of my Orchid is dying? Everything else…"
description: "Does anyone know why the top of my Orchid is dying? Everything else seems healthy. I water every week with about 3-4 ice cubes"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/64b418caf17ee8102e8ec270"
community: "The Orchid Oasis"
author: "Susilem"
published: "2023-07-16T16:20:26.925Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/0Sn4cfRdCoHPY_6s2fBmqLf00GW34bNqG09lcUAVEM8/657b63320edd4e81bcd2c8917660b9d6.webp?size=large"
---

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# Does anyone know why the top of my Orchid is dying? Everything else…

_Posted by Susilem on 2023-07-16_

Does anyone know why the top of my Orchid is dying? Everything else seems healthy. I water every week with about 3-4 ice cubes

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/0Sn4cfRdCoHPY_6s2fBmqLf00GW34bNqG09lcUAVEM8/657b63320edd4e81bcd2c8917660b9d6.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### Emma✨ commented on 2023-07-16

I am pretty sure that is part of the cycle. Mine does that. You can cut it off by the base.

### LexaMary commented on 2023-07-16

Sometimes they’ll keep those flower spikes, sometimes they’ll die. It’ll shoot another one up when it’s ready to bloom again

### Addy the plant lover commented on 2023-07-16

What I do with my orchid is give it a good soak so the bark can absorb water and my orchids are so happy I also add fertilizer to the water and since then my orchids have re bloomed

### MeasomerPi commented on 2023-07-16

It’s part of their life cycle for the spikes to die back after blooming is complete. I would follow Plantlover’s recommendation to cut back to the base of the plant.

The orchid will produce another spike next year with proper care.

And just a friendly word of advice - I would not use ice cubes. The ice or super cold water could shock or damage the roots.

Good luck!

### GreenLeaf commented on 2023-07-16

Totally normal part of their cycle. You can try to cut it back to the first healthy node that didn’t produce a stem/flower, and it might produce again. But better chances if you do as others above have said. Cut it back to the base of the plant and it’ll produce a new shoot when its ready usually from the next leaf up.

As for watering, ice cubes aren’t the best.

Their roots are actually like sponges, so a good way is to let them fully soak (water up to just below the leaves) for about 10 minutes. Then drain ALL the water. Repeat approx 1x/week. But it differs from plant to plant. Green roots - fine don’t need water, white/grey roots - you can water. (Note: this is referring to the roots in the medium, arial roots above the medium are usually a greyish shiny color when healthy and don’t need to be submerged in the water).

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