---
title: "My orchid is done for I think. It’s a moth orchid. It dried out quite…"
description: "My orchid is done for I think. It’s a moth orchid. It dried out quite a bit and was knocked off the shelf by my toddler. I’ve been trying to rehab the orchid,…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/930G7EfspL4DOh9bXhwxcn"
community: "The Orchid Oasis"
author: "Sabrina"
published: "2026-05-06T15:30:21.456783Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/1A_54LtanMlGzpjr3Do-uSKbTnNaWmnRnlhmVRQTWIQ/vCgY_9jhRoeI9WYftRFqlQ.webp?size=large"
---

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# My orchid is done for I think. It’s a moth orchid. It dried out quite…

_Posted by Sabrina on 2026-05-06_

My orchid is done for I think. It’s a moth orchid.

It dried out quite a bit and was knocked off the shelf by my toddler.

I’ve been trying to rehab the orchid, but it seems to be still having trouble.

It has 1 root, that is green and has new growth. It has 1 tiny leaf, but it is not firm, and is a bit wrinkly.

I’m not sure what else I can do to help it!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/1A_54LtanMlGzpjr3Do-uSKbTnNaWmnRnlhmVRQTWIQ/vCgY_9jhRoeI9WYftRFqlQ.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### Robert commented on 2026-05-06

Keep trying, but dont put it sun at all. Just light only and see what happens

### Jen commented on 2026-05-06

It is not done for. It has a root and the leaf is still green so there is still hope. The leaf is leathery and wrinkly because it’s dehydrated. It wouldn’t hurt to add a little sphagnum moss or smaller bark chips to maintain a little more moisture. You still want to make sure the bark is going through cycles of wet and dry, not keeping the root wet all the time, but don’t drag out the dry periods. If the root is green, leave it alone. If it’s silver and the medium is dry, water it. Then the rest is time and patience. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

#### Robert replied on 2026-05-06

I agree with you wholeheartedly

#### ABagel replied on 2026-05-08

Agreed.

### Waspinator commented on 2026-05-07

It looks like some of that bark has either mold or salt buildup; swapping that for fresh is safer for such a stressed plant. The root has discoloration that could be from temperature burn (do NOT use ice cubes to water it) or root rot (it'd be squishy. This happens when excess water stagnates.) To encourage root growth, you need high air humidity (since it's small, you can put it in a clear cup with a lid to seal in moisture. Keep the main root in/on bark, with moist sphag beneath it so it gets humidity but doesn't sit in water.) Orchid roots can photosynthesize, so leave the root on top of the bark and let it get light. As new roots come in, it'll prioritize between light vs soil stability on its own. Plants like sound, so playing music for it can help. You can also exhale over the leaf to give it slightly more CO2 to breathe. Other than that, you can only wait and pray for it to recover.

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