I have no idea what to do with this. I got this orchid from a family member who moved. According to her, it’s a just add ice orchid? I know nothing about orchids or how to take care of them. It has two flowers that look dead but just haven’t fallen off. I don’t even know where to begin with this: watering, fertilizing, all of that. Are the things sticking out of the bottoms roots? Any help would be appreciated! I’m very confused.
Hello! Here’s a (sort of) brief run-down on orchids! :D The thick grey things you can see above the soil are aerial roots - as orchids grow on trees in nature, these roots help them hold on, and absorb moisture from the air. The roots are grey when dry and green when watered - a good rule of thumb is to water when the roots are grey. Pour water over the soil, avoiding the leaves as much as possible, and let it drain out the bottom. You can get orchid specific fertiliser - I typically fertilise once every 2 weeks, with a heavily diluted mix. Orchids don’t really like direct sun - they scorch quite easily. That flower stalk looks completely dead - if it is fully dry and woody, you can cut it off. When repotting (eventually), they like to be in a special orchid potting mix - typically bark or sphagnum moss. It helps to have them in a clear pot too! Make sure the pot has good drainage. Orchids quite like being a little bit squashed in their pot, so don’t panic if it looks cramped. Sorry this message is so long - I wish you the best of luck with your orchid! :)
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Just to add on to this—only water when the roots in the soil are silver, those aerial roots will generally always be that silver color. Also no ice cubes, just a good water when they’re ready in a really well draining pot. Like they said orchids grow on trees so they need to be able to breathe and not stay soggy wet.
3 likes Yes good point - thank you! :)
1 like Thank you so much! Could you tell me a bit more about fertilizing it? How diluted, recommended brands, etc. I appreciate the help!
1 like I use the baby bio orchid fertiliser - it should say the recommended dilution on the back :)
0 likes Awesome. Thanks a bunch!
1 likeThat one is in regular potting soil, so I'd recommend repotting it into a mix of bark and sphagnum moss as soon as you can. (Bark keeps plenty of air around the roots, and sphagnum helps retain moisture. Since this one is used to dense soil, it'll be used to wetter conditions and will want around 30% sphag to 70% bark. Keep the moss loose, there's no need to cram it in.) To repot, soak the roots in room temperature water for about 20 minutes to an hour (this helps make the roots flexible) and wash all of the soil off of them (regular potting soil can cause rot issues). Assess the roots for health, and trim off anything dead or rotting (healthy roots are firm if you press them. Dead roots are hollow and reveal a stringy center if you pull on them. Rotting roots look discolored, may smell, and may be squishy if pressed. [I'll add a comparison picture to help.]) Make sure the crown (where all the leaves meet) is above the bark mix so it won't get wet during watering. Always use room-temperature water (no ice cubes), get water directly on the roots, and dry the crown if you splash there. In most growing conditions, this kind of orchid will want water about once a week.
You’re a lifesaver. Thank you so much!
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