--- title: "Still trying to save this orchid I purchased from Lowe’s hardware…" description: "Still trying to save this orchid I purchased from Lowe’s hardware store that was half “dead”. See Lavender pot in my plant page. I just saw someone using leca…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/SKzy6yWZlRuIP0AOZWOFMM" community: "The Orchid Oasis" author: "Michelle’s Hobby" published: "2025-05-09T07:40:04.381567Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/KeI_b_cdT32OwQOfPs-kmg.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Orchid Oasis](https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ.md) # Still trying to save this orchid I purchased from Lowe’s hardware… _Posted by Michelle’s Hobby on 2025-05-09_ Still trying to save this orchid I purchased from Lowe’s hardware store that was half “dead”. See Lavender pot in my plant page. I just saw someone using leca and clear pot with their orchid. I’ve ordered the leca. I just put plant in glass cup and cut off the bad roots placed 2 drops of prop drops. Any suggestions on helping me make it happy and healthy again? ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/KeI_b_cdT32OwQOfPs-kmg.webp?size=large) ## 10 comments ### Jen commented on 2025-05-09 Is it submerged in water? I would get it out of there immediately. You are not only risking root rot- but stem rot. Two weeks ago you said you repotted into orchid mix. Ideally- you’d just have to be patient and wait for new roots to grow. The leaves won’t rehydrate overnight, and may look bad until you get 1) new roots, then 2) the plant gets enough strength to grow a new leaf. It’s a long recovery process. Right now based on that photo it looks like you already have an infection. (Maybe starting from the roots that travelled into the stem, since that lower leaf looks like it yellowed from the base, not from the tip.) Hard to tell the progression from one photo- but ADDING moisture is not helpful in this instance. If you can, add a photo to the comments showing a close up of the base, where the yellow leaf meets the axis. Is it soft tissue there? Are the remaining roots firm or mushy? #### K. Alexandra replied on 2025-05-09 Orchids can grow in water. Every time one of my orchids get sick or isn’t doing too well, I put them in water. I’ve attached an image of one of my orchids that I revived because it was sick like the one above. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/0bEdgqVtogSAhoBxI9tCe23YZPiaxYxHS_Mi5p-nQZc/IHXgYhltTEGa-kAJebK9hg.webp?size=large) #### K. Alexandra replied on 2025-05-09 Here’s the bottom picture of the blooms. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/0bEdgqVtogSAhoBxI9tCe23YZPiaxYxHS_Mi5p-nQZc/Nw1xM2VBTwCj8ljguIk6cw.webp?size=large) #### Michelle’s Hobby replied on 2025-05-11 Beautiful! ### K. Alexandra commented on 2025-05-09 Rehabilitating it in water is fine but don’t completely submerge it. I’ve attached some images in another comment. Just let the roots touch, or hover over the water, and mist the leaves. Don’t put the leaves in water. ### Jen commented on 2025-05-10 I understand that some people have had good results in water culture. Other people end up rotting their roots, developing infections that travel into the stem, and kill the orchid. I’m just expressing my experience and opinion that for me- it’s not worth the risk. Orchids are epiphytic. In nature, these plants grow on trees, their roots have evolved to need air as much as they need water. They are not aquatic. So I understand that you can acclimate them to water culture, but long term, for me, the risk of rotting is just too high. ### Amy commented on 2025-05-10 What about placing the plant on a bed of moist sphagnum moss to provide moisture but to keep the stem from being submerged? ### Michelle’s Hobby commented on 2025-05-11 Well I believe it is too late. Looks like a goner today. Thanks for the advice. I won’t use water without roots again. I didn’t put the leaves in the water, just high on the root-line. Here is today’s picture. ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/4ZTrCdnFT2a-VHt0XM6ywA.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/fVhRmmwoSFOB6bykNfvLsg.webp?size=large) #### Michelle’s Hobby replied on 2025-05-11 P.s. this glass has lines on it. That top one is the line not water ### Michelle’s Hobby commented on 2025-05-11 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/TXm9WPjPSfqK-T74UVWk5A.webp?size=large) --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_