--- title: "Hey everyone, happy Sunday! A few weeks ago I posted a question about…" description: "Hey everyone, happy Sunday! A few weeks ago I posted a question about my moth orchid, it was looking unhealthy and leathery and the roots were mostly dead. I…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/VGlnJSjYQLG4zMInKpr3zA" community: "The Orchid Oasis" author: "CandyTC🪷" published: "2024-02-24T19:44:50.930959Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z8fhSGQ8CX4oXY39dVWUEGYaaQK6A80dFzKaQMKize8/-8Qybx8dQjGL9GrB3LjgrA.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Orchid Oasis](https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ.md) # Hey everyone, happy Sunday! A few weeks ago I posted a question about… _Posted by CandyTC🪷 on 2024-02-24_ Hey everyone, happy Sunday! A few weeks ago I posted a question about my moth orchid, it was looking unhealthy and leathery and the roots were mostly dead. I asked if it was worth saving and a few of you said yes, and recommended that I keep the remaining part of the plant out of water for a few weeks, dip it in water a few mins here and there, and see if new roots appear before I repot. It’s been a few weeks, the leaves are still intact and there are 2 little nubs coming out. Are these new roots? I’ve never repotted or tried to revive an orchid before. Is it ok to repot now or wait longer? Thank you 😊 ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z8fhSGQ8CX4oXY39dVWUEGYaaQK6A80dFzKaQMKize8/-8Qybx8dQjGL9GrB3LjgrA.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z8fhSGQ8CX4oXY39dVWUEGYaaQK6A80dFzKaQMKize8/L_eFKwZIT_2YEYV3RAPZ6g.webp?size=large) ## 12 comments ### Jen commented on 2024-02-24 I would still give it a little more time before repotting. In the meantime- you may want to remove the bottom section of the axis. (Below the line I drew.) it’s older and looks dead. When you repot, it’ll be under the medium and chances are, it will rot in that moist environment. You run the risk of infection traveling upwards to the healthy plant, and having stem rot. Cut in small sections from the bottom, cut off the dead portions, just don’t cut into green healthy tissue. I put an arrow pointing to the bottom of a leaf that came off. I would gently remove that from the stem. It’s just going to dry out and fall off eventually, and if there are more roots getting ready to come out, it’s just going to make it harder for them to bust through. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/yzTKthJiLOlCUPKH-vsQ5NzOhcFfTrb-kTRTwJ_ViN0/RDPulc9kTLuH46kLjMNyOA.webp?size=large) #### CandyTC🪷 replied on 2024-02-25 This is awesome, thank you for making it so easy and clear where to cut off. I appreciate it!! 🙏 #### Jen replied on 2024-02-25 You can start a little lower, just to make sure you are cutting into dead tissue- but my guess is that you’ll end up about there. Let us know how it goes! Good luck! ### CandyTC🪷 commented on 2024-02-25 I started cutting away at the bottom, very slowly and I think I see some green underneath, I was careful not to nip any of the green part. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z8fhSGQ8CX4oXY39dVWUEGYaaQK6A80dFzKaQMKize8/CWq0AZZyQ--rwM-mB5b1TA.webp?size=large) ### CandyTC🪷 commented on 2024-02-25 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z8fhSGQ8CX4oXY39dVWUEGYaaQK6A80dFzKaQMKize8/kLhqJvKZSNqdWqlF_O2i2w.webp?size=large) ### Jen commented on 2024-02-26 That’s so much better. You’ll run less risk of stem rot without a big hunk of it sitting in wet media all the time. When you are ready to repot, I would definitely do a mix of sphagnum moss and chunky bark to keep a decent amount of moisture for the developing roots, but still allow lots of air around them. #### CandyTC🪷 replied on 2024-02-26 Yay I’m glad there’s improvement. How do I know its ready to repot? Thank you!! ### Jen commented on 2024-02-26 You could repot now, and hope for more roots to sprout, and for the existing ones to branch. I would suggest going with a heavy amount of sphagnum moss in with your bark mix, (as long as it’s not packed in super tightly- you want it airy, fluffy, and light) to encourage those delicate root tips. If you go straight into full bark, you’ll just have to keep a good watch on hydration so they don’t get super dried out in a new medium. #### CandyTC🪷 replied on 2024-02-27 thank you 😊 all this has been super helpful ### CandyTC🪷 commented on 2025-02-18 Blooms alert ‼️ I’m so excited to share that after almost a year my orchid has flowers again. It was my first attempt at reviving what I thought was a dead orchid, but with this group’s helpful advice, she’s blooming again!! ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z8fhSGQ8CX4oXY39dVWUEGYaaQK6A80dFzKaQMKize8/1q2cy1NLTaevEN5Jv6kW9g.webp?size=large) #### CandyTC🪷 replied on 2025-08-06 thank you ☺️ ### Robert commented on 2026-01-14 Nice work --- _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_