--- title: "This is one picky lil plant let me tell you. I have been attempting…" description: "This is one picky lil plant let me tell you. I have been attempting to be patient and let it run its cycle to repot but the root health and overall plant…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/Yi9ATXVxlZmOzx5f8i4sE7" community: "The Orchid Oasis" author: "Cubansungod" published: "2025-05-08T00:45:35.037855Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/9EBQD5ap5sBzF9yowWGAlSiC7NVFti8-y4_pWZN2qLM/Xkb2mi-tSrCTdRLrvnpYLg.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Orchid Oasis](https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ.md) # This is one picky lil plant let me tell you. I have been attempting… _Posted by Cubansungod on 2025-05-08_ This is one picky lil plant let me tell you. I have been attempting to be patient and let it run its cycle to repot but the root health and overall plant health has degraded. The stem started browning at the top now and lost two bottom leaves in a matter of two months. I trimmed the stem above the highest available closed node, and added moss around the top to attempt to hold more moisture. Repot me.com premium Phal mix is set to be delivered Friday and hopefully it will save her. Any tips to help with root rot and repotting a sick orchid? ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/9EBQD5ap5sBzF9yowWGAlSiC7NVFti8-y4_pWZN2qLM/Xkb2mi-tSrCTdRLrvnpYLg.webp?size=large) ## 13 comments ### Heather commented on 2025-05-08 If you struggle with root rot you might try growing it bare root. I have all my phals that way. I use 8” clear glass vases roughly half full of LECA and topped with a small amount of sphagnum moss. I keep the water in the LECA to help keep humidity up but just leave the plant sitting on top. ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/pnXnsRbEbVfHs29czNYzK4jB6BFd3BsI9bsKKyqia8I/OvmNYCM6TIeUryva2bQ0ZQ.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/pnXnsRbEbVfHs29czNYzK4jB6BFd3BsI9bsKKyqia8I/XmsX0x5bRKu13X_m2MPDyw.webp?size=large) #### KM replied on 2025-05-08 This is truly brilliant. #### Heather replied on 2025-05-08 I managed to save a plant last fall that literally lost every single root it had. I was sure it was a goner but daily misting and keeping it bare root has brought it back. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/pnXnsRbEbVfHs29czNYzK4jB6BFd3BsI9bsKKyqia8I/xXToEPpmQ1un8iaZYzDGYA.webp?size=large) #### Michelle’s Hobby replied on 2025-05-09 OMG! That is awesome! The roots look so healthy and happy. I’m going to try this. ### Christine commented on 2025-05-08 This sounds familiar! I rescued an orchid from the trash room about 2 years ago after someone threw it out post bloom. She had the browning stem and yellowing leaves too. I ended up snipping the stem all the way down to the base, cutting away the dead roots, and repotting her. Had to do that a couple of times to find the right pot size and mix. In hindsight, I should have used a clear plastic pot so I could see her roots 😩 Also played around with where to put her for lighting and used a humidifier at times. I thought she was a goner a few times and for many months she was just a few leaves and no stem. Then finally this past March she saved up enough energy to regrow her entire stem and 9 buds. And now she has finally bloomed 🥹 She is a beauty! Not saying you have to wait 2 years but I’m so happy I persevered. Good luck! #### Michelle’s Hobby replied on 2025-05-09 That is fabulous! I’m trying to save a “dead” orchid from Lowe’s hardware store and lost one leaf and another is on its way out. I’m going to try this method! ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/7FlsAL4AQMCPDdnexymdSA.webp?size=large) ### Michelle’s Hobby commented on 2025-05-11 Am still trying! Placed leca in the glass cleaned up the root stub with hydrogen peroxide water, put one drop of prop drops and am now praying. Think this will work? ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/K4ZJoKiVRaORmcOpzXLHWg.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/-HhdOD9MSXWWfMn7i4se1Q.webp?size=large) ### Michelle’s Hobby commented on 2025-05-11 I saw water in the crown so I took my blow dryer and it n warm dry it out. Then placed on top of leca where crown is not in water. Hopefully this will help. ![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/lipkqUL9S_iPH5Xzpr072g.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/7T0zWecERx2Nx7ohV3h1qg.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gtEimb4Ip4Yrouu_MVb5JeoLq5GwE8yKJVnuh6vE-Qs/nPvuHItbRk2bt6wQ3q2TIw.webp?size=large) ### Michelle’s Hobby commented on 2025-05-15 Well. She has a a goner! Thanks for the advice! #### Heather replied on 2025-05-15 Oh that sucks. I just saw your post and started to mention you don’t want it sitting in the water. I keep the water about 1 inch below the top of the leca as it is there to keep humidity levels up. I have sphagnum moss on the top of the leca and keep it damp but not soaked. I just mist the roots daily. It looked like you had good roots but your leaves were just too far gone. I’ve found you can come back from yellowed roots…but not yellowed leaves because the leaves are doing most of the work for the plant. #### Michelle’s Hobby replied on 2025-05-15 Thanks for your advice. I’m going to try orchids with leca. I just went to my nearest nursery and got 2 orchids. One is a mini. I put it in aroid soil and the other one will be my leca try. #### Heather replied on 2025-05-19 It’s funny you should mention a “mini”. My kids gave me one for Mother’s Day two years ago and it is the first photo I posted above. Mine certainly didn’t stay mini for long. 🤣 #### Michelle’s Hobby replied on 2025-05-20 That’s what I’m thinking! But it will be nice to watch it grow!! --- _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_