--- title: "could someone help me please, my mom has had this orchid for 2 years,…" description: "could someone help me please, my mom has had this orchid for 2 years, it’s been alive and thriving for all of this time. it is also planted next to a bonsai…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/v3L2WmVSSwGeoTqEIqFw2Q" community: "The Orchid Oasis" author: "victoria" published: "2024-04-17T23:07:37.509823Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/F8IkM_QnqMWAqekjuTPHKqgQHzHYGcLEq-pk5kohCSs/3oc5BewnSxqkviqFiy8OVA.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Orchid Oasis](https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ.md) # could someone help me please, my mom has had this orchid for 2 years,… _Posted by victoria on 2024-04-17_ could someone help me please, my mom has had this orchid for 2 years, it’s been alive and thriving for all of this time. it is also planted next to a bonsai and an olive tree indoors by the window. they all started dying at the same time about the month ago. (right when we started using ac) i’m trying to figure out how to bring this plant back to life if it’s possible. she’s never given it fertilizer either. it is also right above of a vent ![Attachment 1 of 6](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/F8IkM_QnqMWAqekjuTPHKqgQHzHYGcLEq-pk5kohCSs/3oc5BewnSxqkviqFiy8OVA.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 6](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/F8IkM_QnqMWAqekjuTPHKqgQHzHYGcLEq-pk5kohCSs/T5vDrK30TsW9fDA-V7Mo8g.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 6](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/F8IkM_QnqMWAqekjuTPHKqgQHzHYGcLEq-pk5kohCSs/Z_kW4FwHSYCsaCnX_RHWnw.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 4 of 6](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/F8IkM_QnqMWAqekjuTPHKqgQHzHYGcLEq-pk5kohCSs/yWgFjfIkQSe9-5Jacpqf1A.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 5 of 6](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/F8IkM_QnqMWAqekjuTPHKqgQHzHYGcLEq-pk5kohCSs/3K__CROXTD-ULZQOq5hzfQ.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 6 of 6](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/F8IkM_QnqMWAqekjuTPHKqgQHzHYGcLEq-pk5kohCSs/qrf2A2VdTa6Kkv4p3WsyJA.webp?size=large) ## 9 comments ### Roman commented on 2024-04-17 Are the roots mushy? If so it could be root rot. I would move it from above the vent first though. #### victoria replied on 2024-04-17 thank you. my only concern is it’s always been over the vent and nothing has happened until now. is there a solution to root rot? #### Jayden McRoy replied on 2024-04-19 You \*must\* repot them in fresh bark medium and remove all of the roots that are mushy/papery and leave just a string behind. ### Jen commented on 2024-04-18 It looks as though it’s never been repotted from its original nursery set up. I don’t think this has to do with the vent as the table is pretty much blocking direct drafts. Your orchid isn’t dying, it just looks dehydrated. It looks like it has lost a lot of roots. I would repot into a clear plastic pot with lots of ventilation holes, using fresh orchid bark/sphagnum moss mix, and trimming away all those roots that feel either mushy or flat and papery. Both are dead and will just spoil the new medium. Cut the flower spikes down to the base as well to give your orchid its best chance of recovery. You have a beautiful new leaf trying to grow there- you just need to get it stabilized and it will slowly get stronger. #### LaRosa replied on 2024-04-18 Second this!!! Those mushy/dry and papery thin roots gotta get chopped!!! ### Jen commented on 2024-04-18 Ventilated orchid pot for reference ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/yzTKthJiLOlCUPKH-vsQ5NzOhcFfTrb-kTRTwJ_ViN0/9ZVfqiljT7GOTeeEC83nEw.webp?size=large) #### S.R replied on 2024-04-18 Do you have a preferred orchid mix that you use? Or mix your own? I’ve always used the miracle grow orchid mix for mine, but it doesn’t have sphagnum moss and the more I learn the more I think it’s not the best …. Last couple times I’ve used it I think to myself it’s not chunky enough. Would appreciate your opinion! #### Jen replied on 2024-04-19 I have used a couple of different brands that were just ok and seemed to break down pretty quickly. I tried the mixes at repotme dot com (planta won’t let us post links,) and I really really like the quality. They seem to last much longer without becoming acidic. They have specific ones for phals and cattleyas, and mixes for plants that need smaller bark pieces like oncidiums and terrestrials like paphiopedilums. The mixes for your type are a great place to start, then pay attention to how your plant acts in your environment. I noticed my cattleyas just needed too frequent watering, so the next time I repotted one I added some more moss for water retainment. ### Jen commented on 2024-04-18 One of my vents for reference. (Usually the plant stands are touching, but I moved it slightly so you can see the vent. As long as heat or ac is not blowing directly on my orchids, I don’t really have issues with it- certainly nothing to cause what you have going on with your roots. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/yzTKthJiLOlCUPKH-vsQ5NzOhcFfTrb-kTRTwJ_ViN0/kI8j-QTFSiC79-RAapXCzA.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_