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First time getting an orchid. Is it normal for them to bloom then… | Anything about plants | Comunidad de Planta

J.V

First time getting an orchid. Is it normal for them to bloom then fall off?

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  1. Dani

    Yes. 100% normal after blooming. Since it is your first orchid- Here are some tips: Common mistakes: 1) Overwatering: This is the #1 killer. If you’ve never heard this defined, “overwatering” is the frequency and not letting plants dry out in between, and not the amount that you watered them that one time. If the roots stay soggy, and sit in water for a long time, though - they will rot. You want your orchid roots to be green. Orchids grow up trees in the wild and so they’re not used to sitting in stagnant water. 2) The "Ice Cube" Myth: Putting ice cubes on a tropical plant will shock the roots. It is also not even enough water. 3) Wrong Potting Mix: Using any standard potting soil will suffocate the roots and it is likely packed too tight. They need a good chunky orchid bark or sphagnum moss mix to allow air circulation. Hopefully wherever you got it did this. If not, you might want to look at taking it completely out of that pot and redoing the soil mixture. 4) Too Little Light: Placing an orchid far from a window often prevents it from having the energy to rebloom. You could have a nice healthy plant with green leaves for a long time but no blooms. Tips for success: Put it right in front of a window. If the roots are green, they're hydrated; if they are silvery or gray, it's time to water. Take the plastic inner pot (if you have one - otherwise you may want to look into doing this inside of a decorative pot. They also make some pretty cute ceramic pots with holes in them so that you could specifically see a clear, orchid pot through it) to the sink, run room-temperature water through it for a minute, and let it drain completely before putting it back in its decorative pot. Orchids do love that moisture in the air. That depends on the humidity of your area too.

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    • J.V

      Thank you I will try these tips :)

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  2. Dot2462

    Dani, thank you for the orchid 101, seriously. You make me believe even I can grow one.

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    • Dani

      You can!

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  3. Dot2462

    Maybe, we’ll see.

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  4. SuccySuccy

    I’ve seen people have a lot of success just growing in water!

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  5. Maya

    Has anyone had to trim their roots? I cleaned mine and it only has 1 root which is an aerial root (really it’s just growing upward) I’m not sure how to save it

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    • Dani

      The aerial root will turn bright green when hydrated and silvery-white when dry. If the tip stays green, it is actively growing. If you can save the one remaining aerial root, hopefully you can turn it around from critical care to thriving again. You’ll want you mist the root daily, keep it humid however you best can, a pot with damp sphagnum moss, or even a plastic bag if you’re desperate, but don’t put a plant in this particular situation in sitting water, nor bury it in soil yet. If you can get it back to 3 or more roots that are at least 2–3 inches long, it is strong enough to be moved back into a potting setup (think clear plastic pot with chunky orchid bark mix (some sphagnum moss, fir bark, charcoal, and perlite)). Soak the roots approximately 15 mins. in tepid water, cut any remaining mushy, black, dead parts off and sprinkle cinnamon on the cuts to prevent fungus. Bury the orchid roots in the soil mixture just up to the top base of the leaves (the crown) should sit slightly above the soil to prevent crown rot. Deny it water a few days so cuts callus over. Then water as normal when your roots are silvery. Good luck!

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