Recover a dried orchid | Gardening On

Recover a dried orchid

One of the plants that has become common in homes is the orchid. These one-, two-, or three-stem plants can easily be found in florists as well as supermarkets. The problem is that, sometimes, it can suffer and end up dying. But what do we tell you that you can retrieve a dried orchid?

Obviously, dry and dead are not the same. But many times we think that the orchid is no longer useful and we throw it away, when in fact with some care we can make it “resuscitate”. Do you want to know how we can do it?

How to tell if your orchid is dead or dry

How to know if an orchid is dead?

As we have told you before, one of the problems that many orchids that are dry end up in the garbage is because we do not notice the signs of the plant. Sometimes, what we think is dead, with a little care, can be revived. But, for this, there is three signs that can help you:

The orchid crown

One of the most important parts of an orchid is the crown. This is the part where the base connects with the leaves and there is a clear signal that can help you identify if it is alive, dry, or dead.

If you see that turns brown and is soggy and mushyApart from the fact that this has happened because the plant is rotten, you have to bear in mind that the plant has more problems to recover, especially since that rot is very easy to spread to other parts of the plant.

Now, if that crown does not look so bad, for example because the crown is green and chubby, or because it has not yet become brown or black, there is still hope.

The roots

One of the serious problems of orchids is the roots. These are very easy to end up rotting due to excess water, or because They are not transplanted frequently nor are diseased or dead roots removed. As it has less oxygen (by not transplanting it, the roots suffer much more).

If you see that these are soft and white, it is indicating that the plant is rotting due to the roots. And the problem is that, if they are like this, it is very, very difficult, if not impossible, that anything can be done to revive it.

Leaves

Finally we have the orchid leaves. As you know, when they go dormant, or when they hibernate, it is normal for them to lose their leaves. That does not mean that they are dead, far from it. But if you notice that falling leaves turn yellow or black before doing so, then yes it is a warning that the plant is sick and she needs you to treat her.

There is a solution, only if you catch it in time, of course.

What to do to recover a dried orchid

What to do to recover a dried orchid

A dry orchid does not mean a dead orchid. At least not until you have tried the different methods that exist to try to recover it. And what are those methods? Specifically, there are two to do it:

If it is the roots that are dry

When it comes to recovering a dried orchid, there are several parts of it that can have the problem. One of the most common are the roots. You will notice that they are dry if you see that they turn gray very fast. If so, your orchid is telling you that it is thirsty.

As at that time the water, due to the substrate that is so draining, may not be enough, the best thing you can do is take a basin of water, fill it and put the orchid inside for about 10-20 minutes, no more.

Afterwards, you should let it drain quite well and observe it in the following days to see if the plant reacts or if the roots are turning white and soft or even black.

Another problem may be that the roots are not the only ones that are dry, but that the leaves and the stem are also affected. If that happens, and you notice that the roots are rather rotten, it’s time to do something that may not sound good to you: cut the roots that are not well and put it in a clean pot with new substrate.

If the orchid has no roots

There are times when the orchid has suffered, usually from overwatering, and that causes the roots to rot. But by no means does it mean that she is dead. At least not until you try this technique to recover a dried orchid.

It is true that a rootless orchid is inevitably a dead plant. But you can save yourself with a quick fix. Which one is that? Then put the orchid in a hydric culture. That is, put the orchid in a pot without any type of substrate but with a bottom of water. What it is about is that the humidity causes new roots to form.

Of course, the orchid should not be in contact with water, it is preferable to use something that prevents contact but maintains humidity, such as cotton from an aquarium, wadding, etc. Have a little patience and see if it grows roots.

If it does, wait longer for them to be strong before transplanting it into a pot with substrate.

Treating a dried orchid

dried orchid flowers

In this case, if the orchid is dry and you have already watered it abundantly, it is important that you carry out a series of steps to get it back. Specific:

  • Cut the leaves and stems that you see completely dry. They are actually useless already and only annoy the plant.
  • Cut the roots that you see completely white and dry. They will not recover again so cut them off. Of course, if you see that the tips are green, leave them because there is still hope.
  • Give it humidity conditions similar to its surroundings. That is, spray water on the leaves, do not expose it to direct sunlight, and check that the temperature does not drop below 25 degrees.

Now that you know what you have to look for and what are the steps to recover a dried orchid, surely if you ever face this problem before throwing it away you will try one last effort. Has it ever happened to you? Did you know and have you tried? Which have been the results? Tell us about your case.

Recover a dried orchid | Gardening On

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