Orchids are a versatile plant. They can grow almost everywhere from soil to woods, deserts, swamps, beaches and even underwater. However, they are quite sensitive, so extra care is very much needed. It’s nearly impossible to bring your orchid to life, when there’s a strong indication of damage or a positive sign of dying. But you must be optimistic and determined to help save your plant and allow it to grow and bloom beautiful flowers.
Signs that your orchid is in trouble
The first indication that your plant is dying varies. If the color has changed into more brown, edges are crinkled, leaves have fallen or stems stopped blooming, it’s certainly a dying orchid. At this point, you can still do something to recover it.
However, if the part of the plant that connects both the roots and the leaves is mushy, the orchid is already dead. You have to discard it immediately and just get a new plant of the same species but you need to be more careful for the next one.
To prevent the problem to get to this point you must prevent such problems, including minor ones, everyday. Sometimes, you see the stem’s color has changed and turns into brown. This signifies that there are no more flower buds. This is when you need to cut off the brown flower spike, usually an inch from the base, and let the plant recover over a short period of time.
Leaves often become brown, which is an obvious sign of damage that needs to be pruned. Check other colors also. If they are dark green, there’s not enough light so you must ensure to place it where it can receive enough sunlight during the day.
The leaves may become white if they get too much light, which is also an issue as the plant can eventually die and turn black. Yellow leaves are not a problem but rather a mark of a new growth of leaf to replace a mature leaf. Make sure to water regularly so the leaves won’t become dull or limp.
Orchids are beautiful, so no matter how difficult it may get to take care for them, people will always want to have them in their home. They bloom colorful and pretty flowers. Orchids have a cycle in flower production, but it’s also possible to suffer from premature loss of the bloom. In most cases, this happens when the temperature changes, usually lower. It is also a result of too much dryness in the plant or some problems in the roots.
How to revive an orchid
1. Keep it hydrated
The basic and most important step on how to revive an orchid is to water it. Make sure that it doesn’t get dehydrated. Make sure to use lukewarm water since this plant somehow relies on a little humidity. Start pouring water from the top and let the water drain through the bottom.
Normally, the orchid needs to be watered every four days so it can dry out just a bit before the next time you water it. Do this for a couple of weeks, then you can continue to water it just once a week.
2. Repot
Transferring your orchid to a larger pot with additional new and fresh soil and fertilizer is also one solution. As a matter of fact, your orchid should be regularly repotted after it has been drench-watered to enhance the roots to become more pliable, which subsequently reduce the risk of damage.
3. Move to partial sunlight
Make sure your orchid gets enough sunlight (it doesn’t have to be direct sunlight). It’s ok to place it in an area where it can receive direct sunlight early in the morning or late afternoon. Regardless, 10 to 15 hours sun exposure is what it needs.
4. Add some fertilizer
This is a plant that should be fertilized once a week after it has been watered. It’s essential to pour the solution as slow as possible to avoid over feeding the plant which can possibly result in damage and dying.
5. Cut off the damaged parts
Always trim the leaves, roots or other parts of your orchid that are already damaged. Like other plants, this restores it with a new and much healthier growth. Go back again to the list of signs of damage as mentioned above if needed.
Follow these steps and give your orchid the best chance. Good luck!
