Dealing With Common Orchid Problems

Orchid Diseases Remove these damaged roots and reduce waterings – orchids should never be in standing water. Instead, increase humidity by raising them above the water level with small stones. Leaf spots and blights – Many fungal leaf spots and blights can be treated with neem oil.

How do you bring an orchid plant back to life?

Step 1: Materials. In addition to your devastated orchid, you'll need: ...
Step 2: Wash Orchid. First, take your poor Medusa rooted orchid remnants out the pot or planter it's in, and give it a good fresh water rinse. ...
Step 3: Trim Away Dead Roots. ...
Step 4: Rinse Again. ...
Step 5: Repot. ...
Step 6: Watch It Grow - Again!

How do you treat a sick orchid?

Treating orchid diseases of the roots requires removal of the plant from its medium and using a sterile knife to cut off infected material. Then use a fungicide to drench the roots and clean the growing area with a 10% bleach solution. If enough roots survived, the plant may regain its health.

Why are my orchid flowers wilting and falling off?

Orchid blooms falling off before they blossom is called bud drop. The American Orchid Society says many things can cause bud drop, including: Under- or over-watering. Too much temperature variation or rapid temperature changes (look for drafts or heating vents or air conditioning blowing directly on the plant).

What to do with an orchid that has stopped blooming?

When your orchid stops blooming, begin fertilizing it every other week with a balanced houseplant fertilizer (20-20-20) mixed at half strength. Fertilizing your orchid will ensure it's getting all of the nutrients it needs to rebloom.

What does an overwatered orchid look like?

If roots are overwatered they will look like mush and have very little substance. Orchid roots are generally only bright green right after they have been watered and will turn silvery-green after a few days. If they are still bright green and you haven't watered recently, they may be getting too much water.

How do you not kill an orchid?

8 Ways to Kill Your Orchid

Water it every day. ...
Establish a watering schedule for your orchid. ...
Water your orchid whenever you water your other plants. ...
Water your Phalaenopsis orchid with ice cubes. ...
Find out where your orchid is native to and water it when the Weather Channel says it's raining there.

How do you know if your orchid is dying?

1) Crown and roots: If the crown--the part of the plant that connects the leaves and the roots--is brown and mushy (this can occur from too much water), the orchid is likely dead. However, a healthy, resting orchid has roots that are green or white and plump or firm to the touch.

How often should orchids be watered?

So how do you water orchids? The easiest way is to soak your orchid in a bowl of water once every week or two --- when the moss dries out. Unlike most houseplants, you don't need to keep orchid moss evenly moist; if it stays too moist, the orchid can rot.

How long does it take for an orchid to rebloom?

Phalaenopsis are among the few orchids that will rebloom in home conditions. The spike should be cut between the scar that's left by the first flower and the last node (that little lump) on the stem. One of the lower nodes will then initiate and produce flowers within eight to 12 weeks.

Is it normal for an orchid to lose its flowers?

In most cases, this is a normal part of the Phalaenopsis orchid lifecycle. The fallen blooms merely signal that your orchid has reached the end of its blooming cycle and it's now storing up energy to rebloom. However, sometimes bloom loss can be indicative of a bigger problem in the health of your orchid.

Should I remove wilted orchid leaves?

Ideally the foliage should appear firm and medium green in color. If a leaf is wilted, becomes yellow or is heavily blemished, it should be removed from the plant.

Will wilted orchid flowers come back?

Though the blooms may have fallen off, your orchid probably isn't dead. In fact, it's likely entering into a new phase of a perfectly healthy lifestyle. Just as trees shed brown leaves come winter—only to sprout new, green life in the spring—your orchid can bloom again with the proper coaxing.

How do you keep orchids blooming?

Choose a bright window or put the plant under grow lights and continue to water it regularly, but stop fertilizing. If you've done a good job caring for your plant and fertilizing it regularly throughout the growing season, your orchid should develop new flower spikes in early winter.

What is the best way to care for orchids?

Here are the main requirements for proper orchid care

Most orchids require water once a week. ...
Position your orchid in a bright windowsill facing east or west.
Weekly feeding with a fertilizer designed for orchids.
Repotting in fresh orchid mix when your orchid stops blooming.

Will orchids grow new stems?

However, of all the orchid species only Phalaenopsis will grow shoots off the same stem when the stem is cut above a nod or eye. ... This does happen, but after you cut the stem all the way back the plant should produce another shoot from its base. Be patient, as it can take several months to see this new growth.

How do you tell if I am overwatering my orchid?

What are the signs of an overwatered orchid? Pleated, soft, yellow leaves are a sign of overwatering. Your orchid may also suffer bud blast (all of the buds fall off before they open). When examined out of the pot, orchid roots may be soggy, mushy and black.

Do orchids like to be misted?

Misting gives the orchid more humidity but does not create a soggy root environment. It is best to put your orchid where it will receive medium indirect sunlight. ... To ensure bright blooms and a healthy plant, use a potting mixture and a fertilizer that is specifically designed for orchids.

How do you revive an overwatered orchid?

Cut off all the dead or damaged roots. Drench the roots with a liquid rooting hormone like Dip 'n Grow. Let this liquid hormone dry on the roots for about an hour, then repot the orchid in fresh potting material that has been predampened. Don't water for a day.

How did I kill my orchid?

The easiest and fastest way to kill most orchids is to grow them too wet. Keep the pot sitting in water, and you will have a rotten plant before long. When in doubt, don't water; always use pots that have drainage holes; and use a potting mix designed for orchids. 3.

Is tap water OK for orchids?

Orchids are a wildly popular flowering plant, belonging to the Orchidaceae family. ... Most chlorinated tap water can be used as long as the chlorine isn't excessive; however, watering orchids with collected rain or distilled water from the store is best.

Do orchids die easily?

Just like any plant, an orchid can wilt. They can wilt for a wide variety of reasons. It can be a lack of water, lack of fertilizer, lack of light or other factors. Overwatering can cause plants to wilt and die.