The orchid is a tropical plant that likes heat and humidity. Therefore, it needs regular watering, especially during its growth phase. When it lacks water, the orchid dries up, its petals fall off and its roots take on a gray color. If you forgot to water your orchid, to the point that it dries up, don’t panic! you can still save her. Find out how to revive a dry and wilting orchid.
The orchid is a floriferous plant that can be grown very well indoors, as long as you provide it with the necessary conditions for its correct development. With poor maintenance, your plant can dry out and die. However, you can save it to bloom again.
Read also: How to propagate an orchid from a leaf?
How to revive a dried orchid?
Here are the steps to save your withered orchid:
- cut the stem
When the orchid becomes dehydrated, its flowers fall and its stems dry out. The flower stem is a rigid stem on which the flowers develop. You can also carry up to 20 flowers.
The first aid you can give your plant is to remove the wilted flowers and let it rest. To stimulate the flowering of a dried orchid, it must be pruned. To do this, count 2 buds from the base of your plant and cut the dry stem 1 cm from the 3rd bud .
- Take care of the roots
If your orchid’s roots are white or black, remove them with pruning shears to avoid contaminating the rest of the roots. Also remember to remove dead roots. Press your fingers on the roots, if some are soft, it means they are dead and therefore should be pruned. You only keep the aerial roots which are always useful.
- Transplant
Once you have gotten rid of the dehydrated roots, stems and petals of your plant, you must transplant it to change the substrate. In fact, when they say new substrate, they mean a new supply of essential nutrients to help your plant bloom again.
To transplant your orchid, do not use a standard substrate. Your orchid needs a substrate rich in, among other things, clay balls, sphagnum, coconut fibers and charcoal, and pine bark. Also consider choosing a transparent plastic pot to constantly check the condition of the orchid’s roots. The transplant can be done every 2 or 3 years.
Then, you will have to provide your orchid with the necessary conditions for its correct development.
- Exhibition
Place your pot in a bright place, but without your plant being exposed to direct sunlight that could dry out its foliage.
- Temperature
Keep your pot at a temperature between 18°C and 25°C. Also, keep your pot away from drafts. The orchid certainly likes heat, but it does not like humidity, so keep your plant away from radiators or any heating equipment. In fact, the radiator dries the surrounding air and therefore your orchid will need more water in this case.
- Irrigation
While your orchid’s roots can dry out and die from dehydration, too much water can cause them to rot .
To water your plant, remove the pot and soak the plant in a container of water for 10 minutes. Then remove the pot from the container, let it drain, and replace the pot lid. This technique will allow you to hydrate the roots, but also the root ball. Use room temperature water for watering, as hot or very cold water could damage the orchid’s roots. You can also use a liquid fertilizer in the irrigation water once a month but without excess. During warm periods, you can mist your orchid’s foliage, but make sure your plant dries well afterwards. This is because water can pool on your plant and cause it to rot.
- Orchid diseases
When orchid growing conditions are not suitable, your plant can develop certain diseases. Then we may notice that gray rot forms on its flowers, or black spots that cover the plant. In this case, it is necessary to remove damaged parts of the plant to avoid the risk of contamination.
Respecting these conditions, your dried orchid will be able to develop new stems, with flower buds at their ends, which will then give you beautiful flowers.