The orchid is a tropical plant that likes warmth and humidity. It therefore needs to be watered regularly, especially during the growth phase. If there is a lack of water, the orchid dries up, its petals fall off and its roots take on a gray color. If you forget to water your orchid to the point where it becomes dry, don’t panic! you can always save them. Find out how to revive a dry and wilted orchid.

The orchid is a flowering plant that can be grown very well indoors, provided you provide it with the necessary conditions for its proper development. If poorly cared for, your plant may dry out and die. However, you can save it to bloom again.

How to revive a dry orchid?

Here are the steps to save your wilted orchid:

• Cut off the stem

If the orchid is dehydrated, its flowers will fall off and its stems will dry up.  The flower stalk is a rigid stem on which the flowers develop.   It can also carry up to 20 flowers.

The first help you can give your plant is to   remove its spent flowers and let them rest.   To stimulate the flowering of a dried orchid, it needs to be pruned. To do this, count 2 buds from the base of your plant and cut the dried 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 the roots with your fingers,   if some are soft it means they have died and therefore should be pruned.  They only retain the aerial roots, which are always useful.

• Repotting

After cleaning your plant of dehydrated roots, stems and petals, you need to repot it to change the substrate. In fact,   who says new substrate says a new supply of essential nutrients to help your plant bloom again.

Do not use a standard substrate to repot your orchid. Your orchid needs a substrate rich in clay balls, peat moss, coconut fiber and charcoal, and pine bark, among other things. Also consider choosing a clear plastic pot to constantly check the condition of the orchid’s roots. Repotting can be done every 2 or 3 years.

Then you need to give your orchid the conditions necessary for its proper development.

• exposure

Place your pot in a bright location without your plant being exposed to direct sunlight, which 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. While the orchid loves warmth, it doesn’t like humidity, so keep your plant away from radiators or other heating devices. In fact,   the radiator dries the surrounding air and therefore your orchid needs more water in this case.

• irrigation

While your orchid’s roots can dry out and die due to dehydration,   too much water can cause them to rot  .

To water your plant, remove the flower pot and soak the plant in a basin of water for 10 minutes. Then take the pot out of the basin, let it drain and put the pot lid back on. With this technique you can moisturize 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 add a liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water once a month, but without excess. During hot periods you can mist your orchid’s foliage, but make sure your plant dries well afterwards. This is because   water can build up in your plant and cause it to rot.

• Orchid diseases

If the growing conditions are not suitable for orchids, your plant may develop certain diseases. We may then notice gray rot on the flowers or black spots covering the plant. In this case   , it is necessary to remove the damaged parts of the system to avoid any risk of contamination.

If you respect these conditions, your dried orchid can develop new stems with flower buds at their ends that will give you beautiful flowers later.