How to save an orchid? If you see alarming symptoms in your house plant, it is important to react quickly. A dried, leafless or broken flower can still be saved. Find out how.
How to save an orchid – what can go wrong in its cultivation?
An orchid, just like any other plant, has its requirements. In order for it to decorate your living room or bedroom beautifully, you need to keep it in the right light and temperature. It is especially worth paying attention to the lighting. The most common reason for an orchid’s failure to bloom is too little sunlight. Too strong, on the other hand, can burn its delicate leaves. Before you choose whether to put the plant on a windowsill or on a shelf away from the window, find out what type your orchid is. Some, such as Vanda, require good lighting while others, including Paphiopedilum, will be content with a little light falling through a north-facing window.
Another extremely important issue is appropriate watering of the plant. A common mistake is leaving the orchid with excess water, for example, in the pot stand. The orchid should be allowed to dry out. Otherwise water in the substrate will inevitably lead to root rot and thus to fungal diseases. Remember that the pot should have holes through which excess water will flow out. It is best to water the flower once every 10-14 days in the morning.
How to save an orchid without roots?
When an orchid is severely dried out or overwatered, it may be necessary to remove all shriveled or rotten roots. How to save an orchid in such a situation? If the leaves or aerial roots remain alive, there is a chance to salvage them. Resuscitation of an orchid without roots is a difficult task,which is not always successful, but it is possible.
First remove any remaining dead roots and sprinkle the stem with charcoal, which will help the wound healing process. Put the plant in a container with expanded clay, and put it in a bowl of water. Remember that this is a long process, as it takes up to 6 months for an orchid to rebuild its root system. Live air roots can also be planted by placing them in a pot. The resuscitated plant should be guaranteed increased humidity, constant but minimal watering or sprinkling. After about a month, the seeds of new roots should appear.
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A leafless orchid – how to save it?
The most difficult thing is to save an orchid without roots. However, if the root system is functional, there is a good chance that a leafless orchid can be resuscitated. Follow steps similar to those for a rootless orchid – transfer to a container lined with expanded clay and orchid substrate and moisten. However, if the plant, having lost all its leaves, has not left any living green elements, unfortunately, everything indicates that it is dead.
Dried out orchid
How to save a dried out orchid? In this case, the solution should be sought at the roots. A dried out root system makes it difficult to take up oxygen and other nutrients, which can lead to death. How to remedy this? The completely shriveled roots of the orchid should be removed.The plant also needs to be watered abundantly, pouring water directly into the substrate or putting the orchid in water for 15 minutes. Memorize, however, a pot with holes so that excess water can flow out freely. The roots of a dried out orchid are weakened, so take care of a suitable substrate with efficient drainage.
How to save a broken orchid?
Broken orchids are a common problem. It can happen as a result of many factors, for example, under the influence of a sudden gust of wind. However, breakage is not a reason to throw the plant away. You should react quickly, as long as the place where the shoot broke has not dried up, then all you have to do is wait until the next bloom. How to save a broken orchid? If the breakage occurred a while ago and the juices in the stem can still circulate, you can try to connect the broken stem to the plant with a patch. It is best to stiffen the area with a piece of stick. If there is a stem node below the break, the plant has a chance to sprout another shoot.
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Orchid diseases
An orchid can get sick even through improper care. Wrinkled leaves and roots that are soft to the touch are symptoms of overcrowding and rotting of the plant. Mildew visible in the substrate or near the roots may indicate overflow or insufficient ventilation of the roots inside the pot. Withered leaves, on the other hand, can indicate a lack of hydration, or overwatering. Brown edges on the leaves or unsightly spots most often speak of overexposure of the orchid to the sun, i.e. sunburn. Often, however, the culprits of orchid diseases turn out to be pests,such as thrips, spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects.
Thrips are barely visible, black insects that feed on two sides of an orchid’s leaves and bite them. They can be recognized by black spots and a white coating on the leaves, and are controlled with insecticides. Pinch borers, on the other hand, cause leaves to turn yellow and dry up. They resemble small spider mites that feed on the underside of the leaves. Woolworms, on the other hand, are a popular pest of the orchid, and can be recognized by white dross on the leaves. The grubs snatch at the plant to draw out its juices. They can be found on the leaves, as well as on the shoots, on which they may appear blisters that secrete a sticky substance.
The orchid is a flower that requires proper care, lighting conditions, temperature, substrate. However,the various shapes and colors of its beautiful flowers can compensate for all the efforts. Anyone who grows orchids in their home realizes that they can encounter problems in proper care. With the above tips, you will know how to save your orchid and save yourself from throwing it away.
