Q&A for How to Revive an Orchid Plant

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How do you care for orchids?

Monique Capanelli
Plant Specialist
Monique Capanelli is a Plant Specialist and the Owner and Designer for Articulture Designs, an innovative design firm and boutique in Austin, Texas. With over 15 years of experience, Monique specializes in interior botanical design, living walls, event decor, and sustainable landscape design. She attended the University of Texas at Austin. Monique is a Certified Permaculture Designer. She provides plant and botanical design experiences, from small gifts to entire transformations, to shoppers as well as commercial clients including Whole Foods Market and The Four Seasons.

Monique Capanelli

Plant Specialist

Expert Answer

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I have a plant with no leaves and no roots can it still be saved?

wikiHow Staff Editor
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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Unfortunately not. If the roots are damaged, the plant will most likely die.

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Question

Should "air roots" be put into the planting soil when being transplanted, or trimmed off?

Community Answer

No, don't cut them off. When you transplant your orchid, try to replicate how the plant looked in the old container. Make sure all the air roots are out of the soil. Apparently the plant takes in some nutrients from the air as well as the soil. I use an orchid liquid fertilizer once a month (diluted in water, instructions are on the bottle). They also don't need that much soil/orchid compost. The main thing to do, though, is not over water them. Mine are happy when I have plunged them into sink full of water, flower pot and all, when they get dry.

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Question

My orchid has died, except for the leaves. They are thriving, but the flowers fell off and the stem is the color of bamboo and has crippled up, is hard and crunchy. What do I do?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

Cut back the dead stem, then check the base for good aeration and a good potting mix. Repot if needed, then lightly fertilize and wait.

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Question

My outside orchids are mostly without flower. What can I do?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

Check their conditions. Are their bases overcrowded? Do they need to be repotted? Are they getting regular moisture? Is their ambient temperature above 60 F and below 100F? Do they get enough light?

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Question

Would an orchid plant with no leaves and just a stem still be able to be saved?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

Yes. Just don't expect it to be in anything less than 9-12 months. I routinely cruise the sale racks at big box stores for post flowering orchid plants that I then take home, repot, and benignly "ignore," other than to add water every so often If the warmth and lighting requirements are met, the plant will (very slowly) add leaves from the center whorl and eventually put out another flowering stalk (in a year or so).

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Question

I have a plant with no main stem, it was broken in a fall and smashed. How do I get it to flower again?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

Make sure the bottom of the plant is happy, with good aeration, good soil, and a bit of fertilizer. Then wait. Orchids grow very slowly, so it may be a month or more before you see a new stem developing.

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Question

I bought my orchid with flowers from the nursery. I want to change the potting mix to a more suitable one. Is advise able to do so now?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

No. Wait til the flowers dry up and fall off first. Then trim the floral stalk and repot.

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Question

If the plant is older and has very long roots, can they be cut?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

I would not recommend it. Those roots are "air roots" and they pull in nutrients from the air. You would be removing some of the plant's source of nutrition if you cut them off.

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Question

Can I grow an orchid from a piece of its own stem?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

Not to my knowledge.

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Question

Where do I find transplant soil?

Community Answer

You can find this at all Merrifield Garden Centers, or at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. Any establishment that carries orchids should have it.

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Question

My orchids have an infestation of aphids or something that leaves a white sticky substance. I have washed them under running water, but it keeps coming back. What do I do?

Al Smith

Community Answer

Just running the plant under water is not removing the aphids completely. The sticky substance is residue left from the aphids themselves. I would recommend repotting the plant, as the aphids are probably thriving in the growing medium you have the plant in now. I would also rinse the plant in room temperature water during the transplant to remove any other aphids. Take care to not leave the plant too wet after repotting. Also, if other plants are around this one, look at them as well, as they may have aphids living in them too.

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Question

My orchid's roots and leaves are halfway up the plant, sticking out everywhere. What do I do with it?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

It sounds like it may be leggy because it needs brighter growing conditions.

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Question

What do I do if the stems have dried out but the orchid leaves are still green?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

Cut back the dead stem and wait for more leaves to develop. I routinely "adopt" plants in this condition to take home, repot, fertilize and then benignly ignore other than to keep the water basins on their shelves filled (which keeps the air more humid around the plants and prevents them from drying out).

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Question

How much of the stalk do I cut off when transplanting, and do I cut it back every time it is finished blooming even if I don't transplant it?

Lois Wade

Community Answer

I would recommend cutting it back once the stalk has turned brown. If the stalk is still green, you may get more flowers if you cut it back only to slightly above the second nodule.

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Question

What types of soil can be used to replant an orchid?

Community Answer

The best are dried sphagnum moss and coconut coir. You can either mix them or use individually.

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Question

How can I revive a blue orchid that has no leaves or flowers, but still has green roots?

Community Answer

If the roots still look good, then it is possible that it will regrow some leaves with proper care. Take away the old potting mix and either keep it bare root (misting the roots daily) or depot it with coarse orchid mix. Proper light, air and nutrients will bring it back in time, but it will probably be months.

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Question

I cut my orchid's aerial roots, and now it is brown and dried out. The bottom roots seem to be green and alive. What can I do to correct the damage I’ve done? Is there any chance that it will survive?

Community Answer

As long as one root is alive, it should be okay; care for it well until you're sure the plant is okay. In future, either don't cut the aerial roots or do so with much greater care.

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Question

My orchids have been blooming since the first of May. The blooms are still very healthy, but I have 2 leaves that are turning yellow and leathery. What should I do for my plant?

Community Answer

Take them off very carefully and cut them back to the first root. Just be careful not to cut the main plant. Eventually they will peel off.

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Question

The inner small leaves of my orchid are discolored and spotty. What do I need to do?

Community Answer

If the inner growing center of the plant is rotten, then it likely the plant is doomed. You could try giving it more sunshine and fresh air but don't be surprised if it fails to survive.

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Question

I have a Phalaenopsis that flowers and looks healthy, but for years the leaves have been deep purple. Is this okay?

Community Answer

Yes, there are all different types of phalaenopsis. Leaf colours can vary from quite bright to dark green, purplish and even speckled.

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