Just bought this orchid yesterday and it snapped. Probably bcs it was resting on the wall instead of putting in a pot. Is there a way to save the part with the flowers?
(I know the sub expects sunlight and watering frequency but I got it just yesterday, havent watered it yet)
by firas_dev
4 Comments
It looks like you may be asking about orchids.
Phalaenopsis orchids grow on trees in the wild and need air flow around their roots. They are usually kept in coarse bark chips in pots with lots of drainage holes as soil suffocates their roots. Water orchids by submerging the pot in room temperature water for about 15 minutes and then let it drain. Make sure there is no water pooling in the crown of the leaves.
Do this when the membrane covering the roots is silvery and dry. Hydrated roots are green, plump, and mottled. Cut off roots that don’t plump up after watering and roots that are black and slimy. Keep the plant in bright indirect light.
Orchid flowers die after a while, that is normal. Cut off the flower stalk when it is dead. The orchid should flower again but it can take several months. Add orchid fertilizer to the water when you see a new flower stalk forming to prolong the flowering. Replace the bark about once a year.
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The plant is fine. You can make a fresh cut at the top of the spike with clean scissors and let it dry on its own.
There’s probably nothing you can do about the flower portion other than stick it in some water. I’ve heard of people attempting to graft broken spikes but the chances of it working are very low and it’s probably not worth it.
At some point I would take the plant out, snip off the dead roots, and repot in orchid mix in an orchid pot (has holes in the sides and bottom for good air circulation).
No, you can’t save broken stem but do not repot orchids, leave it in it’s plastic pot, you can put it in a decorative container but orchids roots need light, I repotted mine and it hasn’t grown or flowered anymore. Do not get water in between the leaves and get orchids specific fertilizer, they also need light, so let the roots get light often and keep soil moist, not soaking wet.
You should definitely repot it at some point, but you can wait until spring unless the roots appear unhappy. Be sure to use an orchid pot! They have big holes in them, often making decorative shapes, but the wood chips of the orchid soil don’t fall out.
My orchid tends to grow a new leaf at the same time as it loses its oldest leaf, then a flower stem blooms. The key is patience and maintaining care even when it’s just leaves. Treat it with care year round (like any other plant) and it will thrive! I get many months out of my orchid flowers once they bloom☺️