Gardeners may not be spending a lot of time outside in their gardens over the winter, but there are still a few plants that are housed indoors that need some TLC. Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish recently shared some advice for green thumbs to help keep orchids hydrated throughout the winter, and how to spot if they’re in need of a drink.
In a video from earlier this month, Ish revealed a few telltale signs you need to look out for when caring for orchids. He explained it’s all in the roots. Ish wrote in the caption: “This orchid has had three very successful flowering seasons as a result and it’ll continue to thrive. Following my simple steps will keep orchids watered but not completely soaked!”
When it comes to making sure your orchid is hydrated or not, Ish revealed a top tip. He explained that you can check the roots of the plant. The gardening expert said that the roots will tell you “all you need to know”.
He said: “If they’ve got this nice green tinge on the root, that tells me that the plant is hydrated enough, and as a result, it’s nice and healthy. But, if these roots lose a little bit of their colour and they go grey, there’s something you need to do next.”
If you’ve got some grey, dry and crispy roots, you can trim these back with a pair of scissors, all the way to the part of the root that is healthy. Once you’ve snipped away any of the crispy roots, turn your attention to any roots which are grey and colourless.
If the colourless roots are “fat and plump”, these roots are fine to keep. Ish said: “The easiest way to rehydrate any of the roots and turn them back to green fairly quickly is take this out of its main pot and fill the pot up with some water.”
Fill the pot to around half its height with water. Gently place the plant pot back into the main pot, and allow to soak in the water for around 10 minutes.
After the time is up, you can pour the water out from the pot. Ish advised that the plant does not need to sit in the water for a long time. Place the plant pot in a bowl or jug to allow the excess water to drain away.
Allowing the plant to soak in the water for just 10 minutes should be enough to begin to rehydrate the roots. To keep orchids hydrated throughout the winter, give the plant a little spritz every week or so to keep the soil hydrated. Ensure you don’t water the soil too much so that it’s soaking.
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