Orchids are popular for their beauty and long flowering period. The delicate flowers last for several weeks and are a real eye-catcher in the interior. Unfortunately, most species only bloom once a year, so you should wait a few months for the flowers to appear again. But what if the orchid hasn't bloomed for a few years? The orchid only grows roots and does not produce new leaves or stems. When this happens, you have to take action. Otherwise you end up with a green plant instead of a lush display of flowers.
It is not uncommon for an orchid to bloom beautifully when you buy it and then no longer have any shoots after flowering. That's what happened to me too. A few years ago I received a beautiful phalaenopsis with pink flowers as a gift, which perfectly complemented my then small collection. The flowers glowed on the windowsill for several weeks until they finally dried up and fell off. TheStem also driedafter a short time and I cut it off. I went with thatCare after floweringcontinued, waiting for new leaves and a new flower stalk. But these didn't come. Not next year and not the year after that. But the pot was full of roots. Because I wanted to see the beautiful pink flowers again, I started a rescue mission. And it worked! In the following growing season, my Phal grew new, healthy shoots and bloomed beautifully. And now I'll explain how I achieved it and what else you should pay attention to if you encounter the same problem.
Orchid stops growing: This is how you can save the plant
The good news is that an orchid that has lots of green roots is healthy and ready to bloom again. And there are a lot of things you can do to stimulate the growth of new leaves and shoots. Does your orchid only grow roots? Then check the location, leaves and roots to follow these steps to solve the problem.
Check the location
Even if the orchid bloomed in the original location, it does not mean that it is optimal. An orchid that is already blooming will not immediately lose its flowers in the first few weeks, even though the location is not right. However, you should create the perfect conditions for healthy growth after the first flowering. In order for the plant to grow again and form new shoots and leaves, the location should:
- be bright but sunny (i.e. no direct sun)
- have a constant temperature between 20 and 25 °C
- have appropriate humidity (not less than 40% and not more than 80%)
Orchid only grows roots: what do the leaves look like?
If the location is right, take a look at the leaves. Are you leathery,limp and soft, then the orchid is probably dehydrated. Ie she doesn't get enough water. And an orchid that is too dry cannot produce flower stems or new leaves. It only forms roots and no longer flowers. Luckily, there is an easy way to revive the plant.
Excursus: Which roots you should remove
When checking your plant, you should closely observe the roots and remove the unhealthy ones from them.
Recognize healthy orchid roots
If the roots feel firm and are white to green in color, then they are healthy. Contrary to popular belief, orchid roots don't always have to be bright green. In fact, they should only be this color right after watering. If the roots are consistently lush green, this is a sign of overwatering. Allow the roots to dry and turn a white to pale green color before watering again.
Unhealthy roots must be removed
Dried and rotten roots have no place in the orchid pot. You should remove these in good time if you want to enjoy a blooming orchid again. Unhealthy roots are easy to spot: They are brown, mushy or brittle, and hollow. Cut this off at the base.
Also read:Lots of aerial roots, no flowers? This is how orchids bloom again!
Revive the orchid by soaking it
Let's go back a bit. The problem with my orchid was twofold: the location was too dark and I watered too little. However, the following method and a new location saved my plant and made it bloom again. This is how you do it:
- Remove the orchid from the pot: Remove the orchid roots from the substrate. You can leave the parts that are holding too tightly to the roots visible for now (they will come off later when you rinse). You also need to remove the moss core (if there is one).
- Rinse the roots: Gently rinse the roots with water so that the residue comes away from the substrate. Be careful not to wet the leaves and base of the plant.
- Prune the roots: Remove all unhealthy roots and leave only the healthy ones. These roots can no longer absorb nutrients for the plant and, even worse, encourage the formation of bacteria and mold in the root system.
- Remove stems: If the old, dried-out flower shoot is still on the plant, you should definitely cut it off. Cut above the second node from the base of the stem.
- Soak orchid: Half-fill a glazed orchid pot or plastic pot with filtered or distilled water at room temperature. Steep a tea bag of black tea* in water for 10 minutes. Dip the orchid into the bath, making sure that the crown and leaves are not in the water. The water level should be a few centimeters below the base. Allow the roots to soak for a few hours.
- Allow roots to dry and repeat: Since orchid roots cannot stand in water continuously, you need to let them dry after soaking. Develop a system where you alternate watering the roots and allowing them to dry out completely. You could start by watering your orchid during the day and letting the roots dry completely overnight (in a dry pot). If they are still wet in the morning, wait another day before soaking them again.
* You can find out why tea is good for orchidsread here.
How long should I use the method?
Look for signs of improvement – leaves straightening and new root and leaf growth. If your orchid is severely dehydrated, it may take a month before you see positive leaf change and several more months before a new leaf or shoot develops. Be patient!
When to repot the orchid
Orchids you canalso keep in water, if this method works well for you. When your orchid is healthy and hydrated again, you can also replant it in orchid substrate. You need to slowly re-acclimate them to a dry environment by extending dry periods and gradually reducing the water level (down to 1-2 centimeters of water).
Stimulate new flower shoots with cold stimulus
New shoots don't grow even after soaking? If your orchid is particularly slow to bloom, a cold stimulus can stimulate new growth. After flowering, place the plant in a cooler place (around 14-16°C) for a few weeks and then bring it back. This promotes the formation of new shoots and flowers.
What might also interest you:How to get orchids to bloom after dormancy
