The leaves are yellowed, the stems are stunted, the aerial roots look completely dry. All sure signs that the plant is doing poorly. Then you have to act quickly. Saving dried orchid is not an easy task. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do.
Saving a dried-out orchid: In which cases can the plant still be revived?
In principle, orchids are robust exotics that forgive care mistakes. Even plants that look dry and dead can be saved with a few care measures. The first step, however, is to assess the damage.
Is there something wrong with the care?The flower buds are the first to dry out. If these also fall off, then it is a sure sign that you should check the orchid for root rot, infestation or disease. There are usually no other signs during this first phase.
Can you save an orchid without leaves?
After the flowers dry up and fall off, the leaves also turn yellow and fall off as well. However, an orchid without leaves can still be saved with the right care and a lot of patience. However, if the aerial roots are moist and the roots in the substrate are light green, the plant can recover.
Can an orchid recover without roots?
Has thatOrchid its leavesIf the aerial roots have dried up and the underground roots have become soft, then the plant can usually no longer be saved.
However, the problem is not always first noticeable in the above-ground parts of the plant. Sometimes the orchid looks healthy and when you repot it you discover that the underground roots have become completely brown and mushy. In these cases too, the orchid has died and can no longer be revived. The reason for this is very simple: you watered the orchid too often and too much or kept it in the bath for too long. Then water collected in the saucer and waterlogging formed. The roots rot and can no longer absorb water. The orchid leaves and stems evaporate and appear dried out. People often make the mistake of watering the orchid even more to protect it from drying out.
So the orchid has:
- yellowed and fallen flower buds, but green leaves, aerial roots and roots, then it can still be saved.
- fallen flower buds and leaves, but green aerial roots and roots, then it can recover.
- no leaves and the aerial roots are dry or no leaves and the underground roots are brown and matchy - the plant has died.
- Brown, matchy roots when repotting are also a sure sign that the plant is dead.
- However, if there are several green roots, the orchid can be revived.
Saving a dried-out orchid: What can you do to help the plant recover?
The first step to healing is the correct diagnosis. First, check all above-ground parts of the plant for signs of infestation or disease. Diseases are primarily noticeable through brown spots on the leaves. Yellowed leaf edges, on the other hand, indicate incorrect watering. Pests can usually be easily noticed in the substrate and on the undersides of plants. Next, check the roots for root rot. Then do the following:
Prevent watering errors with orchids
1. If the substrate is moist, then it is probably a watering error. As a rule, it is sufficient if you repot the orchid in the next few days and then stop watering it for a few days.
Root rot as the cause: This is how a dried orchid forms new roots
2. If you have noticed brown roots, then it is probably root rot. Cut out the affected areas. Then fill decalcified tap water into a hyacinth jar (amaryllis are also preferred in these jars). Place the orchid in the glass so that its roots barely come into contact with the water. Leave them like this until the plant recovers and forms new roots. Then you can plant them in special substrate.
Immersion bath with black tea to the rescue
3. If the orchid soil has dried out because it is too then take it out of the pot, loosen the substrate from the roots and rinse. Then cut out any dried areas. Fill a bucket with descaled water and add a bag of black tea to the water. Submerge the orchid in the water and leave it there for 10 minutes until the roots become saturated. Black tea contains nitrogen, which promotes growth and root formation. Then immerse the orchid in decalcified tap water and leave it there for 2 hours. Take them out and let the excess water drain off.
4. If the aerial roots are dry, cut off the yellow and brown areas. Spray the aerial roots with water once a day, preferably in the morning, and then allow them to dry. If possible, increase the humidity in the room. If the orchid has too many aerial roots, you can lower some of them into the substrate.
