Hi everyone,

I have two questions about my orchid.

The first question is not exactly an issue in my opinion, but I just want to be sure. I was looking at my orchid today, and I saw this on one of the stalks that I cut back in 2023.




Is my orchid getting ready to branch out and flower again? I really can't tell.

The second question is an issue. I happened to be repotting them and examining the roots, and I noticed that they are very shriveled. I think it's because of under watering.

The plant itself is still alive, but the roots are really shriveled. Is there any way to save the plant?

Here's a picture.



If someone can help me with this issue, and this question, I will appreciate it.

Jared

OK, I need help. It's a lot worse than I thought it was.

Yes, your orchid is going to bloom again.

Yes, your orchid is in trouble. I don't see ANY live roots. You will have to re-root it or call it a loss.

Lucy68 said: Yes, your orchid is going to bloom again.

Yes, your orchid is in trouble. I don't see ANY live roots. You will have to re-root it or call it a loss.

Thanks for letting me know. Is there anyw ay I can try to re root it?

If I lose the plant, it looks like it'll be a lesson learned. I don't want it to be that way, though. I love this plant. Is there any way to save it?

Jared, there might be miracle growers here amongst us to be able to re-root your Phal. I think Lucy and others have done so.
Years ago, on a different forum, there was this really gruff, but super talented and knowledgeable Cymbidium specialist. He would look at this and say the now famous two words. "Mulch it". It is always a question of sentimental value, availability, price of similar new plant?
....as Ursula walks away and thinks about some ancient Orchid in her collection which hasn't bloomed in 10 years and taking up space.....

.

jnicholes, I am here to 'Pump you Up"! I am here to tell you that brown roots like you first mentioned are dead, non revivable.
Second, your Phalaenopsis will survive!! No doubt in my mind you can get it to not only recover but bloom again.
Cut off most of that root system, none of it is useful. None of it! Cut off that bloom spike. Cut it all the way back!! You really do not want the plant to rebloom right now. If it does rebloom, it will most likely die. With lots of healthy roots and leaves, your plant would have tons of energy in reserve to bloom. It could take up water and nutrients and produce a nice bloom spike. BUT there are no live roots left to take up water and nutrients.

Once all the roots are gone, get some New Zealand sphagnum moss. Pre moisten it and pot your orchid in maybe a 3 1/2" or 4" plastic pot. Put a little moss in the bottom of the pot and wrap the old root stubble, that you cut back, in a ball or clump of moist moss. Place it so the leaves are just above the moss.
Keep it in medium light, no sun, nothing really bright. Think of it as needing less light as it recovers. I can safely predict that new roots will form within 4-6 weeks, 8 at the most. They will start sucking water up right away. They will grow longer, take up nutrients and plump up those leaves. It will look SO MUCH BETTER!
It will easily bloom again for you next fall. How sure am I? 99.5843965% sure that you can save your baby.
Good luck!!!

Lastly, just keep the moss moist, not sopping wet.

It's too late, I threw both the orchids out. I figured there was no hope.

I failed at keeping orchids happy and healthy. Not just orchids, all my tropical house plants. My Venus fly trap died in dormancy. My sundew is losing leaves and I can't figure out why. My nepenthes pitcher plant is not pitchering despite it being in an open terrarium.

I guess I can never keep indoor tropical plants happy. I must be the worst plant owner on the planet.

That is your problem. It is very difficult to keep these types of outdoor plants healthy indoors.

If you had a terrarium with a little light source, high humidity and a little air movement, maybe they would do better.
But reconsider with that orchid, PLEASE. I have saved maybe 2 dozen of my own plants and helped owners revive 100 of their Phalaenopsis using the method I described!!!

Not sure I understand asking for help & then throwing away plants while people are typing responses to try to help. For future reference, maybe you're just giving up too soon on some of these plants.

Except for the orchids, none of the other plants are ubiquitous houseplants. Probably, like said, because they need conditions outside of the range of the average home interior. There are a lot of plants that don't mind being held captive in a pot in a house in most of the range of conditions inside people's homes.

purpleinopp said: Not sure I understand asking for help & then throwing away plants while people are typing responses to try to help. For future reference, maybe you're just giving up too soon on some of these plants.

Except for the orchids, none of the other plants are ubiquitous houseplants. Probably, like said, because they need conditions outside of the range of the average home interior. There are a lot of plants that don't mind being held captive in a pot in a house in most of the range of conditions inside people's homes.

If that's the case, then, having certain types plants in my house is an impossible dream.

Everyone, please leave me alone. I'm too depressed.

Great advice here!!

Jared, you picked some of the toughest /difficult plants to keep alive indoors! I think through the years I killed every plant you mentioned. My hardest to keep alive Orchid is a Phal!
Do you have sunny window sills? Can you grow in Summer outside? I started out with Fall blooming Cattleyas, kept them outside over the Summer, watered and fertilized with my small garden. I would bring them inside in the Fall/middle of September and watch them bloom in October, November into December. I was hooked!
There are smaller Cattleyas around which would be easier to manage on a small windowsill too.
Bc Hoku Gem 'Sunspots' is an example, it blooms several times a year blooming right now!

Definitely, group hug! It is depressing to learn that some plants just don't like our house(s). We've all been there. You're in a lot of company. Think about the wide range of conditions on the planet and that most spots have some plants there, it's clear that not every plant can survive every condition. The conditions inside a house don't mimic any outdoor condition, no plants are native to inside a house, so we are overcoming a lot when any plant can stay alive inside.

If you've only failed once, you haven't tried everything for that kind of plant. Trying the same plants again in a different way could be something to try. A terrarium or something. Or go look around where plants are sold and try some different ones.

If you go into it placing too much significance on a new plant staying alive, you'll be more disappointed if it doesn't work out. But if you bring 2 or 3 home to see if they like it, it's a pleasant surprise when they don't die. Set realistic expectations for yourself. The list of plants I've killed and no longer have is muuuuuuuuch longer than the list of plants that are still alive.

jnicholes said: Thanks for letting me know. Is there anyw ay I can try to re root it?

If I lose the plant, it looks like it'll be a lesson learned. I don't want it to be that way, though. I love this plant. Is there any way to save it?

Nick's advise is exactly the advise I would have given you. Go fetch those orchids out of the trash and follow his instructions.

One more piece of advice: Do not use tap water for your carnivorous plants or orchids. Probably not your other plants either. Find some distilled or RO water to water at least the orchids and carnivores.

...and I didn't read the replies again but at leasta couple of us told you the orchid looked promising, not beyond hope. So if you want that on your list of plants you killed, you can only credit yourself with not making a rescue effort. That's not a death on your "record."

Exactly!
There is this old joke going around in Orchid circles - Those tags we pull out of expired plants are directly proportional to our knowledge gained.
We sure try, try, try again, we learn.

Ursula said: Exactly!

try, try, try again, we learn.

Live and learn. I have lost many orchids in the past but still love the looks of them and try again if/when I spot a beauty. Good to know there is hope if one catches a problem early enough that we are able to have survival.

Ok, I owe you all an explanation.

I have ADHD and a depression disorder. Occasionally, I have very bad days where I feel completely hopeless.

Today was one of those days. I felt like I failed to take care of the plants properly, resulting in their demise. I felt like I let my plants down.

That and the fact that I have been very stressed today because my grandpa has been developing severe dementia.

It's just been a bad day. Sorry for my outburst.

Jared, you have nothing to be sorry about! You tried your best and asked for advice! Feel better!