Orchid is a tropical plant that likes heat and moisture. Therefore, it must be watered regularly, especially during the growth phase. If there is a lack of water, the orchid will wither, its petals will fall off and its roots will take on a gray color. If you forget to water your orchid to the point where it becomes dry, do not panic! you can always save it. Find out how to revive a dry and wilted orchid. The orchid is a flowering plant that can be grown very well indoors, provided that you provide it with the necessary conditions for its proper development. Poor care can cause your plant to dry out and die. However, you can save it to bloom again.

How to revive a dry orchid?

Here are the steps to save your withered orchid:

  • Cut off the stem

When the orchid is dehydrated, its flowers fall off and its stems dry up. The flower stalk is a rigid stem on which the flowers develop.  It can also bear up to 20 flowers. The first help you can give your plant is to remove its faded flowers and let them rest.  To stimulate the flowering of a dried orchid, it must be pruned. To do this, count 2 buds from the base of your plant and cut the dried stem 1 cm from the 3rd bud.

  • Take care of the roots

If the roots of your orchid are white or black, remove them with pruning shears so as not to contaminate the rest of the roots. Also remember to remove any dead roots. Press on the roots with your fingers, if some are soft, it means they are dead and therefore should be pruned. You keep only the aerial roots, which are always useful.

  • Repotting

After ridding your plant of dehydrated roots, stems and petals, you need to repot it to change the substrate. In fact, who says new substrate says a new supply of essential nutrients to help your plant bloom again. Do not use a standard substrate to repot your orchid. Your orchid will need a substrate rich in clay balls, peat moss, coconut fiber and charcoal, and pine bark, among others. Also consider choosing a clear plastic pot to constantly check the condition of the orchid’s roots. Repotting can be done every 2 or 3 years. Then you need to give your orchid the conditions necessary for its proper development.

  • Exposure

Place your pot in a bright place, without exposing your plant to direct sunlight that could dry out its foliage.

  • Temperature

Keep your pot at a temperature between 65 °F and 77 °F. Also, keep your pot away from drafts. While the orchid loves heat, it doesn’t like humidity, so keep your plant away from radiators or other heating devices. In fact, the radiator dries the surrounding air and therefore your orchid will need more water in this case.

  • Watering

While the roots of your orchid can dry out and die due to dehydration, too much water can cause them to rot. To water your plant, remove the flowerpot and soak the plant in a basin of water for 10 minutes. Then remove the pot from the basin, drain and replace the pot lid. This technique allows you to moisturize the roots, as well as the root ball. Use room temperature water for watering, as hot or very cold water could damage the roots of the orchid. You can also add a liquid fertilizer to the watering water once a month, but without excess. During hot periods, you can spray the foliage of your orchid, but make sure that your plant dries well afterwards. This is because water can accumulate in your plant and cause it to rot.

Orchid Diseases

If the growing conditions are not suitable for orchids, your plant may develop certain diseases. We may then notice a gray rot on the flowers or black spots covering the plant. In this case, it is necessary to remove the damaged parts of the plant to avoid the risk of contamination.

If you respect these conditions, your dried orchid can develop new stems with flower buds at their end that will give you beautiful flowers later.