Orchid Plant Care: How to Revive and Care for Your Orchids by Following a Complete Guide
Caring for orchids is not just science but an art. Their delicate and ornately beautiful nature has convinced many that they are difficult to care for. The fact is; however, almost anyone can keep orchids thriving or bring a dying plant back to its full potential with the right information and a touch of patience.
Essential Care Tips for Orchid Plants
So before we take you through the best ways to bring the rotting orchid back to life, let’s familiarise a bit more with these very unique flowers.
Types of Orchids
While there are over 25,000 species of orchids that exist in the world you may come across some of these basic examples.
Answered Phalaenopsis Orchid (Moth orchids)- this is one of the most commonly available orchids, they flower for very long period and it is quite easy to grow anywhere.
Dendrobium Orchids: Even fussier than Phalaenopsis, these orchids need cooler weather.
Cattleya Orchids: These colorful, bold and fragrant orchids take a bit of extra maintenance but many feel the brilliant colors are well worth it.
Different types of orchids have different needs, but once you know the essentials, taking care of them is pretty much the same for irrespective kind.
The Natural Habitat and How It Affects Orchid Care
Orchids have been a naturalized to tropical climates where they chose trees as their host instead of growing on the ground. Through their roots, these take moisture and nutrition from the atmosphere and decomposition material around them. So, the potting mix and the humidity it gets are vital to your plants.
How to Save a Rotting Orchid: A Step-by-Step Guide
The resurrection of a seemingly ailing plant presents one of orchid growing’s most challenging tasks.Surely, once the leaves have withered and it is a case of an aeriferous stem with a few rootsthrobs, do not always despair.Gently use your fingers to feel the roots.Any firm,thick green root is healthy. If the roots are brown, rotting, or hollow, they must go.Prune the Dead RootsUsing a pair of clean scissors or pruning shears, cut off the damaged or dead roots. Be gentle but thorough. Removing dead roots can prevent further rot and increase the chances that your orchid will recover.
Using Cinnamon and Water Solution
After pruning the roots of the dead, an all natural anti fungal treatment can also be added to stop disease in its tracks.
Take 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder and add to a liter of boiling water.
Remove from heat and strain out the particles of cinnamon.
Put your orchid in this cinnamon water for about 30 minutes. Not only will it keep your orchid clean, but it will also keep dust from transferring any fungal diseases to the plant.
Spray down your other orchids after soaking with the leftover solution to protect them from infestation and diseases.
Repotting the Orchid
Orchids prefer potting mixes that are well-draining and well-aerated. For ideal repotting, place the rehabilitated orchid in a fresh mix of pine bark mixed with dry pumice stone. This mixture absorbs enough moisture without retaining too much, which will minimize the possibility of the roots rotting again in the future.
Put a layer of dry moss on top to prevent the medium from drying out while allowing the air to continue circulating around the root system. Place the orchid in a cool, bright location but not in direct sunlight until it has been a week or so.
How to Care for Orchids after Reviving Them
Having successfully revived your orchid, you now need to think about its long-term care. If it is to thrive, maintain in health and possibly bloom again.
Light and Temperature Conservation
Orchids need bright sunlight infused with gentle rays of sunshine. Excessive direct sunlight burns leaves, while not enough light left them without a chance for beautiful blossoms most orchids like daytime temperatures of 65F to 75F, and just a little cooler nighttime.
If you do not provide enough light or too much darkness, an orchid’s leaves will soon turn green.
How to Water Orchids
Overwatering one of the most common problems people face When they grow orchids. As air plants or epiphytes, there is no need for orchids to sit in water. What you need do is create just the right watering pattern that emulates natural conditions. Here is how:
The general rule during the growing months is: water once a week; during quieter times every 10 days.
Always check first if the potting mix is still damp. In this case, wait until a later time to water.
Use water heated to room temperature but avoid getting leaves wet and therefore rotting.
The Best Potting Mix for Orchids
Never plant an orchid in your average potting soil. Air must be able to pass through them, so they have to be a mixture. Ideally, the variety of potting medium would be a combination of:
Pine bark
Coconut husk chips
Perlite
Charcoal
With this mix, the water drainage will be good and the roots healthy too because it won’t leave the water around them for long.
Preventing Orchid Diseases and Pests
No matter how much one may take care of his orchid plants, at times they may fall prey to diseases or pests. Early identification and treatment save your orchid plant.
Common Orchid Pests and How to Treat Them
Orchids are highly prone to the attack of aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. Here’s how to handle these unwanted guests:
Aphids: These are small, soft-bodied insects that suck the sap off orchid leaves. A simple solution of water and mild dish soap will wash them away.
Mealybugs: Mealybugs form a white cotton-like mass on the leaves. Remove these pests using rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.
Spider mites: These small arachnids deposit fine webbing on the leaves. A neem oil spray is a very good organic method of getting rid of them.
Fungal and Bacterial Diseases: Prevention and Treatment
Root rot, induced by over-watering, is the most popular form of fungal issue. You can face other fungus problems as well, namely black rot and leaf spot. Remove any black spot and mushy plant material, then apply a fungicide to the remaining plant.
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There are other considerations such as bacterial diseases like Bacterial brown spot. Caused by leaving water on leaves too long with nothing to quickly absorb it. Provide good air circulation around your orchid, try not to get the foliage too wet while watering.
