Signs that will help you understand that you need to resuscitate an orchid

The plant is unhealthy if you notice the following signs:

  • the leaves turned yellow, dark spots appeared on it, it began to rot;

  • new growths twist and also fall off;

  • flower stalks have not appeared for a long time.

In such cases, you need to know how to properly resuscitate an orchid so that it continues to please with its flowering.

First of all, you need to determine what caused the unhealthy appearance.

To do this, remove the plant from the pot and wash it under warm running water.

Let it dry on a piece of paper, and then examine it carefully.

Why the plant looks unhealthy and how to revive an orchid / Photo: Pexels

The causes of an unhealthy look depend on various problems

  • Improper care - beginners often make mistakes that can lead to problems with the plant.

    If you water it excessively, the rhizome begins to rot, and the lower part of the flower becomes dark.

    If there is not enough moisture, the roots dry out and turn white.

    How to resuscitate an orchid in these cases?

    Just correct the mistakes and her condition will improve.

  • Poorly selected soil - it can compact and stick together over time, so you need to change it from time to time.

    But beginners often choose the wrong substrate.

    How to resuscitate an orchid in this case?

    First of all, transplant into another soil by purchasing a substrate in a specialized store.

  • Incorrect location or temperature regime - orchids do not like direct sunlight, because they cause burns on the leaves and the plant dies.

  • How to restore an orchid if it has been affected by a pest or disease

    What to do if an orchid is affected by a pest or disease

    • if the leaves swell and turn yellow, the plant has been affected by a fungus - you can resuscitate the orchid by cutting off the damaged parts, and treating the others with fungicides, which can be purchased at a specialized store;

    • bacterial spots appear on a dried leaf - it must be cut off, and already damaged ones should be treated with a mixture of water and activated charcoal;

    • if bacteria have affected the root system, it begins to dry out - it can be revived only by dividing the shoots with their subsequent transplant;

    • high or low temperature causes rotting of the roots, while the inflorescences may remain healthy in appearance - to revive the orchid, cut off the fragments damaged by rotting and transplant the plant;

    • withered stems and leaves, as well as the appearance of voluminous, wax-like dots, mean that parasites have appeared on them (for example, scale insects that feed on sap) - they can be restored only with a special tool;

    • the appearance of a white coating on the leaves, which dries the flower, indicates a spider mite - it is recommended to treat the plant with a solution of water and household soap;

    • if dark spots appeared on the stems and leaves, this is powdery mildew - in this case, you can also resuscitate the orchid with a soapy solution.

    Effective ways to resuscitate an orchid without roots

    How to resuscitate an orchid without roots / Photo: Pexels

    The orchid loses its roots due to poor lighting, excessive watering, improperly selected substrate.

    How to root an orchid if the rhizome has died?

    You need to perform the following actions:

    • remove rotten or dried fragments with a sterile tool;

    • soak the plant in a fungicide (10-15 minutes) - here you can buy special preparations or take cinnamon, green leaves;

    • to dry;

    • choose one of the following resuscitation methods.

    You can revive an orchid in water as follows

    The method is suitable when the plant still has at least one leaf left.

    Pour warm water into a transparent container and lower the orchid leaves down so that the liquid does not touch the rosette from which the stem grows.

    After 4-6 hours, the plant should be pulled out and dried.

    Then the procedure is repeated until the roots begin to appear.

    You can add sugar (1 teaspoon per liter) to the water - this will speed up growth.

    How to restore an orchid without roots above water

    This method is considered the best if the orchid has at least one root left and the leaves have started to fall.

    To do this, cut a plastic bottle in half, pour water and place a fungicide-treated orchid on top.

    Please note that there should be up to 2 cm between the roots and the water. The moisture will evaporate and feed the plant.

    How to grow orchid leaves at home

    How to resuscitate an orchid without leaves / Photo: pixabay.com

    There are different ways to resuscitate an orchid without leaves, which are used in one case or another:

  • If the leaves are no longer there, but everything is fine with the rhizome - the plant must be transplanted into a tight pot with a complete replacement of the substrate and sprinkle the top of the soil with water until new greens appear.

  • If the orchid has lost its leaves during winter transportation, all frozen stems must be removed, and the inflorescences must be cut off so that the plant does not waste energy on flowering.

    Place the orchid in a new pot with substrate.

    Over time, the plant will release a leaf from which a new life will begin.

  • Video on how to resuscitate an orchid: instructions for beginners