Growing Orchids at home provides joy and satisfaction. You will enjoy beautiful flowers for a long period of time. Aftercare and maintenance of the orchid plant, they will soon bloom into colorful and attractive flowers. But what happens when Orchids start to look raggedy and leaves droop and turn into yellow color? Are these a sign of dying Orchids? Can you do something to bring an orchid back to life? Don’t ever give up on your Orchid plants easily. There are remedies that you can easily do to save your plants. Follow these steps:
Isolate the plant.
The first thing to do when you notice the plant is suffering from stress or diseases is to isolate it from the rest of the Orchid plants. A plant affected of infections or diseases may affect other plants, too especially if they are in the same area. Isolating a plant will prevent the spread of contagious diseases and bacterial or fungal infections. Orchid plants can easily catch infections from other plants even if they are healthy and well-nourished. If you are rescuing your Orchid plant from disease or from yellowing leaves, it is best to keep the plant away from other plants but in an environment that can help stimulate regrowth.
Cut Off Dead Roots, Stems, and Spikes
Dead roots will never grow back, and worse, they can be the breeding ground of bacteria and fungi. If you see black and rotten roots, it is best to remove them by cutting them off from the plant. Dead stems and spikes will never produce new blooms anymore, and worse, they will only consume energy from the plants. By cutting them off from the plants, you will not only be able to save and revive them but will also help them focus more on developing new roots and growths. When you cut roots, stems, and spikes, make sure that you use clean and sterile pair of scissors and knife or new blades.
Treat Possible Fungus and Bacterial Infection
There are ways to treat infections in Orchids. You can use natural remedy or chemical treatment to stop the infection from damaging your plant. For natural treatment of infection, you can use cinnamon ground or powder to stop the spread of disease. Hydrogen peroxide is also an effective antibacterial and antifungal solution for Orchids. You can spray or pour this solution to the affected area to treat the infection.
Repot in New Potting Mix
Moving the Orchid plant to a new pot and new potting mix will prevent the spread of disease, in case the old potting mix is already contaminated with bacteria and fungi. If you are also planning to stimulate the plant to growing and developing new roots, make sure that the new pot is large enough to accommodate new growths. There should also be several holes that will allow the roots to dry out and drain well after each thorough watering.
In using new potting mix, consider your way of watering, how frequent you want to water your orchids and how high the humidity level is in your location. There are various types of potting mixes to choose from. Some are best for frequent watering while some are just perfect for once-a-week watering schedule. If you are trying to revive an orchid plant, choose the right potting mix suitable to its requirements.
Keep the Orchid plants Healthy
To promote health in your orchid plants, you may need to use a good orchid mix with good aeration. This is what the orchid roots prefer most. They love the dry, warm air but they also want high humidity. If you are not sure of the type of potting mix to use, do not hesitate to ask your local florists. Choosing the right mix will ensure the health and long lifespan of your orchid plants.
Another important factor for the optimal health of your plants is the right kind of light. Orchids love bright but indirect sunlight in order to grow healthier and to stimulate blooming and re-blooming. Make sure that you set your orchid in a place or spot where it can get 10 to 15 hours of filtered light. Placing the plant near the windowsill is better, instead of putting the plant outside under direct sunlight.
The temperature in the area and the level of humidity should be considered when it comes to watering your plants. You can water the plants frequently if the temperature is higher, but if the area is in a high humidity level, you can reduce watering to prevent overwatering. Too much water in the roots and leaves causes the plant to die.
Provide the Orchid Plants with Ideal Growing conditions
To ensure that your orchid plants will thrive in and grow well after recovering from disease, give them the most ideal growing conditions they need. Water them early in the morning in minimal amount if you have an environment of high humidity level. The ideal temperature for the Orchid plants is 60°F to 75°F. Light is also an important factor. However, it should be filtered and indirect so that the plant will not get sunburned. Keep your plant well-nourished and it will grow healthy by giving them fertilizer or plant food on a regular schedule. Soon, when it is time to bloom, it will give you the most beautiful blooms in unique shape or pattern as your precious reward for taking care of your collection of Orchid plants.
