These pics are right after watering, got it as a gift 8 months ago, I tried taking care of it, i don't think the roots are supposed to look like that, I have replanted, chopped some damaged parts bc it had a sponge (that's also why I replanted it) I also replaced the "soil" for one made for orchids specifically (English isn't my first language so idk how to call the soil). I have no idea what species it is so I would love if y'all could tell me that too. I water it every 15 days aprox and have it in a place with no direct sunlight. One leaf dried up (it was in the bottom of the other leafs) after the flowers dried up and nothing has grown since then.
by amaya262
2 Comments
It looks like you may be asking about orchids.
Phalaenopsis orchids grow on trees in the wild and need air flow around their roots. They are usually kept in coarse bark chips in pots with lots of drainage holes as soil suffocates their roots. Water orchids by submerging the pot in room temperature water for about 15 minutes and then let it drain. Make sure there is no water pooling in the crown of the leaves.
Do this when the membrane covering the roots is silvery and dry. Hydrated roots are green, plump, and mottled. Cut off roots that don’t plump up after watering and roots that are black and slimy. Keep the plant in bright indirect light.
Orchid flowers die after a while, that is normal. Cut off the flower stalk when it is dead. The orchid should flower again but it can take several months. Add orchid fertilizer to the water when you see a new flower stalk forming to prolong the flowering. Replace the bark about once a year.
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Needs a repot bad. Also has dead, crispy roots that could probably be snipped off. Make sure you put it in a pot no more than 1-2 inches wider and taller, mix orchid bark, peat moss, and/or coco coir, and perlite together and then you really only need to water like every week and a half if that. Orchids are so low maintenance.