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.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/plantclinic) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Training_Appeal_5153
The aerial roots are looking a little dry and brittle. But the roots at the bottom are still green. Will be replanting soon, would that help?
BunniBread
If you still have flowers, i wouldn’t repot soon. Wait till they die. If you have flowers, fill the pot with water, let it sit for maybe 5 minutes( bc you have brittle roots), drain and place in indirect light. No more flowers: go ahead and repot chop off any hollow or mushy roots. Silvery/green and firm is what you keep. Soak 5 -10 mins, drain and indirect light, and look into orchid fertilizer to encourage a bloom. Re water when roots become silvery in color
3 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.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/plantclinic) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The aerial roots are looking a little dry and brittle. But the roots at the bottom are still green. Will be replanting soon, would that help?
If you still have flowers, i wouldn’t repot soon. Wait till they die. If you have flowers, fill the pot with water, let it sit for maybe 5 minutes( bc you have brittle roots), drain and place in indirect light. No more flowers: go ahead and repot chop off any hollow or mushy roots. Silvery/green and firm is what you keep. Soak 5 -10 mins, drain and indirect light, and look into orchid fertilizer to encourage a bloom. Re water when roots become silvery in color
Edit: Just to add no, she is far from dead.