Question : Vanda orchids...severly dry, how do I re-hydrate! Help!?
I work at a local nursery and yesterday I brought home two discounted severly dehydrated vanda orchids.One of them has only one good root and is not in a container. The one root is thick and healthy looking, but the plant is very thin and limp. The other one looks like it has several decent roots, they are white and thick...but a little shriveled and dry looking. THey are green inside though so I think these roots may be able to come back to life. The plant is not as limp as the first one, but it is still very thin and obviously dehydrated.How can I rehydrate vanda orchids?Yesterday I dipped both of them in water with a bit of orchid fertilizer mixed in. I let them sit for about 10 minutes and took them out and let them sit overnight outside with the rest of my orchids.I looked at them this morning and no improvment, so I took the one with one root, and wrapped the root with a damp paper towel and set it on my dresser. THe other one is sitting with its roots in a sinkof water.Is this a bad way to do it? How should I do it? I dont want them to rot! PLEASE HELP!These will be beautiful flowering orchids if they can be saved. Bright red and bright orange!!!
- asked by Waterlily
All Answers:
Answer #1
I love orchids too. And I have some in my house. I never buy orchids that are in
full bloom and so healthy (on sale) as the price is expensive. I have to wait
til the flowers dried out and becomes a bit ugly to look at. In this way, the
price will be too cheap. I love studying by myself how to grow or help plants in
a dying situation to become healthy again. In fact, I took pictures in every
plants I have and put a date. So for the orchids too. With orchids, after buying
it, I will pull it out from the pot slowly and tenderly to avoid damaging the
roots. Then slowly disentangle the soil or any moss that is attached to the
roots but leaving a little part of it. Cut off the old roots so that the new
roots will have space to grow out. 10 minutes of sitting the orchids in water is
not enough. Recommended (in our place and what is written in textbooks that I
have) is about 1~2hours. Soak the new moss in water in a different bucket. After
soaking the moss, drain it with another new water as the soaked water had been
tainted by the color of the moss. Do not use orchid fertilizer this time as it
will just damaged the roots. After soaking the moss and it had lapsed for 2
hours already, hold the orchid gently and wrap it with the moss BUT not tighly.
Just see to it that an air and water can pass thru and can be absorbed easily.
Then when you think it is OK, ready your pot with white peebles at the bottom
(white peebles for plants use only). Put your orchid inside and add some moss to
the space that is empty. After that, water it again around the orchid. Then put
it under the shade of a tree or any shade just be sure it is not direct from the
heat of the sun. Water it every morning (on summer time). Once in a week on
winter. After one or two months, you will see new tiny roots coming out. This
time, you can put orchid fertilizer (do not overdose it). Then once in a month,
there is available liquid enhancer (not sure how it is called in your place)
just a small bottle, dip it in the moss beside the roots. You may wipe the
leaves of it with wet towel for once in awhile to have a shiny look of the
leaves.
- answered by ~o0o~
Answer #2
Great answer, I would only say that vandas don't like being potted. I would
sugest puting them in open, wood hanging baskets. Otherwise , all the
suggestions above are great ones.Best of luck
- answered by birdsx61
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