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Original poster

Anyone managed to keep an orchid alive?

59 replies

Poetrypatty · 13/02/2022 11:24

And if so how? I got one of those supermarket ones, but then remembered I had one before and it didn't last long.

OP posts:
Boopeedoop · 13/02/2022 11:27

Yep. Don't over water them.

I kill everything normally. Orchids seem to like me neglecting them!

Colinthedaxi · 13/02/2022 11:27

Yes, basic neglect, wait until roots go white, run tepid water through, leave alone for another 10 days or so. Don’t over water!! Mine have been flowering for about eight months 😁

Daisy4569 · 13/02/2022 11:27

Mine thrive on neglect, I have had the current 6 for 7-8 years. When they start looking ropey I put water in. They’re all thriving and flower all of the time. Previously I’ve tried ‘looking after them’, watering, feeding, potting up when they needed and every single one died Hmm I’m sure there’s a better strategy but it works for me

user1471447924 · 13/02/2022 11:28

How do you get them to rebloom though? Mine has healthy leaves but no new spike this year and no buds?

FeebasAquarium · 13/02/2022 11:29

Think location is key, I had them for years and they flowered regularly (trim the stem afterwards) but this was in a south facing conservatory, out of drafts and on not on the window sills (I tried moving them to a window sill once and a leaf got burned within a day)

We’ve moved and they’re now on a east facing window and they’re pretty miserable. I don’t think they’ve flowered since and it’s been ten months.

SparkleSpangle · 13/02/2022 11:29

Make sure the roots can see the light. Don't put it in a solid pot. Other than that just ignore it until it looks like it will die then give it some water.

FeebasAquarium · 13/02/2022 11:30

Yep definitely do not water much!

FredBair · 13/02/2022 11:30

Yes I've got two in bloom atm. They seem to flower every six months. When flowering finishes I put them out of sight in a bedroom and water rarely.

Simonjt · 13/02/2022 11:30

Every tenish days dunk into water (preferably rain water), lift out and leave to drain and stick it back in the pot. I personally don’t use any substrate around the roots, but you can use bark/moss/

Only cut obviously dead stem off, don’t cut green stem, only brown and dead, if you cut the green stem back you may prevent flowering.

Biscuitsneeded · 13/02/2022 11:31

Nope.

HerLadySheep · 13/02/2022 11:31

I pop mine in a sink full of water for 30 minutes once a week and they are thriving and flower regularly.
They don't like to sit in water in the pot but do need more than just the odd dribble of water!

Ulelia · 13/02/2022 11:32

Ignore the bastards. Never even look at them. They flourish!

Fuuuuuckit · 13/02/2022 11:33

Same, I'm a notorious killer of house plants, I got one as a housewarming gift 8 years ago and it's just coming into flower.

Yes, neglect until leaves go a bit soft, immerse pot in water for a couple of hours then leave for a bit (10-14 days maybe)

I also have the same mis-treatment success with mother-on-laws tongue plants. Mine even flowered last year, which is an absolute sign that they're in full-on survival mode.

FailingAllotmenteur · 13/02/2022 11:34

Did you repot it?
If you leave it in it's supermarket tiny pot it will quickly die.
Repot in orchid compost into a decent size pot and give it a bit of water.
Then you ignore it Wink

BobLemon · 13/02/2022 11:34

Neglect them and they’ll reward you with years of… occasionally being pretty, but mostly growing massive and making the family complain about how big they are.

TabithaTittlemouse · 13/02/2022 11:34

@Ulelia

Ignore the bastards. Never even look at them. They flourish!
Grin exactly this!
Eastnorthwest · 13/02/2022 11:35

I think mine have flowered more since I bought some orchid feed. I bought it from the supermarket where the orchids came from. I make it up with water in a small water bottle and water every 1-2 weeks. As previous posters have said water less rather than more.

Sexnotgender · 13/02/2022 11:35

Yup, been going strong for a few years.

Anyone managed to keep an orchid alive?
Anyone managed to keep an orchid alive?
seekinglondonlife · 13/02/2022 11:35

I know someone who has a conservatory with 60 orchids and she swears by giving them one ice cube per week.

RampantIvy · 13/02/2022 11:38

I have managed to propagate some orchids by accident. I repotted them into orchid growing compost, don't overwater them, feed them now and again and keep them on a North facing windowsill with the radiator off.

Original poster
Poetrypatty · 13/02/2022 11:40

Beautiful Sexnotgender

Thanks all so many tips here, I can do neglect! Liking the one ice cube a week one, that sounds doable. I do have them in the supermarket pot in a solid pot. Maybe I should take that out then and let the roots see the light?

OP posts:
HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 13/02/2022 11:42

I was gifted a supermarket one, neglected it for years and it flowered beautifully. Finally decided to get my act together, bought it a new orchid pot and soil, repotted it and it promptly died. Neglect is the way forward

FailingAllotmenteur · 13/02/2022 11:43

Roughly how wide is the supermarket pot?
If you look at sexnotgender's pics, they need something about that size, with a drainage hole in the bottom.
If it's the standard supermarket pot that it came in, it'll be only a couple of inches wide which is only a temporary home for it to be sold in, it will need more room to survive for any length of time.

nannybeach · 13/02/2022 11:46

I've got over 30, a few different types. They hate sunlight. They don't get re potted because the pots are different colours depending on what room they are in. When they increase in size,I cut off roots,new compost,and back in the same pot. To get then to flower again,cut the old flower stalk off,low down to the first nodule,put into somewhere cool and dark for about 6 weeks.

StEval · 13/02/2022 11:47

@user1471447924

How do you get them to rebloom though? Mine has healthy leaves but no new spike this year and no buds?
They need a period of cold at night to reflower. I put mine in a cold area in November for a month and brought them back into their usual spot . Bingo- all have flower spikes.