Look what my cleaner has done 😲😲😲

[Lavenderhillslob]

No AIBUs about actually having a cleaner, please.

This is my orchid. It had flowers on yesterday. Now it's nicely.........trimmed

Wtf?

Oh dear, I've been doing everything wrong. The orchid is in bark chipping. It's in a clear plastic pot which is not attractive, hence why I kept it in the bag. It's probably been dead for months and the cleaner probably snapped and picked the dead flowers off it.

Orchids have cycles of growing and flowering (broadly speaking).

My orchid is 3 years old. I repot once a year and pop in a drip feeder. I water my plant once a week. Prune it as and when needed. Is your plant growing new roots and leaves at the moment?

You need:
clear pot with holes in the bottom
Orchid compost, usually bark based
Water weekly, let water run through the pot. The plant must not sit in water
Trim dead stems at the joint with clean scissors

Supermarkets sell orchids in moss (rots the roots) and tiny pots. This is not suitable long term. But if you invest a little in the above your plant will last years.

Lavender, the bark chipping is fine. Cut the stems above a node as has been advised to try to trigger new flowers, if stem dies back completely just cut it off. Ideally expose the pot to light but ime this isn't essential. Compromise is to at least make sure the surface of the bark is exposed so the above-surface roots are exposed. Occasional feeding with orchid food helps. Most important, do not over-water. That's the easiest way to kill an orchid. I water mine when dry (about once a week usually), leaving the pot in water for a few minutes then allowing it to drain completely. Don't water 'little and often' and never let it sit in water.

It's been years since I had to plant sit my dad's orchid collection but, from memory, the "dunk and drain" method was certainly one of them. I think they got misted automatically every day and watered thoroughly once a week when left to my tender care! I don't think I killed any!

You mustn't let water pool in the "bowl" formed where all the leaves join either as that can rot them.

The exotic orchids are often parasitic plants IIRC. They grow on trees which is why they like exposed roots.

I treat mine the same as Bored.

All of mine came in bark chippings in clear pots. They sit nicely in ceramic pots but the roots are still exposed. Watered once a week or when I remember and get a good soaking, drained and put back again. They live on the kitchen windowsill so get steamed when washing up/cooking, they draw a lot of moisture out of the air. Interestingly its a south facing window which they aren't meant to like but mine thrive.

When mine are in a dormant period they do look a bit dead so don't panic about that at all.

My oldest one, which must be the best part of 10 years old, has pushed all the chippings out the pot pretty much apart from some big bits and has so many exposed roots that its climbing out its pot! I haven't dared try to re-pot it as its grown through the drainage holes. As its just flowered again I'm leaving it to it

Thank you for your pearls of wisdom everyone I don't know much about orchids and I was gifted this one. Let's see if it survives

My daughter's orchid has been flowering on her windowsill - cheering you up when you're doing the dishes - for almost 6 weeks!! I was there yesterday and a flower fell into the sink. I was there today (I do the school run) and three more flowers were in the sink. Maybe your cleaner knows orchids better than you do, once the stem has finished its just over. Dry your eyes and watch very carefully for the beginnings of a new stem - it will not be far behind :-)

It is probably dying as it should be in a clear pot - light has to get to its roots for it to survive!!!

If you keep it in a clear pot and water it sparingly it will last forever

To me, looks like they fell! I love my Orchids, however, they too are looking just like this, ugly n bare at the moment! I once blamed the children for being over-zealous with them, however, you only have to sneeze when they're ready to drop and they are gone! x

Lulu Right back at you

Someone has a problem with an Orchid, people offer advice and you turn into a Manchester thing?

She probably moved it and all the petals fell off. Nice tiles.

It looks like one of the 'stickman' family.

I'd imagine they were dying and she thought she was helping it haha

I'm no gardener but basically that's fucked.

Did she actually touched your plant or flowers just fell off?
If she did, she may know how to take care of them, so maybe a good idea to ask for advice?

Stick with geraniums. They're indestructible 👍🏼😀🌸

After flowering cut the stem back to the 2nd. node and move it to a north or east facing windowsill and basically ignore it (water very sparingly) and a new flower shoot will appear, sometimes within a few weeks. I've got orchids 9, 10 years old that flower every few months, basically thriving on neglect. Never stand in full sun, that's one thing that often finishes them off.

Meh, I hate orchids. I would be glad.

Has the cleaner overwatered it- all the petals fell off mine in about 2 hrs flat

Meaning first world issues Mazzystarlett

Surely a flower being trimmed is hardly the end of world? Or maybe the op should sack her cleaner for something so trivial?

Did she clean your grouting with it?

Sorry - I have clean grouting envy

Just three pages in, I nominate for classics!