Orchid SOS (pic)

[puylentil]

Can anyone help me revive this orchid please? It was ailing and given to me by a neighbour. The leaves look green and not beyond rescue. I've very little experience with orchids. Please can someone advise what I should do with it now?

It looks fine, give it an egg cup full of rain water once a week and put on a sunny but not too sunny windowsill.

I'd cut the old flower stems back.

You have to be very patient with orchids, it may not flower again for ages.

Thank you! Should I cut the old flower stems right back to the base?

What about old roots that look dead? Should I trim them too?

Should I repot?

I never repot my orchids and have had them for years. Every 3 weeks or so I fill the pot up with water for 10 min to a few hours to soak, then drain. Every now and then I add a few drops of orchid food (in the supermarket). They flower once a year for several months.

You can repot if you like, I'd look for a size up from the pot it's on. They have to have the clear pots (like the one it's in now) and you have to use orchid compost/bark.

I'd leave the roots alone.

The flower stems - if they look green you cut them back to the top third flower shoot. But you can also cut them off altogether because in that case the plant will just grow a new flower stem. No need to trim back old roots in my experience.

Mine does well with one of those drip feeders that you leave poked in the bark.

I do the same as @ichundich . With the same results.

A week in a slightly cooler room triggers flowers once it has grown another pair.

Thanks all! I'll leave the brown dry roots alone then. Some of the greener roots have crept out - are they ok like that? I'd rather not repot if possible, as it sounds a bit complex and I might end up killing the plant!

Also, I've read articles that say if the plant grows a new stem immediately, cut it back, as it needs time to recuperate before it can flower effectively. Should I do that? I'm not super bothered about the size of the flowers, or even flowering really, I just want to keep it alive and happy.

The type of orchid it is needs a new pair of leaves before a new stem will grow. If it re grows from the base of the new stem then it won't come to harm... Just keep it well fed.

Regrowth from the old stem... Obviously. <Doh>

Yes, they’re meant to be out. It would harm the orchid to try to tuck its roots into a pot

It’s not ailing, it’s very healthy

Thanks so much everyone