Question
QUESTION: well not sure if I have killed it or not; this is the first orchid I have owned so when I brought it home I repotted it in dirt. I also pot the roots on the inside of the pot, I have since took the roots out on the side of the pot and washed them off the rest of the plant is still in dirt the roots look sort of shrivled. should I try to replant it in bark or is it to late. What to you do to care for it when it is finished blooming??? Thanks Nita

ANSWER: Hello Nita,

Hopefully it is not too late to save the orchid you potted in dirt.  It would be better to repot it into orchid bark which should help revive it - hopefully.  

With just one orchid (you didn't say what kind it was), probably a small bag of orchid bark should be fine.  When you are ready, unpot the orchid and wash off as much of the dirt as you can from the roots and the pot.  Try feeling the roots, which should be plump and firm when squeezed.  Of course, depending upon the type of orchid, the roots could be nice and fat or more like strings but in any case, there should be a coating called velamen on the roots.  If there are any soft mushy roots, cut them off as they are dead and rotten.  Place a enough bark in the pot to cover the bottom then lower the roots and orchid into it until the bottom growth is just below the pot rim.  Add more bark all around until the pot is full then gently press down to slightly compact it and more as needed to refill the pot.  Water it thoroughly then place it in a warm shady place for several weeks, during this time water it only enough to keep it barely moist.  Afterwards, put it back where you had been growing it.  

I'd love to tell you more but without knowing what kind of orchid it is, I might tell you the wrong things.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the advise the flower look like white butterflys and the roots (I thought) were suppose to be outside the pot???? Long stems and white flowers with rounded bloosoms that look like butterflys and yellow centers...

ANSWER: Hi again Nita,

Not quite sure what kind of orchid you have but it sort of sounds like a Miltonia or Miltoniopsis orchid from your description.  You might try Google-ing both names to see what comes up looks like yours.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: the stems on the orchird got brown all the blooms has dropped off. So I cut the stems down to the leafs. the leafs are still green but the roots that are sticking out are all dry. Does that mean it is dead or will it come back. How often to they grow new stems and blooms??

Answer
Hi Nita,

As long as the leaves are green, there is hope!  Although the exposed roots might be dead, hopefully those within the pot are still alive.  One sign that all the roots are dead would be leaves beginning to droop over and feeling somewhat soft.  If this happens, you might try placing it in a large plastic bag to create a mini-greenhouse environment.  Water it then allow excess water to drain out before placing it in the bag.  Keep it in a warm shady place, checking once a week to see how it is doing.  Hopefully after several months you will see new root growth starting.  Once these new roots are over 2 inches long, take it out of the bag and care for it.  

Hope this helps save it.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.