Have I lost the life of my orchid?

Question

I have a orchid that is in my bathroom on a shelf. I keep it there because I feel the humidity from the shower gives it the moisture it needs. It bloomed about a month ago. The blooms have fallen off and one of the leaves have turned brown. The stem the blooms were on is also brown. There are 2 nice, green leaves left. Have I lost this orchid or is it still alive. What do I do?

Answer 1

If you have been cultivating the orchid correctly (watering, fertilizing, proper sunlight, etc.) and the plant is not affected with pests and fungi, then the browning of the leaf and the flower stem or spike is normal. In time leaves do change color and so do spikes especially after all the flowers have faded. Examine the discoloration of the leaves, leaves must turn yellow from the tip first and cannot be easily pulled off from the plant. Diseased plants discolor from the base of the leaf that is attach to the main stem of the plant and they can be easily pulled off from the plant. In which case the plant maybe infected with a fungus. Apply fungicide liberally (but carefully), withhold fertilizing and reduce watering.

Answer 2

It may not get the light it needs in your bathroom. If the leaf is resting on something, like the pot rim, that will often kill the leaf. Don't ever allow water to run down into the heart of the plant (the place where the leaves all converge together, water collecting there can cause the plant to rot. You also want to avoid getting water on the leaves when watering. Orchids only need watered about once a week. Take the container and dunk the pot in a 5 gallon bucket full of water or in a trash can full of water, making sure not to get the leaves wet or especially the above the heart of the plant. Then allow the water to thoroughly drain. That's really it as far as all the watering you need to do unless you have an orchid that has plants growing atop the base plants. Then you need to mist the roots that are in the air with water about once a day to keep the top plants alive. Avoid sudden changes in temperature. Most orchids like indirect sunlight. If you think the plant needs more humidity, place a pan underneath the pot and fill it with small rocks and water. This will increase the humidity around the plant. Clay or terracotta pots are normally preferred to plastic pots because they breathe better.

I learned most of what I know about orchids from two different orchid nurseries.

I'd say the plant is still alive, but a little more improper care and it will be dead.

Answer 3

If you do not know how to grow orchids, then you will have great difficulty in keeping them. We have many of them, they hold their flowers for months. We grow them in pots containing wood chips, you do not use dirt. They are flushed with water at least once per week over and over so the pot is flushed at least 3 or 4 times. You may want to read about how to grow and maintain these beautiful but difficult to grow plants.

Answer 4

most Orchids go through a dormancy period after blooming. if you have 2 nice healthy leaves, your plant is fine. If it is a phalaenopsis (or moth orchid) the dormancy should be short, some other orchids, however, can have very long dormancy periods.

Answer 5

Trim off the old flowers and brown leaves. It will bloom again in the future.

Answer 6

Is it getting enough natural light - not direct sunlight. Don't give up just because one or two leaves have turned brown.

Answer 7

it's a freaking orchid! get another one.

Answer 8

yes