Reviving A Mini Orchid
For almost 8 years, I have always had orchids (Phalaenopsis) as houseplants. I enjoy their long-lasting, showy blooms and big, green leaves. Despite their delicate and exotic looks, orchids are actually quite low-maintenance. If cared for properly, orchid will flower year after year.
Currently I have two orchids: the first one is a regular size orchid that flowers every year; and the second one is a mini orchid not doing so well. The mini orchid was a plant rescue I found at a local nursery. When I first saw this tiny plant, it was just done blooming for the season. I was able to buy it for only $2.
I was eager to know what color the flowers would be, but unlike the big orchid, it never flowered. It was part of my fault - with job changes, stress of the pandemic, buying a house, packing, moving and unpacking, I hardly gave attention to the mini orchid. It started growing long roots outside of its pot, a sign of lacking moisture.
So I decided that I need to revive this poor little orchid and take better care of it. Otherwise it would not survive much longer, let alone ever have flowers. The steps I am going to take are as follows:
Mini-orchid Revival Plan
Transplant the orchid from its original tiny pot to a regular size orchid pot. The pot is made of clear plastic with big holes on the bottom. The larger size won’t restrict root growth and the big holes create good drainage. I am using a orchid potting mix designed for growing orchids . The orchid mix is a mixture of tree barks, charcoal, and sponge rocks. Such mixture can keep moisture and nutrients while allow excess water to drain. I’ve been using this orchid mix to grow my big orchid and so far I’m very satisfied with it.
Move the orchid to the bathroom and water the orchid at least once every 10 days. The east-facing window in my bathroom will provide some sunlight in the mornings that won’t burn the leaves. The orchid will also love the humidity the shower provides. I usually water my orchids by placing them in a sink and let water run through until the potting mix looks wet. Then I leave the plant in the sink and let the water drain completely before I take them back to the windowsill. This watering method is simple and effective. I just need to do it consistently so the orchid won’t dry out. If orchids are not getting enough water, their leaves will turn yellow and fall out.
Feed the orchid regularly using Miracle-Gro Ready-To-Use Orchid Plant Food every time I water the plant. Orchids, like most flowers, do better with regular feed. But sometimes I am too lazy to mix and apply fertilizers to my plants. Fortunately, this orchid food is in a spray bottle, no mixing required.
As an experiment, I will stick to this revival plan for 6 months and report back with the results. I hope this is enough to improve the health of the mini orchid and one day I’ll see it flower.