Q&A – My lilies [orchids] are dying. What can I do to save them?
Question:
My lilies [orchids] are dying. What can I do to save them?
Answer:
The questioner mis-identified her plants. This is an orchid. It is planted in a glass cup which does not allow for drainage. Orchids require good drainage, in fact they like drainage that is so good that all the water drains away. Gardener Peter Richards explains that in the wild orchids grow on the sides of trees where they only get water when it is raining. To save this orchid repot it in a pot that drains or better yet remove all the peat moss and repot it into orchid bark which mimics the side of a tree.
Related Videos:
Keeping Your Orchid Alive
When repotting an orchid should I put the air roots in the potting medium?
Related Resources:
Growing Orchids in the Home
Growing orchids for beginners
Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum species; easy orchids to grow as houseplants
My lilies [orchids] are dying. What can I do to save them?
Answer:
The questioner mis-identified her plants. This is an orchid. It is planted in a glass cup which does not allow for drainage. Orchids require good drainage, in fact they like drainage that is so good that all the water drains away. Gardener Peter Richards explains that in the wild orchids grow on the sides of trees where they only get water when it is raining. To save this orchid repot it in a pot that drains or better yet remove all the peat moss and repot it into orchid bark which mimics the side of a tree.
Related Videos:
Keeping Your Orchid Alive
When repotting an orchid should I put the air roots in the potting medium?
Related Resources:
Growing Orchids in the Home
Growing orchids for beginners
Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum species; easy orchids to grow as houseplants