A gardening specialist has shared a simple method that could help orchids thrive for up to 20 years, according to a video from @growithjessie titled 'How To Keep Your Orchid Alive For 20 Years'.
In the video, Jessie explained that orchids often die easily, but she has found a way to keep them alive for decades. She said: "Orchids have a bad rep because they die so easily, but I figured out a way to keep them alive basically forever... Or at least 20 years. I heard if you put your orchid in water and leave it there for eternity, it will thrive a lot more than it does sitting in bark or soil."
Why orchids lose their flowers
Jessie also noted that orchids are seasonal bloomers, meaning their flowers fall off in winter but grow back in summer. Many people mistakenly throw the plants away when the flowers drop, but they do regrow.
In the video, Jessie removed her own orchid from its container. While the upper part of the plant appeared to be deteriorating, the roots were vibrant green and clearly still healthy, reports the Express.
How to switch orchids to water
By checking the colour and condition of the roots, orchid owners can tell which plants are worth saving. Jessie carefully separated the roots so they were no longer tangled together in a dense clump.
She then returned the orchid to its container without any bark or soil and topped it up with water. Growing orchids in water is known as "water culture orchids" or "hydroponic orchids".
According to specialists at Gardening Know How, this approach can enhance the health of struggling or ailing orchids. Most orchids thrive in a bark-based growing medium, but if the roots become overly waterlogged, they can develop root rot.
Removing the growing medium and cultivating the plants in water can prevent typical moisture-related problems. When orchids are grown in water, they are usually cycled between wet and dry periods, spending a few days in water and five days drying out.
