Step six: alternate soaking and drying
Here’s the thing. Your orchid’s roots will not (yet) be happy to live in water all the time. And as you know, too much water equals root rot. So, you’ll need to develop a system that alternates soaking the roots with letting them dry out completely. You could start by soaking your orchid during the day, and drying the roots completely overnight (in a dry pot).
Be sure to use fresh water every day — or at least, every other day — to reduce bacteria. And, remember to wash your orchid pot with mild dish soap before you add fresh water.
Keep an eye on your orchid’s roots throughout the process. If you notice roots becoming mushy or developing white mold, it helps to extend the soak/dry times (or just the dry times). Perhaps soak your orchid for 24 hours then let it dry for 24 hours — and see if that improves things.
If you need to fight off white mold, use 3% hydrogen peroxide — thoroughly spritz the roots to kill off bacteria and mold. Let the roots dry completely after you spray them.
In the soaking process, you may loose some roots that are unhappy sitting in water. But, not to worry — new roots will grow in their place that LOVE water. Orchids have an amazing ability to adapt to varying levels of humidity (water = 100% humidity).
But. Orchids adjust slowly. The drying periods are super important, to give the orchid some periods of normalcy to help make the change in environment less drastic.
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What’s next? Repotting and other questions
How long should I use the soaking method?
Look for signs of improvement — leaves perking up/plumping up, and new root and leaf growth. If your orchid is seriously dehydrated, it could be a month before you see positive leaf change, and several more months before you see a new leaf begin to emerge. Patience!
How do I re-pot my orchid?
Once your orchid is healthy and hydrated again, if you want to pot it back into bark (for example) you’ll need to adjust it slowly back to a dry environment by extending its dry periods and gradually reducing its soaking water level (down to just an inch of water).
Alternatively, you could continue to extend your orchid’s soaking time, and adapt it toward a hydroponic or semi-hydroponic lifestyle.
If you’d like to try a semi-hydroponic set up, consider using LECA beads and this method developed by Michael from Michael’s Orchids (a terrific resource for orchid care).
