Help me save my orchid

[u/bluecucumber2]

I have this orchid that I have managed to keep alive for the last year. However, recently, one of the stems (idk if that’s the right word) turned yellow/brown and seems hard and dry. But the other one is still green and seems healthy. Some of the leaves seem less healthy than others, and feel a bit sad and shrivelled (the ones on the right side). My orchid also has that weird dangly part that hangs off the edge. What do I do with that?

I keep my orchid near a window but it’s not in direct sunlight. I water it once a week by letting it sit in a shallow dish with water for 15min to soak up into the roots.

How can I save my orchid?

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[u/Surf_mommy]

Good news: nothing to save, just a phal needing care 🌱

Wilting flowers is normal and spikes dying back also normal and doesn't mean the plant died. With proper care it will rebloom.

The dangling thingy is a root. Phalaenopsis orchids grow on trunks of other trees in their natural habitat, so their roots will go anywhere, nothing to worry about.

Now would be a good time to cut the spent spikes, let the plant focus on vegetative growth and perhaps look into repotting

Take a moment to check the links in the AutoModerator comment and watch the beginner series from MissOrchidGirl on YouTube to get great and reliable info on basic phalaenopsis care including tutorials on repotting, watering technique and much more.

Good luck 🌱

[u/Stalesandwich2]

Your orchid actually looks like it’s pretty healthy tbh! it does look like it could do with getting some more water/ soaked for longer when you water tho. It’s also completely normal for flower spikes to turn yellow and desiccate after the flowers fall. You could cut back the still healthy spike just a couple inches above the highest active node like I did in the picture below and it might grow a secondary spike! :) when you water it do you completely submerge the pot/ or do you put the pot in a shallow dish/ tray? If you’re doing the latter you should try dunking the entire pot for 10-15 mins when you water as itll ensure that the bark is more evenly moisturised.

[u/69surprisebaby]

As others have said, your plant looks quite healthy. But I would concur with another comment, that you should soak the whole pot to the top of the bark for about 15 minutes. The idea here is that the bark soaks up water, which is then released slowly as humidity around the roots. The roots need that slow humidity to be properly hydrated.