How to Care for Rotting Orchid Roots

Orchids are members of the Orchidaceae family, which contains more than 900 genera and approximately 25,000 separate species of exotic-looking, monocot flowering plants. Over-watering, which can quickly lead to root rot, is the most common faux pas committed by novice orchid growers. If your orchid starts to wilt and shrivel, it may be suffering from a rotting root system. Fortunately, reviving the health of your orchid is surprisingly simple.

Mild liquid antibacterial dish soap
Soft cloth
Pruning shears or gardening knife
Orchid potting mix (or redwood bark, peat moss, charcoal, volcanic stone and chopped tree fern fiber)

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the orchid from its planting container and discard the used orchid potting mix. Wash the planting container in a solution of warm water and mild liquid antibacterial dish soap and dry with a soft cloth.
- 2
  Hold the roots of the orchid under room temperature, gently running water to rinse off any remaining potting mix.
- 3
  Examine the root of your orchid carefully; healthy roots are stiff and turgid while rotting roots are brown, mushy and foul-smelling. Use a pair of sharpened and sterilized pruning shears or a gardening knife to carefully trim the rotting roots from your orchid's root system.
- 4
  Re-pot the orchid using fresh orchid potting mix. Combine equal parts redwood bark, charcoal, peat moss, volcanic stone and chopped tree fern fiber to create your own well-draining orchid potting mix, if desired.

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