Poorly moth orchid

Hi peeps

Here's my first post as a new poster from GW. Not about an outdoor plant but an indoor moth orchid.

I purchased it in bloom from IKEA for £1 couple of years ago thinking I could revive it. It was looking a bit sad but had a few buds and blooms which lasted a few weeks. I should add that the stem from which they were blooming was woody near the bottom.
Once they died off there were no spikes for future blooms, therefore following some research I cut the stem down to less than an inch to encourage a new stem to grow however this hasn't happened. there have been new frond however they haven't got that lovely lush green waxy shine to them. I tried repotting it last year cut away dead roots and placed in orchid bark with lidl orchid feed (perhaps too much / strong unsure?) and the photos are of what it look like currently.

For the duration of it's time in my house, it's been located in my tiny bathroom which can very humid, hot and cold as need to keep bathroom windows slightly open to prevent too much condensation. The roots seem to be growing until a few months back which is why I decided to keep going with it but I'm not holding much hope now unless someone can convince me otherwise.

Looking forward to getting any advice you might have, thanks in advance.

Caz :-)

 

I far from knowing much about orchids but the roots do look a bit on the dry side .

 

I think its recoverable but it wont be easy.
You really need a better position, they like stable temperatures all year round and a draughty window sill will be too cold in winter especially.

Somewhere around 15c min but warmer if possible, with good light and humid, a couple of sprays a day with water will help, the compost needs to be slightly damp and allowed to dry out to some extent between waterings.

It could be a slow process..

 

I wouldn't feed it until it looks healthy, (I have never fed my mine). Personally I would have put in a smaller pot.

 

Agree with @pete, sometimes its just not worth the wait for it to recover which will be many months given ideal conditions.

Think we would say goodbye, was worth a try to save it, but after so long ... plenty more lovely Phals /Moths out there in full flower for quiet low prices in most supermarkets etc.

 

It's a shame @Caz2024 your plant has got into this state but last year one of mine was somewhat similar I, too, repotted it back into the same pot with fresh orchid compost but six months or so later it finally died on me. I'd kept it successfully for at least 3 years before that. It was a lovely yellow one that flowered every year for me. I don't know what I did wrong, perhaps I overwatered it, but there were 2 more in the same window in our kitchen & they have both survived & both have new flower scapes for this year. These have also flowered several times with me.

BTW, welcome to Gardeners Corner!
.

 

hello ☺️

 

Hi everyone thanks for all your helpful feedback and advice, it's been really helpful.

Yeah I think it's had it's day @pete and @ricky101

Think I'll let it go and get another one

Thanks all again

 

Before you let it go.....

I know hardly anything about orchids, I've got one that was a birthday present over 2 years ago and it's never flowered since. Last week I came across someone on the internet that suggested putting the roots in water (not the crown). It now appears to be thriving, obviously time will tell, but it maybe worth a go.

Have a google about growing orchids in water.

 

Thanks @Jenny_Aster I'll give it ago can't do any harm....

 

I've had a few in glass jars with some water at the bottom, mine are OK but hardly thriving obviously the dark days of winter are not a good time to try it.
Things might pick up now spring is coming.

 

Thanks @pete :-)

 

I've read about putting the roots in water as well but I've never tried it.

I have two plants in the traditional transparent pots which I repotted last year back into their original pots but with new orchid compost. The grew well & flowered & this year they are flowering again! This will be their third year with me - so I must be doing something right!
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I have several phalaenopsis and I agree about a constant temperature to help them grow naturally. I always water and mist with rainwater - kept inside in old squash bottles to reach ambient temperature. Once a month I soak the complete pot in rain water for 30 minutes and allow to drain thoroughly. Some of my orchids are 10 years old and they go through spells where they look a little like yours @Caz2024. The 'blackened' look to the leaves can be caused by the orchid being subjected to cold temperatures.

 

It looks very dehydrated. You need to put the whole plant into a bucket of rain water and then allow all the water to drain through. Do not cut off the roots outside. Then put the plant on a saucer of gravel and mist it to allow the humidity to increase.