Overwatered Holy ghost orchid

Symptoms of overwatering include limp and wrinkled leaves, yellowing or decay, and general failure to thrive. When Holy ghost orchid owners see their plant’s leaves looking limp and shriveled, they can sometimes assume that is a sign that it isn’t getting enough water so they keep adding more. This just compounds the problem, so it’s important to look beyond the leaves to identify what’s happening with the roots. Healthy Holy ghost orchid roots are silvery green, green, or white and feel firm to the touch. When Holy ghost orchid has been overwatered, the roots will look mushy, limp, and brown or black in color.

Rescue an overwatered Holy ghost orchid by cutting off any rotted roots with a sterile knife or garden shears and repotting them into a new growing medium. It is always better to avoid overwatering because it is possible you won’t be able to save your plant if root rot sets in, so be conservative with water to avoid this issue.

Underwatered Holy ghost orchid

Unfortunately, the initial symptoms of underwatering and overwatering are almost identical in Holy ghost orchid. Check the growing medium with your finger or a moisture meter to get a sense of how much water is being retained. You may need to increase the frequency of watering to get back on track with watering.

Once again, the best way to understand the situation is to take a look at the roots. Underwatered roots look crisp, brown, and brittle. Healthy roots are pliable and green, so the difference should be obvious. Luckily it’s easy to revive a thirsty Holy ghost orchid, as long as the plant still has some healthy roots left.

Trim off any dried up or dead root pieces, as they won’t be able to come back to life. Then repot the plant and water thoroughly. Within a week or two, shriveled and limp leaves should start to firm up and look healthy. If the leaves are too damaged to be revived once you water them thoroughly, they can be removed to make room for new growth.

Regardless of which type of medium you use, your Holy ghost orchid should be watered when the mix is mostly but not completely dry. This can vary depending on the environmental conditions, but generally it will be about once or twice a week in summer and as infrequently as once every 2 weeks in winter.

Holy ghost orchid is a epithet plant, which means that they do not grow in soil as most plants do. In order to grow a happy and healthy Holy ghost orchid, you’ll need to choose your growing medium carefully.

Regardless of what your Holy ghost orchid grows in, the container needs to have plenty of drainage holes. Holy ghost orchid pots are specifically designed to hold a chunky potting mix with lots of ventilation compared to other plant pots. They also tend to be tall and narrow, allowing air to circulate around the center of the roots, not just the edges.

One popular potting medium for Holy ghost orchid and other Holy ghost orchid is bark. It is generally sourced from fir trees and drains very well. Since Holy ghost orchid grows on bark in the wild, it makes sense that they would do well with a similar substrate when grown indoors. The disadvantage of using bark is that the plant needs watering more often since bark dries out quickly.

The other common planting medium for orchids in sphagnum moss. Most commercially grown Holy ghost orchid specimens will be sold in moss, because it is lightweight, cheap, and it allows nurseries to water less often. Unfortunately, sphagnum moss is not very forgiving for those who aren't experts in orchids. Because it is extremely absorbent, moss runs the risk of holding too much water next to the roots, resulting in root rot.

If your Holy ghost orchid is planted in sphagnum and you plan to keep it that way, be very judicious in your watering. Less is more when it comes to watering in general, and it is quite difficult to reverse root rot once it has set in.

Watering your Holy ghost orchid from below is recommended, as this allows you to avoid splashing water on the leaves, stem, and flowers. To water from below, set the pot into a container of water and allow the roots to soak up moisture for 10-15 minutes. Normally, you can stop this process when the surface of sphagnum is wet. Drain thoroughly before returning your Holy ghost orchid to its normal location, as these plants hate to sit in water.

The usual goal for the Holy ghost orchid is to have it grow as big and full as possible. While the plant doesn’t require consistent trimming, it can benefit by removing old flowers and any damaged, dead, or diseased leaves. You can also trim back the leaves if it is starting to get too big for the pot and space you are keeping it.

Holy ghost orchid don’t have a winter dormancy cycle at the suitable temperature. With that said, their growth does slow down as the days get shorter, however the leaves don’t die. What does that mean for pruning? It means there’s no specific season where it’s better to prune. Ideally, you will want to wait until the flower blooms before pruning it, which can take about a month after the appearance of the blossom. With deadheading, you’ll want to do this around late spring or when only a few of the blossoms have faded. You should always prune brown or yellow leaves when you notice them. Throughout the growing phase, make sure to pay close attention to any potential diseased leaves and remove these as necessary.

Once you’ve pruned your plant, you should dispose of the stems and leaves either by composting the healthy ones or throwing out the diseased parts. You can also fertilize just before or after pruning, which gives Holy ghost orchid a little vitamin boost that can provide it the nutrients needed to better protect itself from any nearby pathogens or diseases. You don’t need much after care when you’re done pruning. It might benefit from light watering and some liquid plant food to encourage new blooms and growth.

Chances are you’re not getting the Holy ghost orchid from seed, which means you’re already getting a mature plant. Since the plant doesn’t have a true dormancy cycle, there are really only two phases: blooming and non-blooming. While the plant is blooming, you should only remove yellow or dead leaves and cut off any brown tips on the leaves. Avoid doing too much pruning during this time as it can stress the plant. Still, you should remove any diseased or dead leaves to keep your plant presentable. The best time to prune is after the blossoms have already wilted. You can remove both the spent blossoms and any old and yellowed leaves at the same time. If you’re noticing a large amount of yellow leaves, you might be overwatering your plant or not giving it enough nutrients. While yellow or brown leaves don’t always mean there’s an issue, if you notice a large amount of leaves shifting colors, it usually means there’s a problem with the plant.

As an evergreen plant, Holy ghost orchid doesn’t have the same cycles as those found in colder areas. The leaves will remain green throughout the year, which is one of the many reasons it is a popular houseplant. If you want to deadhead, you should do so after the blossoms have already wilted. Throughout the growing phase, make sure to pay close attention to any potential diseased leaves and remove these as necessary.

How you prune the Holy ghost orchid will depend on whether you’re performing general care or deadheading. For general care, simply cut off the blossoms that have already died. Make sure to get as close to the base as possible and snip at a 45-degree angle. Repeat this for all stalks with wilting blooms. After that, trim back any outer leaves that are old and yellowing. If you simply want to thin the plant out, start with the outermost leaf and work your way in. Avoid removing more than 30 percent of the leaves at once. Throughout the growing phase, make sure to pay close attention to any potential diseased leaves and remove these as necessary.

Holy ghost orchid requires about 3-6 hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. However, it also needs some shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent sun damage. Morning sunlight is ideal for Holy ghost orchid, but it can also tolerate some afternoon sun if the temperature is not too hot. To provide the perfect balance of sunlight, try planting Holy ghost orchid in an area that gets partial sun, such as under a tree or on the east side of a building.

If Holy ghost orchid is exposed to too much direct sunlight, its leaves may turn yellow, dry out, or even burn. You may also notice that the plant wilts or becomes stunted. To prevent sun damage, make sure to give Holy ghost orchid some shade during the hottest parts of the day. You can use a shade cloth or plant Holy ghost orchid near taller plants that can provide some natural shade.

If Holy ghost orchid doesn't get enough sunlight, it may grow tall and lanky, with sparse foliage. The leaves may also turn yellow or pale green, indicating that the plant is not producing enough chlorophyll due to lack of sunlight. To remedy this, try moving Holy ghost orchid to a sunnier spot, or prune nearby foliage to allow more light to reach the plant.

Fertilization is important to the Holy ghost orchid for several general reasons. Mainly, fertilization helps Holy ghost orchid and other plants by providing key nutrients that help the plant grow both above and below ground. However, the overall fertilization needs for a Holy ghost orchid are relatively low.

At times, a Holy ghost orchid may survive well without fertilization. However, annual fertilization is can be very beneficial to the Holy ghost orchid, as it will help keep the plant alive and may also encourage your Holy ghost orchid to create better flowers that last for longer. As such, those interested in helping their Holy ghost orchid look its best should keep up with annual fertilization.

The ideal time to fertilize a Holy ghost orchid is in the late winter to early spring. During that time, your Holy ghost orchid will be exiting its dormant phase and entering a phase of active growth. Fertilization at this time allows the plant to get off to a great start for the season by encouraging healthy growth.

While it is generally most advantageous to fertilize a Holy ghost orchid during the early spring, it is also permissible to fertilize a Holy ghost orchid during the fall too. However, summer and winter remain the seasons in which it is not a good idea to feed a Holy ghost orchid.

You should not fertilize your Holy ghost orchid during any time of the year except during the late winter and early spring. The low fertilization needs of this plant allow a single annual feeding to suffice. Continuing to fertilize throughout spring, summer, and fall can easily lead to overfertilization and all of the complications that can come with it. The only exception is if you did not fertilize in spring, which means that it is permissible to feed this plant in fall.

Along with refraining from fertilizing for most of the growing season, there is also no reason to fertilize this plant during the winter. In winter, the Holy ghost orchid will be in a dormant growth phase, meaning that it does not put forth new growth. With that being the case, fertilization during most of the winter is not advisable.

Nearly any kind of general-purpose fertilizer with a balanced amount of the three main plant nutrients will work well for a Holy ghost orchid. However, there are a few specific nutrient blends that can be even more beneficial. For instance, many gardeners follow the belief that higher volumes of phosphorus make for stronger roots and better flowers. Since Holy ghost orchid is a flowering plant, applying a phosphorus-rich fertilizer may be the best approach.

You can use a fertilizer that comes in a granular form or a liquid form as long as there are plenty of nutrients present. Outside of manufactured fertilizers, you can also use more organic means to improve the soil for your Holy ghost orchid. Mainly, compost, manure, and similar materials can go a long way towards creating a healthy growing medium for your Holy ghost orchid.

The most common way to fertilize a Holy ghost orchid is to apply a granular or pellet fertilizer to the soil around your plant. Remember that the ideal time to fertilize is as the plant is exiting its winter dormant growth phase and entering a phase of active growth. In early spring, wait until the plant begins to send shoots through the soil, and then apply your fertilizer.

Some people may choose to use a liquid fertilizer instead of a granular one. In that case, you should dilute the fertilizer with water before applying it. Regardless of whether you use granular or liquid fertilizer, it is always best to moisten the soil before, during, and after you apply fertilizer.

As you care for your Holy ghost orchid, recall that this plant does not need a lot of fertilizer each year and will begin to suffer if it receives too much. Firstly, any overfertilized plant runs the risk of fertilizer burn, a condition in which excessive amounts of fertilizer draw nutrients and moisture out of the plant's roots, causing its decline.

Also, overfertilizing a Holy ghost orchid is also a way of weakening your plant and making disease far more likely. There is also a potential that overfertilization could cause your Holy ghost orchid to flower less or not at all, which is a significant detriment considering the blooms of this plant are what make it so valuable and sought after by so many gardeners.