Saving a Damaged Orchid: Can You Reattach Broken Flowers and Will the Plant Recover?

Question:

HELP! My orchid plant took a tumble—the pot was dropped and now the flowers have separated from the stems, though they're still connected to each other. I placed the detached flowers in a bowl of water yesterday, hoping to salvage them, and they seem to be holding up. The remaining plant has stem stubs and very small leaf pieces (I trimmed away the damaged parts) still attached to the roots. I've gathered the roots and repotted them in the same medium. My questions are:

1. How can I "repot" the flowers since they're disconnected from the roots—is that even possible?
2. Will the rooted portion recover and sprout new growth?

Please help... thank you!

Answer:

I'm assuming you have a Phalaenopsis orchid. You can save the rooted portion by repotting it in a fresh container with new orchid potting mix. Only the roots should go into the mix—remove any mushy or damaged roots first. Over the next few months, the plant should develop new roots and leaves. If you have a different type of orchid, the advice would change.

As for the detached flowers: you won't be able to root them. Enjoy the blossoms while they last.