'I thought my orchid was dead for months - a simple hack brought it back to life'

RHS

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The Royal Horticultural Society shares helpful gardening tips

Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 26/07/2025

- 12:30

More often than not, a supermarket plant pot can harm the flower itself, a green-fingered TikToker warned

With their exotic and glamorous look, it’s no wonder why orchids have attracted plant-lovers of all levels of experience.

A species which is bursting with various shapes, sizes and shades, the houseplant can yield regular blooms - as long as it is provided with the right tender, love and care, which can be a challenge.


TikToker and plant lover Ashley Hess, who goes by @thehesshomestead_023, shared her tip on how to look after her indoor orchid, claiming that "orchids are a total scam", given the way that they are sold at supermarkets.

She explained how people end up often "tossing it" after the first sign of trouble, but she offered a helpful tip for those unwilling to give up on the flower.

Ashley Hess speaking to her followers

@thehesshomestead_023/TikTok

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Plenty of people 'toss' the plant after it dies in the original supermarket pot

First, she broke the plant out of the tub, when she was later able to aerate the roots and clean out the soil between each individual root.

"They don’t want to be like this, this is what I’ve learned," she told followers. "They do not want to be tightly confined like this."

Emphasising the importance of being gentle with its roots, Ashley showed the way she rinses off the roots of any remaining soil.

LATEST GARDENING HACKS

And, finally, she says to grab a jar of water and place the plant in the vase. She advised changing the water to keep it clean.

"This was my orchid that was dead on my table for months," she said incredulously, adding: "It just had the leaves and this stem and it stopped. The roots are almost non-existent."

Now, she noted that her plant grew an entire stem and was able to flower again, as Ashley exclaimed: "How beautiful!"

"Get them out of those little prisons!" she instructed.

Yellow orchid in a plant pot on a window sill

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Orchids are a beginner-friendly plant

However, a number of users warned others against experimenting with this method since the water exacerbates the plant’s chances of developing root rot - a concern echoed by a plant expert who goes as Orchid Whisperer on YouTube.

In response to the worry, Ashley said: "In the wild, they cling to trees and get airflow around their roots, which makes total sense. I think different methods work depending on your space and climate."

Indeed, the "water culture growing method", as it has been named, can work with orchids, although it varies depending on specific species and surrounding climates.

To make sure you achieve the best results possible, it is best to investigate what sort of plant you have, and what environments and care-taking methods yield the most magnificent results.