How long should I keep a dead orchid?

Just a point re poinsettias: The red part is neither a leaf nor is it a flower; it is a bract. The flowers are those tiny insignificant things you can see if you look closely

I can't keep them, but I do quite like having some in the house at Christmas. Then they go out because the bracts and leaves all start dropping off due to my tender loving care.
DD can grow them to 6' or more in her garden in the tropics.

I did remember to water my neglected orchids the other day after reading this thread and they look as if they will sprout flower stems again despite being forgotten.

I read recently that the British are very sentimental about their house planats. they try to keep a struggling plant going for ever and ever... the continentals use them as "cut flowers". When they've finished whatever they were meant to d, they are chicked on the compost heap and a new one purchased. I have to confess that I often do that!

So ... grapefruit, if you can bear it, chuck 'em out! Get another.

Phizz The poinsettias. I don't like them either. They need an awful lot of nurturing to get them flowering at Christmas. I once visited a nursery where they showed how they do it. They had automatic shutters to control the light so they flower just when they want them to. They basically need something like 12hrs light and 12 hrs dark and closely monitored temperatures

I don't like throwing any plant away if it stands half a chance of flowering.

I have great respect for those greenfingered orchid growing Grans who manage to do this.

Not clear what OP means by dead? Are the leaves brown and shrivelled? Or is she just referring to the flower stalk.
If leaves all dead, definitely chuck in bin! They are not bulbs/corms. If it has 3 or more healthy leaves then worth a bit of love if you have the space.
A new one costs a princely £6 in my local garden centre - price of a supermarket bouquet and lasts for months. I've got 3 on kitchen windowsills - a good position as it is shady and gets very little direct sunlight.

Bit off topic I know but the one plant I cannot abide is that thing with red leaves that comes out at Christmas. I hate the doggone things and always get at least 2 which, despite my treating them very badly, last...and last....and last.

I agree. Chuck it out! They look horrible when they are not flowering and are so inexpensive to buy these days. Life's too short!

It's very bad feng shui to keep dead flowers or plants in the house, you need a new one.

I have one that's four years old it's been flowering for 3 months now beautiful white flowers and it flowers twice sometimes three times a year. I don't dunk in water once a month, in fact I put a ice cube in once a week and that's all, I feed once in a while and clean the leaves occasionally. I get really great results it's the only flower that lives with my not so green fingers but if any of you have pinterest it will give no end of helpful tips on re-potting and caring for them.

Sometimes you don't need to cut the flower stem right down to the leaves as there can be viable buds on the stem which will send up more flowers if you cut just above them. Those buds just look a little more plumptious and promising and it is brilliant not to have to wait so long for more flowers.

How can you throw a living plant away? They flower for a few months each year and then build their strength to flower again the following year - like most plants in the garden.

When they have finished flowering just cut the stem back (down to where it meets the leaves). Continue watering (once a week, from the bottom - and possibly with addition of orchid feed). One year on you will get the most glorious shower of flowers. I had 73 flowers on this plant last year.

Know what you mean Feelthefear I am very frugal too.
My friends know that too so when one moved a year before we did she gave me her 9 orchids to 'foster', or so I thought, but I ended up with them permanently and had far too many. When we moved we lost many of them in the first winter in our new home during all the renovations because we had no heating until it was spring. (It nearly killed me too!)
They do like a minimum temperature of 13c, a humid atmosphere and to be kept in a well lit spot but not direct sun. You mustn't wet the crown either as rot can set in.
I had 56 at the peak but am now down to a more manageable 6 and have decided it will never get to that point again as it ceased to become a pleasure and was a real chore. It is good to share them!

After flowering in 2014 I cut the stalk right down on an M&S orchid and left it with just its leaves and funny roots on a sheltered window sill and gave it a little drop of water occasionally so it didn't stand in water. Last May it started to produce several stems of flowers and the last flower fell off just a few weeks ago! I did cut off the final stem and put in a long thin vase and had that to look at for ages. Might try again with it if it's not exhausted

this is the 3rd year my sons orchid has bloomed, he cuts the stems down (about half way down)when the flowers have died off and leaves it, he now has 3 new buds showing.

Perfect timing for a thread for me, I've just been dutifully watering and feeding the 5 flowerless orchids I have, and wondering whether to call time on them. I have quite a good record of orchid revival (or so I thought.. the fact I have 5 deadola ones could prove that wrong!).
Problem is, I'm too tight frugal to give up on them. Might see if I get one for Mothers Day and start a one-in-one-out policy

I agree with all the good advice above I have some that are 5yrs old and eventually they mostly reflower when I'm least expecting it.

If you ever go to Kew Gardens they have the orchids growing naturally , no soil just the plants hanging in wire baskets , the air roots hang down from the bottom and the flower stalks take off at all angles they are quite spectacular, of course they are in a really humid hothouse and love it.

If you are quick they have an Orchid Festival on till March 6th well worth a visit
..http://www.kew.org/about/press-media/press-releases/orchid-festival-2016-%E2%80%93-carnival-tropical-colour-kew-gardens

My brother has a windowsill full of orchid plants. The secret apparently is to let the roots see daylight. That's why they're always in transparent pots. Seems like their natural habitat is growing on tree branches. Hence the roots needing natural light.I gave him three of mine & now have two silk ones.☺

Leaves are the most obvious signs of life but failing that if you dunk it in rainwater and the roots start to plump up a bit and even take on a greenish tinge there is a little life left and if you have nothing better to do then you could nurse it.
It is a bit like watching paint dry though so, as others have said, they are not expensive in the supermarkets nowadays so why not treat yourself to one which already has lovely blooms?

I'm not that fond of orchids, but was given one for my birthday in July 2014; it flowered until December, then did nothing until October 2015 when it started to flower again. This February it's still in full bloom with about 15 flowers.
I did what the instructions said. Put the pot in water for 15 minutes once a week, and feed occasionally. I have a spray which I spray on the leaves about once a month. During the dormant period I continued to put in water once a week, and the whole time its been on a windowsill facing South West.
I'm not green fingered so am quite proud of managing to keep it alive!

Or you could give it to my sister in law - the plant rescuer

'Could well increase' (duh)

Oh, don't even go there! Kind friends have on occasions given me orchids and I groan inwardly as they stroll up the drive with them. I know it will take one look at me and die!

My SisIL gave me a silk one - now you're talking!

It depends if it still has healthy looking leaves (even with shrivelled air roots mine have recovered and new air roots have appeared).

Chop back the flower stem to a few inches, put it in a cool but light place, water occasionally, wipe the leaves with damp kitchen towel once in a blue moon.
Take it out of the ceramic pot, leave it just in the clear plastic pot to allow light to get to the roots.
You can water with orchid feed.
If it doesn't sprout after a year then throw it on the compost heap.
The number of flower stems could well year on year.

ha ha ha

Am I the only one who does not like orchids? I much prefer a bunch of spring tulips.

A friend once bought me an orchid and I dutifully read up on the care needed and followed it faithfully including misting it from time to time. It lasted and lasted and the flowers never dropped and for more than two years it was still going strong. Only then did I notice that it was a silk one and never would have changed so I donated it to the charity shop.

Hi grapefruit. My husband seems to have healing powers when it comes to orchids and often buys sad-looking ones cheaply then 'revives' them once home with tlc. This involves keeping them in direct sunlight but but in a cool room(uses the spare, unheated bedroom in winter), waters with rainwater using a spray once a fortnight, and feeding them with a special liquid he gets from the garden centre - 'orchid grow'. It's dear but you only use a few drop each time. Also lots of patience is involved. They can be dormant for months, then suddenly bloom again and look beautiful. Good luck!