Rocky Raccoon was sitting on the Lowe’s clearance rack looking like he’d had a rough week.
The flower spike was finished, one lower leaf was yellowing, and the pot was dry enough to qualify as a desert exhibit. But the leaves were still thick, and there were enough decent-looking roots to suggest he wasn’t done yet.
The name fit immediately. He looked like he’d been in a few fights, lost some of them, and was still standing.
Lowe’s did try to charge me full price at the register.
That was not happening.
Rocky was on the clearance rack, and Rocky was leaving at the clearance price.
Now the flowers are gone and the recovery starts. The first step is to inspect the roots, find out whether there’s a nursery plug hiding in the pot, and give Rocky a chance to show that he has another round left in him.
Observations and updates
Newest first. Observations on the same date retain their original order.
2026-08-30 — Weekly Update
Photos
Observations
REQUIRED: Rocky is still very much in recovery mode, with those original leaves remaining floppy, but they’re staying green and the crown looks solid. About a month into the rescue, he continues to hold steady while we wait for that first clear sign of new growth.
Care
watered
2026-08-23 — Weekly Update
Photos
Observations
Rocky continues to look stable; the leaves are still floppy from his rough start, but they’re staying green and the crown looks healthy. Still recovering, with no signs that he’s moving backward.
Care
Watered.
2026-08-18 — Weekly Update
Photos
Observations
Rocky remains stable and is still recovering from the severe dehydration he came home with. His leaves are still floppy, but the plant is holding steady while we wait for new root or leaf growth.
Care
Watered
2026-08-09 — Weekly Update
Photos
Observations
Rocky remains in early recovery after repotting. The leaves are still somewhat relaxed, but the plant appears stable while it acclimates to the fresh media.
Care
Fertilized.
2026-08-03 — Weekly Update
Photos
Observations
Rocky Raccoon — Day 2 Rocky’s leaves are still pretty floppy today, but that isn’t a surprise. He was extremely dry when I brought him home, and one good soak wasn’t going to undo all of that overnight. I repotted him yesterday and found the nursery plug we suspected, but the good news is that most of the roots were still in decent shape. For now, I’m leaving him alone to settle into the fresh bark and watching for the leaves to slowly firm up or for new root growth to start. I’m documenting the whole process as I go, and a complete orchid rescue guide is coming soon.
2026-08-02 — The Rescue
Event
Rocky Raccoon was found on the clearance rack at Lowe’s in Keller, Texas.
The initial photograph was taken at Lowe’s before any care or treatment was performed.
Photos
What Happened
Rocky Raccoon was purchased and brought into the orchid collection for recovery.
No watering, trimming, root work, or repotting had been performed when this entry was recorded.
Observations
- Six leaves: five green and one lower leaf yellowing
- Leaves slightly dehydrated and droopy
- Some cosmetic leaf damage
- Some dead aerial roots
- Silver and greenish roots visible through the clear plastic pot
- One dead flower spike
- No flowers or known buds
- Potted in bark
- Clear plastic pot inside a decorative white outer container
Concerns
- Dehydration
- Dead roots
- Possible nursery plug
The suspected nursery plug has not been confirmed. The suspicion is based on the visible condition of the plant and pot.
Next Steps
- Inspect the root system
- Confirm whether a nursery plug is present
- Determine whether repotting is needed
- Establish an appropriate watering and recovery plan
- Monitor leaf hydration and new growth