Something
Something started out in the plant clearance section of a Publix grocery store in Naples, Florida. Her flowers were still hanging on, so she looked respectable from a distance, but the leaves told the real story. They were wrinkled and dehydrated, giving her the general appearance of an orchid that had recently crossed a desert—or at least spent too long waiting for somebody at Publix to remember the watering can.
She perked up after being repotted and given a proper soak. The upper leaves became noticeably less wrinkled, and she held onto her flowers for another couple of months before they finally began to fade. Around the same time, a tiny new leaf appeared, which was a reassuring sign that Something had plans beyond merely surviving the clearance rack.
Then came the move from Florida to Texas. Something survived the trip in her container, which was an accomplishment on its own, but she ended up severely dehydrated again. Apparently one cross-country crisis was not enough for her personal growth arc.
Fortunately, she recovered a second time. Over the following months she steadily produced a healthy new leaf and began growing fresh roots with bright green tips. She has not made the fastest or most dramatic recovery in the collection, but she keeps quietly improving—and after surviving Publix clearance, repotting, dehydration, interstate travel, and then more dehydration, Something has earned the right to take things at her own pace.
Observations and updates
Newest first. Observations on the same date retain their original order.
2026-08-30 — Weekly Update
Photos
Observations
REQUIRED: The newest leaves are firm and healthy, and that prominent root is still actively growing with a bright green tip; the older lower leaf continues its gradual decline, but nothing about it is concerning given all the active growth./do
Care
watered
2026-08-23 — Weekly Update
Photos
Observations
Something continues to look good. That new root is really taking off with a bright green active tip, and the newer leaves continue to develop while the older foliage remains stable.
Care
Watered.
2026-08-18 — Weekly Update
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Observations
Something is still moving along nicely. The newest leaf continues to grow and the prominent new root has lengthened considerably since 8/9, while the older foliage remains stable; the lowest leaf is showing its age, but with this much active new growth I’m not concerned about it.
Care
Watered
2026-08-09 — Weekly Update
Photos
Observations
Something continues active growth. The newest leaf is extending, and a healthy green root tip is growing over the edge of the pot.
Care
Fertilized.
2026-08-02 — Weekly Update
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Observations
Something continues her steady recovery this week, with noticeable growth in both the newest leaf and the active root. The older leaves remain firm and stable, and she has clearly shifted from simply surviving to actively rebuilding her root system and foliage.
2026-07-26 — Quietly Thriving
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Observations
By late July, Something had active leaf growth, active root growth, and firm foliage. After Publix clearance, dehydration, repotting, a move across the country, and more dehydration, she was finally looking established.
2026-07-19 — Steady Growth Wins
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Observations
The new leaf continued to expand while the fresh roots grew longer and thicker. Nothing flashy—just the kind of consistent progress a recovering orchid needs.
2026-07-12 — Growth Continues
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Observations
The new leaf and fresh roots continued developing as Something settled into a much less dramatic stretch of her recovery.
2026-07-05 — Back on Track
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Observations
The leaves were firming up again, the new leaf was developing, and Something was recovering from her second dehydration adventure.
2026-07-05 — A New Root Appears
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Observations
A fresh root with an active green tip confirmed that the recovery was real. Something was officially doing something.
2026-06-28 — Root Inspection, Sort Of
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Observations
The plant could not easily be removed from the pot, so this overhead view was the best available look at the roots. Sometimes you investigate Something and still do not get the full story.
2026-06-21 — Rehydrating Again
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Observations
A thorough watering helped the leaves begin firming up again. Something had started her second recovery, because apparently one comeback was not enough.
2026-06-13 — Texas Took Its Toll
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Observations
After surviving the move from Florida to Texas, Something became badly dehydrated again. Apparently interstate travel was not included in her care instructions.
2026-04-17 — Something New
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Observations
A fresh leaf emerged from the crown—the clearest sign yet that Something had moved from survival mode into growth mode.
2026-04-12 — Recovery Continues
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Observations
Firm leaves and steady growth showed that Something was adapting well after her rough start.
2026-04-05 — Looking More Like Herself
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Observations
Something was beginning to look less like a clearance rescue and more like an orchid with actual plans.
2026-03-29 — Still Here, Still Improving
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Observations
The leaves were holding steady and the plant was gradually looking more comfortable in its new home.
2026-03-22 — Quiet Progress
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Observations
No dramatic announcement—just Something continuing to settle in and work on recovering.
2026-03-07 — Settling In
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Observations
Something after the flowers were gone, looking small but stable in her new pot.
2026-02-28 — Changing Priorities
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Observations
The original blooms were beginning to fade, but a tiny new leaf was forming. Less time performing, more time rebuilding.
2026-01-10 — Early Recovery
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Observations
Something continued settling into her new pot, with the flowers still hanging on and the leaves beginning the slow work of recovering from clearance-rack life.
2026-01-07 — A Good Soak Helps
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Observations
After a proper soak, the upper leaves already looked a little less wrinkled. Something had apparently decided that water was worth trying.
2026-01-05 — Fresh from Publix
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Observations
Something shortly after coming home from the clearance section. The flowers were still putting on a show, but the wrinkled leaves suggested the rest of the plant had not received the same level of attention.