Orchids Repotting Done The Right Way
Orchids Repotting should be limited to active orchids that are entering the growth phase and not plants that have already bloomed.
After the blooming has been completed, remove the spike or spray stems of the orchid using a sterile nipper. After removing the spent stem(s), you can safely repot the orchid. As for the pots used, do not use any old pot - use pots that were made especially for orchids.
The size and drain system of orchid pots are different from the size and drain system of regular clay pots for soil-anchored plants. Your orchid media should also be of prime quality and should be present during the orchids repotting.
Many orchid enthusiasts make use of inorganic materials such as Styrofoam when repotting - this is perfectly fine, as long as you have a mixture of organic and inorganic materials in the orchid media.
Some people also prefer using plain charcoal for orchids repotting. This is fine, as long as the orchid is being transplanted from an old pot that has already been installed with charcoal. This will ensure that the orchid will adapt quickly to the new potting.
How can you repot your own orchids? Follow these steps:
1. Hold the orchid near the roots and firmly lift the entire plant, taking care not to knock out any leaves or unopened blooms.
2. Note the color of the roots of the orchid. If you see a white root, that's fine as long as the majority of the length of the roots are light green or dark green in color. Pure white roots are a bad sign. Also, roots that have a green tip mean that the orchid is actively growing new roots.
3. Try to inspect the entire root network for any signs of rotting. If you find mushy, broken or rotting parts, simply remove these roots with a sterile nipper. This is unavoidable, especially with store-bought orchids. Wet moss is ideal for newly hatched geckos, not orchid roots. Excessive moisture and the absence of freely flowing air results in rotting roots.
4. Carefully place the orchid in a new pot. Add the orchid media around the roots of the orchid - just enough to give the plan instant stability once you let go of the plant. In time, the orchid's root system will seek for stable anchorage and will find the orchid media that you have placed in the pot.
Quick Tip: Some orchids, like Vanda orchids, do not require orchid media to survive. Such plants are classified as advanced orchids. Many keepers use orchid baskets to house these great specimens.
After the blooming has been completed, remove the spike or spray stems of the orchid using a sterile nipper. After removing the spent stem(s), you can safely repot the orchid. As for the pots used, do not use any old pot - use pots that were made especially for orchids.
The size and drain system of orchid pots are different from the size and drain system of regular clay pots for soil-anchored plants. Your orchid media should also be of prime quality and should be present during the orchids repotting.
Many orchid enthusiasts make use of inorganic materials such as Styrofoam when repotting - this is perfectly fine, as long as you have a mixture of organic and inorganic materials in the orchid media.
Some people also prefer using plain charcoal for orchids repotting. This is fine, as long as the orchid is being transplanted from an old pot that has already been installed with charcoal. This will ensure that the orchid will adapt quickly to the new potting.
How can you repot your own orchids? Follow these steps:
1. Hold the orchid near the roots and firmly lift the entire plant, taking care not to knock out any leaves or unopened blooms.
2. Note the color of the roots of the orchid. If you see a white root, that's fine as long as the majority of the length of the roots are light green or dark green in color. Pure white roots are a bad sign. Also, roots that have a green tip mean that the orchid is actively growing new roots.
3. Try to inspect the entire root network for any signs of rotting. If you find mushy, broken or rotting parts, simply remove these roots with a sterile nipper. This is unavoidable, especially with store-bought orchids. Wet moss is ideal for newly hatched geckos, not orchid roots. Excessive moisture and the absence of freely flowing air results in rotting roots.
4. Carefully place the orchid in a new pot. Add the orchid media around the roots of the orchid - just enough to give the plan instant stability once you let go of the plant. In time, the orchid's root system will seek for stable anchorage and will find the orchid media that you have placed in the pot.
Quick Tip: Some orchids, like Vanda orchids, do not require orchid media to survive. Such plants are classified as advanced orchids. Many keepers use orchid baskets to house these great specimens.
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