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How to repot orchids: Choose the right medium. Remove orchid from current container and trim dead roots from the plant. Fill container to one third full with orchid mix. Position single stem plants in the center of the new pot. Gently cover roots with additional mix and fill pot to 1/2 inch below rim. Water thoroughly.
When should you repot an orchid?
Orchids should be repotted when new; every year or two; or when crowded roots push up and out of the pot. Spring: time for a close-up. Other than watering and occasionally fertilizing them, you probably don’t look closely at your orchids all that often when they’re not in bloom.
What kind of pot is best for orchids?
Ceramic pots are the best choice if you want your house to look stylish and cozy. These pots are usually handmade, and there are two types that are suitable for orchids. You can pick a ceramic pot which has holes on the bottom, or a ceramic pot that has holes on its side as well.
Do orchids need bigger pots as they grow?
Larger pots are required for growing larger plants that have more leaves and roots. Pots of the same size can be used for about two years, and then, they have to be replaced with pots that are 1 inch larger in diameter when the orchids are repotted, which should be done once every one to three years.
How do you replant an orchid?
Gently pull the pot away from the plant and wash off the roots. Use sharp scissors to cut off any brown or rotting roots. Fill the new planter with the soaked potting medium and place the plant so that the base is right at the top of the medium. Use a chopstick to help push bits of planting medium in between the roots.
Should orchid roots be exposed?
If the orchid air roots are firm and white, they are healthy and you don’t need to do anything at all. Just accept that this is normal behavior. According to orchid experts, you should definitely not remove the roots. Either way, don’t cover the roots because they may rot.
What do you soak orchid roots in before repotting?
Prepare some cinnamon (yes, the kind you use to cook with, as in cinnamon buns) or sulfur. You will need them to dust the roots after they are cut to disinfect them. Soak your orchid in a bucket of water for half an hour or so to loosen the potting medium and make the roots more flexible.
Can I put an orchid in potting soil?
Orchids require a different type of potting medium than what our typical houseplants do. They are therefore potted in normal potting soil. To pot an orchid in this kind of soil would ultimately suffocate its roots and kill the plant because soil cannot provide the needed airflow to the roots to survive.
Do I leave my orchid in the plastic pot?
When you purchase an orchid from a greenhouse or garden center, they are usually sold in clear plastic pots with several drainage holes. However, if you do place these clear plastic pots in decorative pots, it is a good idea to remove them during watering to allow for proper drainage.
Should I remove the plastic wrap from my orchid?
Be sure to remove the net or tape once you have brought your plant home to avoid new growth from getting trapped and damaged. Additionally, if your plant has a thin colorful plastic or foil wrap surrounding the pot, it is best to remove these wraps. Orchids are epiphytic and their roots need air flow.
Do orchids like tight pots?
Orchids like to be snug in their pot and the ratio of roots to potting mix should be about equal. If an orchid is put into a pot that is too big for it, then there are not enough roots to take up the moisture that is being held by the potting mix and the mix stays wet too long.
Should I water orchid after repotting?
The first week after repotting simply water and continue to mist your orchid on your personal schedule. On the second week after repotting, fertilize your orchid, substituting rooting solution for fertilizer. Do not water your Phalaenopsis on the weeks it is fertilized.
How do I grow a new spike in my orchid?
To get a new orchid flower spike, place the plant in an area with a lower room temp — about 55–65°F at night should do it. Placing your orchid in a window away from the heater might work, too. We’ve had best success getting new flower spikes in winter, when our homes and their windows aren’t as warm.
Do orchids like sun?
Orchids thrive in the sunshine, and the living room tends to get the most sunlight in your home. Indirect sunlight is best. So one of the best places to keep your orchid is near a north- or east-facing window.
Can I cut the air roots off my orchid?
Orchid air roots shouldn’t be trimmed as they are part of the system the plant uses to absorb nutrients and water. Trimming the aerial roots could cause the plant to struggle or even die due to disease or inability to absorb sufficient water and nutrients.
Why is my orchid only growing leaves?
Overall, the most common reason that orchids fail to bloom is insufficient light. The Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum orchids are usually happy with the filtered light in a windowsill but many other varieties need more light than that. As an orchid gets more light its leaves turn a lighter shade of green.
What does a healthy orchid plant look like?
A healthy orchid’s roots will be light green when dry and dark green when wet. There should be a long, pointed, shiny, green growing tip. The longer the growing tip, the healthier the plant. Dead orchid roots are shriveled and tan when wet and white when dry.
Should you soak orchid bark before repotting?
Potting medium that contains bark should be soaked for 24 hours prior to repotting to allow the mixture to absorb the water. Because bark tends to dry out faster, it will require a longer prep time. Peat moss can simply be thoroughly rinsed prior to repotting.
Can you mix orchids together?
Multiple orchids in the same pot need to be of the same genus and species. Even different species inside the same genera are hard to keep alive when potted together. This happens because one orchid could have more powerful roots, and would absorb more nutrients, leaving the second, weaker orchid lacking.
