Table of Contents
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.
Can I repot an orchid while its blooming?
For the most part, you should avoid repotting when in bud if it is not necessary. If you repot when your plant is actually blooming, it is normal for the flowers to drop faster than normal, sometimes almost immediately. Only repot when blooming if you feel it is absolutely necessary.
What potting mix is used for orchids?
Fir and Monterey bark is the most commonly used potting media for orchids. It is long-lasting, porous, and free-draining. Clay pellets are commonly added to mixes to prevent compaction and add drainage. Must be leached as it absorbs salts.
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.
Should I remove the plastic from my orchid?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Should you repot store bought orchids?
A good rule of thumb is to repot a new orchid as soon as practical after it is purchased. Usually this means when it goes out of bloom. Orchids need to be repotted before their media breaks down and smothers the roots.
How do you split orchids?
A new division should have at least 3 pseudobulbs (stems). With some sympodial orchids you can simply pull them apart with your hands. Others will need to be divided by cutting through with a sterilized knife or pruners. If the orchid is large enough, some of the older pseudobulbs can be removed.
Why are my orchid leaves turning yellow and falling off?
The reason orchid leaves turn yellow is because of root rot due to overwatering or slow draining soils. Saturated soil starves orchid roots of oxygen causing the roots to die. The dying orchid roots can no longer transport nutrients and water around the orchid causing the leaves to turn yellow.
Is charcoal good for orchids?
Is wood charcoal good for your orchids? Charcoal is an excellent potting medium for orchids since it eliminates odor, breaks down the buildup of bacteria, absorbs the salt residue (therefor reduces the risk of root burn) and doesn’t degrade.
How do you get orchids to rebloom?
Follow these simple steps to help reblooming begin. Continue to water your orchid with 3 ice cubes once a week. Fertilize your orchid once or twice a month using a balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength. Help your orchids grow by providing plenty of indirect sunlight. Put your orchid in a cooler spot at night.
Do you cut orchid stems after blooming?
After the flowers drop from the orchid you have three choices: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, cut it back to a node, or remove it entirely. Removing the stem will direct the +plant’s energy toward root development, which makes for a healthier plant and increased chances for new bloom spikes.
Do orchids need pots with holes?
Phalaenopsis orchids can easily exist in plastic or clay pots. All pots must have drainage holes; roots that continuously touch water will rot and die which will eventually kill the plant as well.
What are the root like things on orchids?
If you ever notice some of your orchid’s roots beginning to grow or loop above the surface of the growing medium, you have air roots. They’re also known as aerial roots and can be a little daunting at first. You may worry that your orchid has become pot-bound and is in need of repotting.
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.
