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.
What does an orchid look like when it needs to be repotted?
Your orchid’s roots are soft and brown. If you truly waited too long to repot, you’ll notice that your orchid is holding too much water. The roots will appear brown and feel soft to the touch. Fresh orchid potting mix will provide your plant with the environment it needs to stay happy and healthy.
How do you repot an orchid without killing it?
Step 1: Prepare your materials. Step 2: Remove the orchid from its current pot. Step 3: Clean up the roots. Step 4: Place the orchid in its new pot. Step 5: Add potting mix. Step 6: Stake your orchid. 10 Things Nobody Tells You About Narcissus.
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.
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.
Do orchids outgrow their pots?
Cut back any rotted or dead roots and follow the repotting instructions below. Moth orchids can outgrow their pots in about a year’s time as their wandering roots reach outside and above the edge of the containers. Mature plants usually flower from late winter into spring and their blossoms can last for several months.
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.
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.
Why is my orchid not blooming?
The reason for orchids not blooming is usually because of not enough light, the temperature at night is too warm to stimulate flowering or the orchid is too stressed from low humidity to produce flowers. Orchids require bright, indirect light, high humidity and cooler night temperatures to trigger flowering.
Can I use regular potting soil for orchids?
Gardeners new to orchid growing soon realize that healthy orchids don’t grow in regular potting soil. It’s too dense, doesn’t drain thoroughly enough, and most orchids actually grow in the air—the medium is just there to give the roots something to cling to.
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.
What do you do with air roots when repotting orchids?
When repotting an orchid, just let the aerial roots be as they are. There’s no need to stick them inside the pot with the other roots. If you tried to do that they would probably break anyway, as they can’t handle much bending.
How do you split orchids?
Orchids like some rough treatment. Bang the pot on the side to remove the plants and then pull it apart. You might need to use a bit of muscle, a spade, an axe or a sharp knife. Often it’s a good idea to split the orchid into two, three or four good pieces – which are then perfect to re-pot.
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.
Do you water an 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.
