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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.
Do orchids need clear pots?
Though orchids don’t need to grow in clear pots, their roots are happier and healthier in them. Clear pots expose roots to light and air, recreating orchids’ natural growing conditions.
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.
Can you 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.
Do orchids like big or small pots?
Most orchids require a 4, 5 or 6 inch pot. There are seedlings and miniatures that require smaller pots, older specimen plants and some genera (Cymbidium, Phaius, large Cattleya) that often require 8 inch pots or bigger but the majority of orchids sold in groceries, box stores, florists and the like are not these.
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.
Can orchids grow in glass containers?
Growing orchids in glass containers is a nice way to see the plant and the roots. You’ll always know if they are healthy. It also keeps up the humidity around the orchid. If you have orchids that are young or do not get large you can plant them in large, tall glass containers.
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.
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 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.
What is the best potting soil 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.
Do orchids need sunlight?
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.
How long do orchids live for?
Orchid plants do not have a finite life span, but after 15 to 20 years, the plants will naturally become weaker, producing fewer blossoms. Plants have a natural immune system, and over time it becomes worn down by natural bacteria and fungi.
What are orchid roots supposed to look like?
Healthy roots are firm to the touch and white to green in color. Orchid roots do not need to be bright green all of the time. In fact, they should only be bright green right after they are watered. If the roots are always bright green that is an indication that they are drowning.
Can multiple orchids be potted 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.
Do orchids like clay or plastic pots?
With proper drainage, Phalaenopsis orchids will thrive in nearly any container; but plastic and clay pots are most common. Plastic pots are cheap, light, and available in multiple sizes and colors. Many people prefer plastic over clay pots because they offer better water retention.
Why do orchid pots have holes in the side?
A great orchid pot may even have holes on the sides of the container. These sidewall holes promote water drainage and encourage the air movement around the plant’s root system. Air movement around a potted plant’s root system mimics the wind and breezes that would constantly flow around an orchid root system in nature.
Is bark or moss better for orchids?
Sphagnum moss is a fine substrate, and it can hold water better than bark. Its water retention ability makes it an excellent potting material for young orchids. Bark, on the other hand, provides good aeration for the roots and helps produce larger cavities, but it has poor water holding ability.
Can orchids grow in river rocks?
The truth is that orchids thrive on benign neglect. While orchid growers often place orchids in a bark medium, some enthusiasts find that lava rock provides the aeration and quick-draining environment that these epiphytes require for optimum growth.
