Repotting Orchids

Article: Repotting Orchids

If you keep orchids, sooner or later they will need repotting. In most cases, repotting is necessary, not because the orchid has outgrown its container, but because the growing medium has started to decay and restrict the flow of air to the orchid's roots. In this scenario, the plant is usually repotted back into its original container with fresh growing medium. Occasionally a vigorous plant will simply outgrow its container and need to be moved to a larger pot. Repotting is also often the first step in nursing a sick or overwatered orchid back to health.

When is it Time to Repot?

Sympodial vs. Monopodial

Sympodial: These types of orchids feature a stem, called a "rhizome," that grows horizontally across the growing medium, rooting as it goes along. Unless they are repotted into a larger container, the roots will eventually grow over the rim of the pot and dangle into thin air (hindering new growth). The new roots on sympodial orchids are usually obvious, appearing at the base of the new growth when the shoot is a couple of inches long, or emerging from the newest part of the plant before the new shoot appears.

Monopodial: A monopodial orchid grows predominantly upward. It has a main stem, which produces new leaves and flowers. New roots in monopodial orchids are not as easy to see, but usually begin growing after the plant is done flowering. Monopodial orchids should be repotted as soon as new shoots start to appear.

How to Repot Your Orchid

Gather the following supplies:

• a sharp, long-bladed knife
• pruning shears
• a pot and potting medium suitable for your orchid

Directions:

1. Water the orchid - Before repotting, give your orchid a thorough watering. This will make removing the plant from the pot and handling the roots much easier.
Advertisement


2. Remove the orchid from the pot - Lay the pot on its side, and gently tug on the base of the orchid to remove it from its pot. In most cases, the root ball will slide right out of the pot, although epiphytes (the air or tree dwelling types) may cling to the container. If your orchid resists coming out of its pot, use a long 'bladed knife to work around the perimeter between the pot and the roots. If it still refuses to let go, you may have to resort to freeing the plant by breaking the pot with a hammer.
3. Clean the roots - Shake the old potting medium from the roots, removing as much of it as possible. Rinse away any remaining bits with water. Use your shears to cut off any damaged or rotten roots. Any severely overgrown roots that are likely to get broken during repotting should be trimmed back to 3 to 4 inches long.
Advertisement


4. Repot the Orchid -

   Sympodials: Select a pot large enough to accommodate the next two year's growth. Hold the orchid so that the oldest pseudobulbs are against the rim. Position the plant in the pot so that the base of the rhizome is about ½ inch below the rim. If the new growth is higher than the old pseudobulbs, reposition the plant at an angle so that it is growing parallel to the bottom of the pot. Fill in bark around the roots, firmly tamping it in with your fingers. After adding a few handfuls, tap the bottom of the pot against the table to settle the bark. Continue adding bark until it covers the side of the rhizome.

   Monopodials: Select a pot just large enough to hold the roots without bending or breaking them. Center a monopodial orchid in the pot with the bottom of the lowest leaf at the bark surface, ½ inch below the pot's rim. If the lowest leaf does not have at least three healthy roots on the stem below it, strip off one or more of the bottom leaves until you expose enough healthy roots to anchor the plant in the bark.

   Advertisement
   
   
   (Cut off the very bottom of the stem if does not have roots on it.) Fill in bark around the roots, tapping it down firmly with your fingers, gently tapping the bottom of the pot against the table to settle the bark as you go. Continue adding bark until it reaches the bottom of the lowest leaf.
5. Support the plant - If you're growing a top-heavy orchid (such as a catteya), you will need to support it with a stake to prevent it from toppling over. Specially designed orchid stakes and rhizome clips can be found at specialty garden centers and orchid supply companies.

Question: Transplanting Orchids?

gaye

September 25, 2008

Question:

I am looking for tips about transplanting orchids.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Gaye from High Point, NC

Answer:

Hi Gaye,

Repotting orchids is really only necessary when the plant has outgrown its pot, or the growing medium needs refreshing. This is best done at the beginning of the active growing season so that the orchids have as much time as possible to settle in and establish themselves.

1. Gently remove the orchid from its old pot, taking care to keep the roots intact as much as possible. If necessary, use a knife to loosen the plant from the sides of the pot.
   Advertisement

   
   

2. Remove as much of the old potting soil from the roots as you can and trim off any dead or damaged roots.

3. If your plant is generally healthy, choose a new pot that is one size larger than its current pot. If significant portions of the roots are dead or damaged, go with the same size pot or even one size smaller.

4. Place coarse gravel or small stones in the bottom of the new pot to ensure adequate drainage.

5. Add a little growing medium on top of the rocks and set your orchid into the pot so that it is at the same height as it was in the old pot. Use a growing medium that is formulated especially for orchids.

6. Fill in around the orchid with additional potting soil, carefully working (not forcing) soil down around the roots. Do not bury the plant's rhizomes. Pat the soil down gently around the orchid so it stays firmly in place.

7. Water in lightly, and if necessary, add a stake to the middle of the pot for support.

Ellen

Answers

Karyn

July 10, 20080 found this helpful

Are your Orchids in a pot? If so, what I had done with my own was to use potting soil. I just uprooted the orchid, cleaned up the old soil, and then transplanted into the bigger pot. Yes it was still in bloom and yet the flowers remained beautiful for about 4 weeks thereafter.

 

Rose Smith

September 30, 20080 found this helpful

Hi,
I finally got my first orchid last year and it actually bloomed this year. The potting mixture I have appears to be more like shredded bark...no soil (it said it was for orchids). Should I be adding soil to this stuff. Also, how do you know when it has outgrown it's pot.

Rose

 

Question: Repotting Orchids?

marshydebelen

October 8, 2017

Answers

Catherine
Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 131 Feedbacks

October 15, 20170 found this helpful

Best Answer

Hello !

To replace the clear plastic pot, you can take any clear plastic food container then heat up the large flat metal end of a screwdriver on the flame of a candle or on a gas flame. When the metal is warm enough you can make holes very easily just by touching the plastic container with the end of the screwdriver. The result will be the same as using the clear plastic pots which are sold for orchids at a price which as no reason to be so high. I don't think you can find it easily in the USA but there is a type of cheese which is sold in exactly the same kind of pot as orchids it is called "faisselle cheese" the "faisselle" is actually the name of the pot used to make this cheese. It used to be a ceramic pot but is now plastic made. All orchids can't be potted in soil, there are "earth orchids" and others which are air plants made to leave nearly in the air only, hanging on trees or even rocks and these need that special pot.
Hope this helps !

 

Question: Re-potting Orchids?

Babette

June 8, 2009

When do I re-pot my orchids?

Hardiness Zone: 11

By Babette from Lemon Grove, CA