It is worth knowing how to replant an orchid. While many species of orchids flower best when placed in pots, there comes a point where the sheer lack of room to grow starts to affect the overall health of the plant.
At this point, you have the option of moving it to a larger pot or dividing the mother plant.
Orchids have their own specific needs when it comes to repotting. We’re talking about trimming, splitting and repositioning.
But don’t worry if this sounds complicated, as we’ve broken the process down into a few simple steps so it’s easy to follow. You’ll be an expert at this fundamental part of orchid care in no time.
Make sure your orchid remains one of your best indoor plants by following this simple repotting guide.
1. Wet to facilitate extraction
Water the plant well before you start repotting or dividing to make it easier to remove the pot and help loosen the compost. If any roots are stuck in the container, separate them by gently running a sterilized knife through the inside.
Wash away as much of the old growing medium as possible, as it will deteriorate over time.
Examine the roots and cut any that are dead or rotted, as well as carefully remove dead leaves, making sure not to damage any living tissue.
2. Separate the roots to divide
Look for logical places to divide the plant into as many parts as you like. There is no need to separate each seedling: you can leave a larger clump to continue growing and flowering while the smaller ones develop. In fact, they survive best when you keep at least three young seedlings together.
You should be able to do most of this by hand, but if you must use a knife or pruning shears, make sure they are clean.
Discard any parts that are obviously dead or dying, but the enlarged “pseudobulb” at the base of the leaves generates food and stores water, and survives even without attached leaves.
3. Replanting
For best results when repotting an orchid, be sure to choose a potting mix similar to the old one and position the oldest pseudobulb on the outside of the pot, with the newest one in the center, so there is maximum room for growth. Keep the rhizome level with or just below the surface.
Flowercard’s Liam Lapping suggests pushing the compost mixture down with your fingers near the roots. Keep adding the mix until you are at the top of the pot, before staking your orchid to ensure it has additional support as it begins to grow back.
Do not replant in pots larger than absolutely necessary or you risk losing the young plants from overwatering. Simply leave room for about two years of growth after potting.
Keep in mind that orchid leaves turning yellow can also be one of the main signs of overwatering.
4. Watering
Once replanted, water Plants gently with rainwater or chilled boiled water will help settle them into the new compost.
Lapping explains that it will take a week or two for a transplanted plant to become established, so monitor the compost to make sure it hasn’t dried out.
And that’s it! Just pick the perfect spot in your indoor garden for your transplanted orchid and enjoy watching it grow.
when to replant
The best time to replant or divide your orchid is immediately after flowering, when all the flowers have withered. Many orchids produce a burst of new growth at this stage and will benefit from fresh compost and a general health check.
Doing this when the flowers are in bud is a common indoor plant mistake, as it can stress the flower and is likely to cause the buds to drop without opening.
While they make great bathroom or kitchen plants, all orchids are susceptible to fungal rot and viruses, so handle them carefully and work with clean hands, tools and pots.
According to Liam Lapping, you should replant every two to three years to keep your orchid healthy and ensure growth. “The ideal time to replant an orchid is after the end of the flowering cycle, and a good benchmark is when the roots start to come out of the pot,” he adds.
What is the best soil to replant orchids?
When you repot your plant, always use bark-based orchid compost: never clay-based or standard all-purpose compost, as this will kill your orchid.
*Via Gardening Etc