Orchid Repotting - Effectively
As some of the most famously difficult and finicky plants in the world, orchids are also known as some of the most satisfying and rewarding decorative natural wonders in the world. It is very important to become an expert in the subtle and careful art of orchid repotting in order to have the chance to enjoy these very special, beautiful plants.
There are quite a few cautionary bits of advice to remember when you have orchid repotting in your mind. When you make an attempt to orchid repotting the absolute
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These pots are popular and very pretty, but are absolute death traps for most orchids. Since orchids grow in a completely different manner to most plants in the wild, these pots will not accommodate their needy quirks. Pots made of earthenware have the unique capability to completely prevent any kind of aeration around the roots or allow water to escape from the soil and this doesn’t make these kind of pots suitable for orchid repotting.
This combination of suffocation and tepid water will kill any orchid almost instantly and should be avoided at all costs. Beyond that important bit of information, orchid repotting is a very easy and rewarding process that is really no more difficult than potting any common house plant. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as certain orchid species that require a completely open air treatment, but for the most part the process of orchid repotting is completely tame and can be taken on by even the greenest of green thumbs.
The first step, bearing the aforementioned rule in mind, is to select a clean, sterile planter that is at least four to five inches wider than the most extensive basal width of the orchid in question. Try to make sure this planter is new and clear of debris or other substances. Your orchid loves purity!
The planter should be soaked in still, tepid water for around 10 minutes, and then drained. Don’t leave the planter out on a bench or standing over a towel while it drains, though, since that will defeat the whole purpose of soaking it. Our planter needs to collect water in order to be a moist, soft habitat for the plant. Following this, take your pick of coarse gravel, bits of smashed pottery, or even small rocks so that there is a loose debris field in which to grow the roots of your orchid. Repotting step number three will fondly be referred to as “the dirty part.”
Several handfuls of compost should be brought out and mixed well before being piled up in the shape of a cone. It should come to a peak but not be too steep, and should reach the upper rim of the pot. Don’t try to measure here—the art of orchid repotting is all about using your gut to place the plant just right and feel good about the way you’re caring for your plant. Now is the time to carefully remove the orchid, spread the roots evenly in all direction so that they wrap all around our compost cone, and fill the planter all around the root-covered cone with more compost.
This environment is perfect for orchid repotting, as it will leave a space between the loose compost that the plant’s roots can travel comfortably through and allow it to slowly penetrate the compost on the top and bottom of it, evenly distributing its food source. This is why the next step is to firmly press the compost down around the plant’s roots but never to pack it.
Too much tightness around the plant will be deadly to the precious flora, and I’ll wager you’ve spent too much money on that beautiful orchid to let it meet an end like that. After a nice, thorough showering, this plant will be ready to grow and bloom. Orchid repotting is really just that simple, and after a few tries, your plants will happily grow into their spacious new homes.