Repotting your orchids can be a great way to meditate if you have all your basis covered before you begin. There are several factors to consider before repotting your orchid that can make the process smooth, easy and enjoyable for anyone.
Make Sure to Repot Your Orchid During the Appropriate Time of Year
The most beneficial time to repot your orchid is right before the new roots start to show themselves and when the new growth has come up about two inches. This new growth can usually be seen in the springtime when there is increasinly light and longer days. It is best to repot your orchids in either spring or at the end of the summer when things have cooled down so that they can get ready for the winter. It is also not the best time to replant in the middle of the summer because the plants need to maintain their natural root system without being disturbed in order to have their best results.
Allow the Roots to Dry Out for a While Before Repotting for Easy Movement from One Pot to Another
When preparing to repot your orchid it is best to let the plant have some time to dry out. This will aid you in your attempt to remove the orchid from the pot because it will allow the roots to dry out and be more easily moved out of one pot and into another. If the roots were wet then they would stick to the side of the pot and risk injury to the roots or plant.
Make Sure You Have the Supplies on Hand for Repotting
Appropriate Size Pot
Make sure the pot is not too big for the orchid. The pot your use to repot your orchid should be big enough to accomodate the root system of the orchid and to allow for several years of new growth. It is best to plant the orchid in too small of a pot rather than a pot too large.
Drainage Medium
You will need some well draining material for the bottom of the pot such as orchid bark. You can use Polystyrene, pea-grit or large-grade perlag also.
When repotting it is a good idea to hold the orchid about an inch below the edge of the pot and then place some well draining material like orchid bark into the pot until the drainage material is about an inch high from the bottom of the pot.
Orchid Compost or Orchid Potting Soil
After placing the bark at the bottom of the pot, you proceed to fill the pot with the regular moist orchid compost or orchid soil. You can gently tap the pot to help work the compost through the root system and apply gently pressure to the surface of the compost to help stabilize the orchid in the pot
A Pair of Sterilized Scissors or Cutting Tool
Be sure to sterilize whatever you choose to use to cut the roots of your orchid before using them. You want to use them to cut away all of the overly dried out and dead roots as well as the roots which appear soggy and rotting to channel the orchids energy into it’s healthy roots that are still growing. You can spray the cutting apparatus with hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol and then rinse with water to sterilize them before using.
Now that You Have All the Supplies You Need You are Ready to Repot Your Orchids! Check out my other post for a step-by-step guide on how to repot your orchid!
