How to Repot an Orchid
Repotting orchids is a task that every successful orchid grower needs to perform for their plants to remain healthy and continue producing the magnificent blooms that orchids are famous for.
For the novice orchid grower this may seem like a daunting job best left to the experts but with a little care and patience you’ll be repotting your orchids easily.
Why you need to repot your orchid
The most common reasons are a) the plant has outgrown its pot, b) it may be a newly purchased orchid and needs to be repotted within a week or two, c) you may suspect that the plant is infected with a virus or disease or has developed root rot and, d) the potting medium has broken down and is decaying.
Timing is important
The best time to repot is in the late spring or early summer before the new growth starts. Existing roots that have been exposed to the air for a while will likely die when packed beneath the bark surface so do your repotting just as the new growth is beginning to appear. If you have waited too long it’s better to hold off until after your plant has bloomed or you may lose the flowers from the new growth and run the risk of killing the whole new root system. As a rule, repotting should be done every eighteen to twenty-four months before the potting medium starts to break down. If you wait longer than two years the potting medium will retain too much moisture. This keeps the roots from receiving proper air circulation and will promote root rot.
What you’ll need for the job
Once you’ve decided that it’s time to repot you’ll need to gather some materials and equipment.
Number one, of course, is a new pot which is large enough to accommodate growth for the next two years. Don’t use the biggest pot you can find because if it’s too big the potting medium will not dry out enough between waterings and could possibly result in root rot.
Number two is orchid bark or some other type of special orchid mix which can be readily obtained at your local garden center.
Number three is some broken sanitized pieces of clay pots or lava rock for covering the drainage hole in your pot.
Number four you’ll need pruning clippers or a sharp knife that has been sanitized. You’ll use these to divide the plant and to trim any roots that are dead or diseased or that are too big to fit into the new pot.
Number five is a bamboo stake and a plant tie to anchor your plant until the roots have grown enough to stabilize it.
Number six, if you’re dividing your plant you need a pruning sealer or an anti-fungal powder. Applying a thin layer of this on any open cuts on the rhizome will help prevent fungal rot.
Now that you have everything assembled you can start.
A word about cleanliness
Although the repotting process isn’t exactly brain surgery, taking some precautions will help prevent problems like viral infections which are incurable. These viruses may not kill your plant but they will cause damage by deforming the flowers and leaves and result in color-streaking in the blooms. So don’t take any chances. Sterilize all the cutting equipment by soaking it in a solution of 1/2 cup bleach or Physan to 1 gallon of water for 10-15 minutes and letting them air-dry. You can also pass them through an intense flame such as a plumber’s torch.
Let the process begin
Tip the pot on its side and carefully slide the plant out of the pot. With a little luck it will come out easily. If not, you may have to gently tap the bottom and sides of the pot to loosen the medium or in the worst case you may have to break the pot. After your plant has been removed from the pot, if it has been planted in a natural medium such as bark, try to clean the entire old medium from the roots.
Using your fingers, gently pull the roots apart and loosen the ball of roots. Even if the medium is rocks or man-made you still want to loosen the root ball if it is very tight. Some orchids such as the Catteya will have a massive root ball while others such as the Paphiopedilum will have many roots but they are not entwined. Any roots that are black, dark brown, mushy, or look like a piece of thread need to be trimmed. Healthy roots will be white or light tan-brown.
Continue trimming your plant by removing any old growth such as “ black bulbs”. These are older pseudobulbs that have lost their leaves but are still alive. You can either throw away these black bulbs or you can place them in another pot and they may sprout new growth. Continue with the trimming process by removing any old, dead pseudobulbs that are shriveled and leafless and discard them.
Dust all areas that you have cut with sulfur. Now is the time you need to decide if you want to grow a beautiful specimen plant or if you want to increase your collection or trade with your friends. Do not divide your plant if you want to grow a large beautiful specimen plant.
When you have completed trimming it’s time to relocate your orchid to its new home. Place the sanitized broken pieces of pots or rocks in the new pot. Then place the plant in the pot along with the medium. If your plant is a sympodial-growing orchid place it close to the side and if it is a monopodial or terrestrial place it in the middle of the pot. If the plant is a little wobbly you can stabilize it with a stake.
Lastly, place a new label on the pot with the orchid’s name and date of repotting and you’re done. Now that wasn’t so bad after all.
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