| Repotting orchids is only necessary once a year. | | | | pruned. Make sure that you get rid of all dead |
| This is because they like to be a little pot bound. | | | | roots. Dried up and moist wet roots that are |
| In fact you should only do this when there are | | | | brown and discolored should be pruned to keep |
| too many long roots overflowing out of the | | | | the plant healthy. Healthy roots will be white, with |
| container. | | | | bright green tips. |
| Containers: What pots should you use? Terracotta | | | | 4 Steps for Repotting Orchids: |
| pots are good as they help to maintain a more | | | | Step one: remove the orchid from its old pot. |
| even temperature. They should be small as | | | | Sometimes this is hard to do, so you may have |
| orchids do not like to have too much space. | | | | to soak it in warm water to loosen it up. This will |
| Special orchid pots are ideal with slits at the base | | | | allow it to be removed safely from the pot |
| to allow good air circulation, when repotting | | | | without risk of damaging the roots. |
| orchids try to make sure the pot is only an inch | | | | Step two: remove all the old bark mix and prune |
| larger than the old one. | | | | the roots. See above for details. |
| Media: a special bark media is used for Denrobium | | | | Step three: soak the new bark media in warm |
| and Phalaenopsis orchids. This is because they | | | | water. Put the plant in the center of the pot and |
| have air roots. They can be found growing on | | | | put the bark media around it. If necessary stake |
| trees in the wild, relying on nutrients gained from | | | | the plant to keep it from falling down. Try not to |
| the air and moisture from the humid climate. It is | | | | pack the media as it will then retain too much |
| important to keep the roots of your plant well | | | | water and damage the root system of the plant. |
| aerated. | | | | Step four: Label the plant with |
| Special handling: when repotting orchids you need | | | | The name |
| to handle the plant very carefully. This is because | | | | Date it was repotted |
| the root system is easily damaged. Be careful to | | | | Date it last bloomed |
| take it out of the old container very gently. | | | | This will help you to know when the plant will put |
| Sometimes roots get stuck on the sides; remove | | | | up flower shoots and when it is time for repotting |
| these gently to prevent damage. | | | | orchids again. |
| Pruning roots: the roots of your plant should be | | | | |