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The best
time to repot a Cymbidium, Oncidium, Dendrobium or Miltonia
is when you see new growths coming up like in the photo below.
When they are just starting be careful not to break them. A
new growth means the plant is in a growth stage.
Wear
latex gloves or wash your hands between repotting each
orchid!
Orchids can get bacteria
or orchid virus from each other, so keep it clean. This
will make your orchids live a long time.
1.
Take the orchid out of the pot
You may have to pry
or use special tools - but get that pot off!
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New
growths on a Cymdium |
2.
Remove all the mix from the roots.
Either use
your hands, or if its a really tough orchid, use a screwdriver
or knife to get all the old mix out of the roots. If you use
a tool, sterilize it with heat or something in between each
use.
 3.
Pull off dead roots.
If any roots
are dead or all mushy, remove them. Leave and be careful with
all live roots. The Cymbidium Orchid in the phograph on the
right has half dead and half live roots. You can tell the dead
roots by the long thin strings which are all that remain from
the inside of what were some thick healthy white roots.
4.
Use a pot that all the roots will touch the edges of.
Sometimes,
if you have a lot of dead roots, you'll need to go into a smaller
pot. THIS IS OK!! =)
5.
With one hand hold the orchid in the pot with the part where
the plant base and roots join at the top of the pot.
Bark sizes
to use: Cymbidiums, Miltonias, Paphiopedilums, Dendrobiums,
Oncidiums: fine bark (may mix in 20% sphagnum moss if you like
to retain moisture). Phalaenopsis - medium bark. Vandas - large
bark.
Fill the pot with bark around the roots, trying to get the roots
pretty evenly distributed. When the pot is full, push down around
the edges of the bark with your thumbs or a tool to pack the
bark tight into the pot. Don't have loose bark - you should
almost be able to knock the pot on its side after repotting
and have no bark fall out - thats a tight repot! Don't repot
so tightly, though, that you hurt any roots.
6.
Water and you're done!
Don't forget
to label and change gloves or wash your hands for the next one.
Also, if you're going to reuse pots, clean them well.
Orchid
FAQ - Orchid Care Frequently Asked Questions >>
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