Orchids enjoy being pot-bound.
Orchids like to be snug in their pot and the ratio of roots to potting mix should be about equal. If an orchid is put into a pot that is too big for it, then there are not enough roots to take up the moisture that is being held by the potting mix and the mix stays wet too long.
While orchids prefer a small pot—weaving their roots through the compost as they grow—they eventually run out of room. That's when their roots push the plant up above the rim of the pot or reach out into the air, looking for breathing space—a sure sign that it's time to re-pot.
Like Goldilocks, orchids like things “just right.” While orchids love being a little crowded in their pots, every year or two it's time to re-pot. Just as an orchid won't perform at its best if its pot is overcrowded, a too-large pot will also inhibit flowering.
Your orchid's roots are soft and brown.
If you truly waited too long to repot, you'll notice that your orchid is holding too much water. The roots will appear brown and feel soft to the touch. Fresh orchid potting mix will provide your plant with the environment it needs to stay happy and healthy.
Your Orchid Has Outgrown Its Pot
Once you notice your orchid's roots seem too crowded in its current container, it's time to repot your orchid. If you see roots beginning to grow up from the plant stem or start to crawl over the side of the pot, it's a telltale sign your pot has become too small.
While each growing environment is unique, and watering habits vary from person to person, it is generally a good idea to water about once per 7-10 days, when the mix gets dry. Too much watering leads to root rot, crown rot and other over watering problems like fungus gnat infestations.
Most orchids do prefer shallower squat pots, as their roots don't like all the moisture retained in deep pots and they just don't need the depth anyway as their roots spread out, not down.
Most orchids need bright but indirect light – an east or west-facing windowsill is often perfect. Too much light can scorch the leaves, so don't stand in direct sunshine. Most indoor orchids come from humid, tropical regions, so need a humid atmosphere.
You should definitely not remove healthy air roots. There's a good chance you can harm your plant. You could even introduce a dangerous virus. In homes with low humidity, air roots can turn yellow and shrivel.
Unfortunately, you can't use traditional soil to pot your orchid because it's too dense to support your orchid's delicate and unique root system. Since orchids are epiphytic plants, their roots require plenty of air to survive. Essentially, regular soil will suffocate your plant.
Hold the orchid in the center and carefully place the new potting medium around the roots. Keep the air roots out of the new soil. It's okay if one or two of them end up covered, though.
Orchids benefit from repotting every 1 to 3 years or so. The potting mix will break down in time, preventing it from physically supporting the plant as well as providing nutrients. Also, healthy, actively growing orchids will produce fleshy new roots and outgrow their pot in time.
You don't' need to do this for your typical orchid plants, but for some hard to bloom or finicky plants, some stress will allow the plant to start the bloom process. Blooms are initiated in times of stress where the plant feels it's life is in danger and needs to reproduce to survive.
Throughout the day, your hands come in contact with numerous unsanitary materials that could affect the health of your orchid. Unopened buds are the most sensitive parts of an orchid, and unsanitary handling can be one of the main causes of orchid viruses.
Make sure the plant is adequately fed and watered (not too much, not too little) and receiving enough sunlight. Orchids like indoor temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
bright indirect lighting (keep them near an east- or south-facing window or shaded patio) consistent watering (water them once a week during hot months and maybe every other week when it's cooler) good drainage (water roots growing outside your pot well but avoid getting water in the base of the plant) annual repotting.
With proper drainage, Phalaenopsis orchids will thrive in nearly any container; but plastic and clay pots are most common. Here's how the two stack up: Plastic pots are cheap, light, and available in multiple sizes and colors. Many people prefer plastic over clay pots because they offer better water retention.
After the plants are watered, they should be placed so that the pots do not stand in water. Some people like to place the pots on "humidity trays" or in trays or saucers of gravel or pebbles and water.
An orchid should ideally live and grow in a plastic or terra-cotta grow pot. "Pots for growing orchids must have drainage holes or slits in the container to ensure your plant doesn't get soggy, wet feet," says Turner.
It is well known that orchids are shade loving plants and you shouldn't let them be exposed to too much sunlight. The harm to an orchid is huge when exposed directly under the fierce sunshine in hot summer.
Cut back the stem to the nearest bud
Instead, once all the flowers have fallen, cut off the stem to just above a visible joint (node). This should stimulate the production of another flower stem over the next few months.
In the wild, orchids are able to live about 20 years, depending on the type of orchid and the environment. Potted orchids do not have quite the same life span, but with proper care, it is not usual for orchids to live for between 10 to 15 years. There are some reports of orchids living for significantly longer.