Repotting an orchid Put the air roots in the ground during repotting. Preferably use special orchid potting soil to do this, because ordinary potting soil is much too dense.
Be sure to use a potting mix suitable for orchids. (Some orchid pros think that a perlite/peat mix is less likely to produce aerial roots than bark.) Either way, don't cover the roots because they may rot.
For most plants, seeing roots growing out of the potting soil and in the air instead would be a cause for alarm. For some types of orchids, though, this behavior is perfectly normal. Air roots help keep your orchid healthy and allow the plant to have access to the air and nutrients that it needs to thrive.
It's best to repot orchids in spring or summer, right after they flower. You'll know it's time to repot when you see crowded roots growing out of the bottom or through the topsoil of the pot. Repotting every one or two years is usually needed.
These new roots mean that the orchid is at the beginning of active growth and will help a newly potted orchid the best chance at establishing itself in a new pot. When potting, use care as these new roots are fragile.
It's good to occasionally rotate the plants around, exposing them to open air. Another option is to place the orchid on a tray full of pebbles. Add water to the tray, making sure that the water level is slightly lower than the top of the pebbles. The orchid should not sit in water; saturation will kill the plant.
Orchids really do not like it when their roots sit in water for too long, so make sure that you choose potting mix and pots that help with drainage.
It's natural for orchids to have some roots that die off over time. They'll be flat, shriveled and soft rather than plump, firm and pale green. Cut away the old roots with clean, sharp scissors. That will leave only healthy, vigorous roots ready for their new home!
In general, water once a week during the winter and twice a week when the weather turns warm and dry. The size of your orchid container also helps determine how often you need to water, regardless of climate conditions. Typically, a 6-inch pot needs water every 7 days and a 4-inch pot needs water every 5 to 6 days.
Both overwatering and under-watering will cause damage to the root system of your orchid and eventually lead to dehydration. You will know your orchid is dehydrated when you see that its bottom leaves are yellow and wilted, and its buds are falling off instead of opening (bud blast).
To make the roots more pliable, soak the plant for about 5 minutes in water. Then, ease the plant out of its pot. Orchids can become very attached to their pots, and removing them can be a little tricky. Orchid roots will cling to clay.
Orchids require enough sunlight to produce flowers, but some require full sun for the whole day while others grow better only in the shade. Most orchids fall somewhere in the middle – requiring indirect sunlight or dappled light.
The first week after repotting simply water and continue to mist your orchid on your personal schedule. 3. On the second week after repotting, fertilize your orchid, substituting rooting solution for fertilizer. Do not water your Phalaenopsis on the weeks it is fertilized.
Most orchids need to be repotted every one to two years, but you should wait until the blooming cycle is complete to take this step. Once your orchid enters the resting period, watch for the signs that it has outgrown the current pot.
Orchids should be repotted when new; every year or two; or when crowded roots push up and out of the pot. Spring: time for a close-up. Other than watering and occasionally fertilizing them, you probably don't look closely at your orchids all that often when they're not in bloom.
To get a new orchid flower spike, place the plant in an area with a lower room temp — about 55–65°F at night should do it. Placing your orchid in a window away from the heater might work, too. We've had best success getting new flower spikes in winter, when our homes and their windows aren't as warm.
Overall, the most common reason that orchids fail to bloom is insufficient light. The Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum orchids are usually happy with the filtered light in a windowsill but many other varieties need more light than that.
Yes! Orchids generally love humid conditions because they're a tropical plant. The easiest way to recreate their humid home is by misting them with a spray bottle.