A starting point for re-potting a Phalaenopsis orchid is its rest period. You don't want to re-pot an orchid if it is in bloom. If you've waited too long and it's gone into bloom again wait until it has gone back into rest. Re-potting when your orchid is using all of its energy for blooms can have a very damaging effect. See my other post on rest period and trimming after rest period for more information on those subjects.
Okay, your orchid is in rest, now to pick out an appropriate pot and a medium. Orchids can be potted in moss or bark, but I prefer bark over moss. Bark drains better and makes it harder to over-water an orchid. Another problem I've run into with moss is that mold loves damp moss.
I have large, medium, and mini pheleanopsis orchids and the coarse blend has worked well for all of them. However, you do want to make your orchid snug in their pot and for mini pheleanopsis orchids the finer grit bark might be easier to achieve this with.
Soak your bark overnight in water, twenty-four hours is recommended but at least soak overnight. Bark that has not been soaked will hold very little to no water. Your orchid needs some humidity around its roots and this is why we pre-soak the bark.
Remove your orchid gently from its pot. Next remove all of the old medium from the roots. Once you've gotten all the big pieces off gently remove all the little tiny pieces. Next take sterile pruning shears and trim moldy, dried up, dead roots.
Pick your pot, I like to have a few sizes handy when I go to re-pot. If you didn't have to remove too many roots you can either put it back into the same size pot or if you think it has outgrown its pot you can move up in size. If you do decided to go up in size try to only increase by an inch. I can't stress how much orchids like to be snug in their pots. If you had to remove a lot of roots you might look into placing your orchid into a smaller pot. I've rescued many orchids and have had to place them into much smaller pots once I was done trimming their dead roots. After you've trimmed the roots you can soak them for about a minute to make them less stiff.
Once you've picked your pot, put a layer of bark in the bottom. Then place your orchid in the pot so that the plant is center. Your orchid might have some air roots that are reaching up instead of down don't try to get them into the potting medium. Orchids make air roots to absorb gasses. Once you've got your orchid settled, sprinkle the bark around the roots. Tap the pot to make it settle and keep doing this until you think all of the gaps between the roots are filled.
Next is a step that you might be squeamish about. Take your hands and press down on the bark all around your orchid. You might be worried about the roots but the bark and roots getting pushed down together is not going to snap them. You want the orchid tight in its pot! Press and tap the pot repeatedly until you are satisfied. Test your plant by lifting up on the orchid by the leaves gently and if it resists coming out of the pot, then you've done a good job.
You have now successfully re-potted your orchid in bark! Re-potting in moss is very much the same process. You don't have to pre-soak the moss over night, just a few minutes to make sure it is moist. Ring out the moss a little before potting - you don't want your plant to be sitting in water.
I hope this helps and again feel free to ask questions!
~Happy Planting!
I have large, medium, and mini pheleanopsis orchids and the coarse blend has worked well for all of them. However, you do want to make your orchid snug in their pot and for mini pheleanopsis orchids the finer grit bark might be easier to achieve this with.
(Soaking Bark)
Soak your bark overnight in water, twenty-four hours is recommended but at least soak overnight. Bark that has not been soaked will hold very little to no water. Your orchid needs some humidity around its roots and this is why we pre-soak the bark.
Remove your orchid gently from its pot. Next remove all of the old medium from the roots. Once you've gotten all the big pieces off gently remove all the little tiny pieces. Next take sterile pruning shears and trim moldy, dried up, dead roots.
Pick your pot, I like to have a few sizes handy when I go to re-pot. If you didn't have to remove too many roots you can either put it back into the same size pot or if you think it has outgrown its pot you can move up in size. If you do decided to go up in size try to only increase by an inch. I can't stress how much orchids like to be snug in their pots. If you had to remove a lot of roots you might look into placing your orchid into a smaller pot. I've rescued many orchids and have had to place them into much smaller pots once I was done trimming their dead roots. After you've trimmed the roots you can soak them for about a minute to make them less stiff.
Once you've picked your pot, put a layer of bark in the bottom. Then place your orchid in the pot so that the plant is center. Your orchid might have some air roots that are reaching up instead of down don't try to get them into the potting medium. Orchids make air roots to absorb gasses. Once you've got your orchid settled, sprinkle the bark around the roots. Tap the pot to make it settle and keep doing this until you think all of the gaps between the roots are filled.
I love the hearts I carved into this pot!
Next is a step that you might be squeamish about. Take your hands and press down on the bark all around your orchid. You might be worried about the roots but the bark and roots getting pushed down together is not going to snap them. You want the orchid tight in its pot! Press and tap the pot repeatedly until you are satisfied. Test your plant by lifting up on the orchid by the leaves gently and if it resists coming out of the pot, then you've done a good job.
You have now successfully re-potted your orchid in bark! Re-potting in moss is very much the same process. You don't have to pre-soak the moss over night, just a few minutes to make sure it is moist. Ring out the moss a little before potting - you don't want your plant to be sitting in water.
I hope this helps and again feel free to ask questions!
~Happy Planting!
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