When do i transplant orchids

This serves as a landing pad of sorts. That can be seen often at the bottom of the flower while some are located at the top. They can be easily seen in most of the common orchids, but are difficult to find in some, especially the small ones. The orchid has been in high regard since ancient times and it symbolizes love, beauty, fertility, refinement, charm, and thoughtfulness.

While all flower orchids exemplify beauty and love, the meaning of the flower will also modify depending on its color. Green orchids are thought to bring good fortune and blessings. They represent good health, nature, and longevity.

Orange orchids signify enthusiasm, boldness, and pride. Yellow orchids represent friendship, joy and new beginnings. Purple orchids embody admiration, respect, dignity, and royalty.

White orchids illustrate reverence and humility, innocence and purity, and elegance and beauty. Pink orchids symbolize grace, joy, and happiness and can also symbolize innocence and femininity.

Red orchids symbolize passion and desire, but can also epitomize strength and courage. And finally, blue orchids represent rarity. Orchids are often grown as houseplants or added to floral displays.

But, not all orchids are tropical beauties. Some orchids have earned the reputation of difficult to grow and some are just surprisingly easy to grow. There are different types of transplanting, some are transplanting orchids in a bark, and sometimes you have to divide them. So you also need to know how to divide an orchid. They have different requirements in terms of potting medium for orchids, so do yourself a favor in choosing a medium that fits best to your orchids to ensure success.

The primary principle of transplanting is to provide fresh media, not necessarily a larger pot, but pot size should be selected according to the size of the root mass. Also, when orchids grow in a very chunky medium, and it breaks down into smaller bits. Making it hard to drain. Change out the medium to give the roots the air they needed. A transplanted Phalaenopsis orchid with healthy roots and potting soil for orchids.

You should always ask experts when is the best time to repot orchids? Choosing the time of the year is another factor to consider when you want to transplant your orchid. If you have orchids that produce pseudobulbs, transplant it right after flowering and before the roots begins to grow. However, with regard to the other types of orchid, it can be transplanted anytime.

Just not when it is in the process of producing flowers. Plus, these plants are somewhat fragile to handle, so it's important to take the right steps when repotting to avoid damaging the leaves or roots. Here's how to ensure your orchids will settle in well to their new pots. In the wild, rather than sinking their roots into the soil, most orchids normally grow in trees, perched high above the rainforest floor. It provides the quick drainage and plentiful pockets for air that orchid roots require.

Mostly, though, it helps anchor plants in pots so they can grow upward. There are specific pots on the market created just for orchids. They're full of holes to expose the roots to more air.

However, no special pot is needed; a terra-cotta or plastic pot will work just fine for most orchids. Choose a pot that's 1 inch at the most 2 inches larger in diameter across the top than your present pot. The time to transplant orchids is just after they bloom, when new roots have appeared but haven't grown longer than a half-inch, or when the roots start to crawl out of the pot. Before transferring your orchid, make sure to water it well to help it tolerate any stress from the move.

Then follow these steps:. Once your orchid is settled in its new pot, you can keep caring for it like you normally did before. Make sure you have it in a spot that gets bright, indirect light, and water when the potting mix is just about to go dry. Some orchids can grow for one or two years before they need repotting again, so you can sit back and enjoy its beautiful blooms for a while before needing to repeat this process. By Andrea Beck Updated April 06, Pick a pot that will allow for one to two years of growth, but nothing larger than that.

You can use plastic or terra cotta pots for orchids. Terra cotta pots require more frequent watering. Use pots with holes in the sides so there will be good air flow and drainage. Opt for a shallow pot versus a deep one to prevent water buildup.

Choose the right growing medium. Water the orchid. Before transplanting your orchid, give it some water three days prior to help reduce the shock of transplanting. Soak the new medium. Many orchid media are dry, and soaking the medium before transplanting will help it absorb and retain more moisture. Sterilize a cutting tool. Once you remove the orchid from its current pot, you'll need a sterilized knife or scissors to trim dead roots and leaves.

One way to sterilize your cutting tool is by holding it over an open flame until the metal glows red hot. Soak for about 20 minutes. Another way to sterilize your instrument is by boiling it in water for 20 minutes. Part 2. Remove the orchid from the pot. Place your hand over the base of the orchid so your hand covers the top of the pot. If the orchid is clinging to the pot, massage it out by gently wiggling it back and forth.

Only cut roots or stems if you cannot gently shake the orchid loose from the pot. If you have to make any cuts, preserve as much of the root or stem as possible. Rinse the roots. While still holding the plant carefully with one hand, gently pick away as much old medium as possible with your fingers. Trim dead roots and leaves.

Once your orchid is clean, inspect it carefully for dead leaves, stems, roots, and pseudobulbs. Use your sterilized cutting tool to trim away any roots that are soft and brown, any leaves that are yellowing, and any pseudobulbs that are black and shrivelled.

A pseudobulb is a feature on some orchid types. Sprinkle cut ends with cinnamon. Cinnamon is a powerful fungicide that can help protect the orchid from infection and rot. Use ground cinnamon and sprinkle the ends of any roots, stems, pseudobulbs, or leaves that you trimmed off.

Part 3. Place the orchid into its new pot. Gently bring your orchid to its new pot and place the roots inside. For orchids with pseudobulbs, position the orchid so the pseudobulb is at the edge of the pot.

For orchids growing from a single major stem, position the orchid in the center of the pot. Add fresh growing medium. Sprinkle the growing medium into the pot, and use your fingers to gently press the medium in and around the roots. Add enough medium so that it comes up to the base of the orchid. If it does, pack in a bit more medium. Water the plant.

Spray the orchid with water for three weeks, but only after the roots begin to grow. Once the orchid is settled in its new pot, add enough water to soak the medium thoroughly.

Over the next few weeks, you may have to water the orchid more frequently until the medium is able to absorb and retain more moisture.

Once the orchid is fully established, water it every two weeks or so, when the medium becomes dry to the touch. Make sure that you fertilize your orchid once per week using a weak fertilizer solution. Add a stake for security. Orchids can easily become top heavy if they have a lot of flowers that bloom at once. Prevent them from slumping over by attaching the plant to a stake. Insert a thin bamboo stake into the center of the pot. Gently tie the main stem to the stake with soft string.

Tie the plant at the middle and near the top. Provide the orchid with more humidity and shade for a week. Keep it out of full and direct sunlight for about a week. To provide more humidity, mist the stems, leaves, and roots twice a day for a week. After a week, return the orchid to its regular place.