How to repot an orchid with air roots

how to repot an orchid

Orchids are the most beautiful plant that we like to grow an indoor plant.  This is relatively easy to develop if the favorable condition is provided. But it is the matter of concern that most of the gardeners are unknown about how to report an orchid plant. Repotting is done to provide proper air circulation evenly through all parts of the plant.

Most of the plant repotting is done a simple way that is similar to the growing process, but orchid repotting is quite different as the orchid plant is known as the most common type of epiphytes, so special care has to take. And in this article, we have discussed the repotting process of the orchid plant with every detail, and you will learn how to report an orchid plant properly.

How to report an orchid:

The orchid plant grows with a supporting plant as epiphytes. It requires a lot of air circulation than a standard type of plant. But, if the environment is unfavorable, then this plant suffocates and dies. And while reporting proper care has to take. Repotting is done for most of the plant when it is grown in full pledge and spread its occurrence with a large area.

But For repotting, some things are required. Keep these ready and available when you will start to work on repotting the orchid plant.  Orchid repotting kits are Orchid repotting media, a pot, assessors, hydrogen peroxide 3%, cotton pads, a stick, plastic gloves, old newspaper, leca pebbles, or packing peanuts. And repotting of the orchid plant is done in several ways.

It includes taking out of the old plant, changing the potting mix, washing, trimming, Sterilization, Potting, and watering process. The overall approach to know how to report orchids for beginners, the steps are as follows-

Taking out the orchid:

To know how to report an orchid indoor, the first step is to take the previous orchid out from the pot. For doing so, at first, choose a firm and proper aired place. Moderately remove the orchid plant from the former old pot. In this time, you have to be careful about twisted or new aerial roots. These parts can be broken easily.

Again if you find flower thorns, then special care also has to take. Sometime you may find some roots are stuck to the old pot. In this case, don’t just pull so harshly. For treating them gently, shake or lose the surface soil to take them out.  This time many growers become restless, and for this reason, it causes damage to the roots.

Change of potting medium:

It is done by removing the old potting medium. While taking out from pot, some forms of the potting medium are removed. Those are loosely surrounded. But firmly attached potting mix is still present. It’s time to remove them in the manual process. The old potting mix can be removed by shaking the roots gently, or you can touch the hearts to loosen the old medium. Sometimes bark bricks are also present in this potting mix.

This time you have to be careful. To remove bark pieces for the old potting mix, don’t try to pull the root so much or remove that will cause root rot. Make sure you clean the previous potting mix as much as possible. One thing more, don’t make hurry and roughly shake the plant, it will cause damage to the tender roots. 

Washing of the root:

This step has to do very carefully. Special care has to take to know how to report an orchid with bulbs.  You can use running tap water or lukewarm water. Lukewarm makes the roots more feasible to clean. Be careful so that water is not present at the crown part of the plant. If somehow this part is drenched, then use tissue paper to soak the water.

Put it on air to dry also. If you found some sort of twisted roots, those seem hard to wash then soak them in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes. This will help to remove most of the dirt and the potting soil. You can also increase the timing if it is required. One good thing is that if you keep them in water for a while, then it will not even cause any damage to the plant. 

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Trimming:

Trimming has to do after examining the root condition. To know how to report an orchid with root rot, fringe has to do. When you see roots are mostly dried and soppy, then it is the sign of mature orchid. In this time, you have to adjust the orchid plant for the next stage caring. If roots condition is not right, then you will not be able to grow other plantlets by repotting. In most cases, weakened roots are formed due to the proper watering process and an inadequate amount of air circulation. 

And trimming has to do for these rotten roots as they need special care. For that at first sterile a knife or scissors with 3% of hydrogen peroxide. This will help to prevent any virus or pests infection. Now cut off the weaker roots one by one.  And if you found most of the root condition is well, and some of them are twisted but not weak, then it’s suitable for repotting. 

Sometimes you will be able to see lots of aerial roots are growing and coming out from the pot. These parts are aerial roots, and you have to know how to report orchids from air roots. These parts absorb the humidity and nutrition from the surrounding environment. These also help to stick plants to the surface. While growing as an indoor plant, these aerial parts are ended just as hanging in the air. For visual purposes, sometimes people like to trim the aerial roots.

Use of hydrogen peroxide:

After trimming the weaken roots, now you have to spray hydrogen peroxide. In general, 3% hydrogen peroxide is used for this sterilization process. Be sure about the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. If the concentration is high in amount, then it will cause chemical damage to the plant. This solution is not only beneficial for fungal or viral infection, but also it works as an antiseptic for viruses and pests. 

Selection of orchid pots: 

After completing the overall process, now it’s time to put the plant in the pot. Sometime repotting has to do just to trimming of the weaken roots and the overgrowth of the plant. Considering this, you can use a more significant size orchid pot for repotting. As you will find various types of pools, so it’s also essential to know which kind of bank is suitable for repotting.

As orchid doesn’t require much space for root formation, so a small pot or container is suitable for this plant. You can use an old pool with proper washing. Again a new bank can also be used. Most of the growers like to grow the orchid plant in a plastic pot. The use of a clear plastic pot will show the water level and how the roots are growing.

One more benefit of the transparent plastic pot is that if any pest is present and any damage occurs to roots, then it will be visible. You can also use a clay pot for the humid condition. By coloring them, you can give orchid pots a vibrant look. For washing the old pool, wash them with hot water and soap.

Be careful while using an old clay pot. Sometimes old clay pots contain viruses or some other sorts of issues that can damage the newly potted orchid. So better to use of new clay pot or clean in a proper way with lukewarm soapy water.  After that, let it dry in full sunlight, or you can also bake them in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 300° F. This process will kill most of the virus, bacteria, and pests that can be present in the clay pot. 

Filling the pot:

Filling of pot has to do with a suitable orchid potting mix. Repotting has to do gently by placing the orchid plant in the clean jar. To know how to report an orchid with moss, this section will help a lot. Potting is done in such a way so that stem remains in the center of the pot, but roots are well fitted into the pool. While filling, at first gently hold the branch in the middle of the bank. Fill it finely, so that orchid roots are firmly fitted in it.

At first, put the orchid potting mix into a large bowl and cover it with boiling water that is kept in room temperature for a cool down. It is better to loosely put the soil over the root rather than making the medium so tight. An excellent conditioned potting mix contains bark or moss or a combination of these two. Again, a particular type of orchid plant potting mix is available on the market.

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Sometimes growers like to use their own made orchid mix rather than buying from the outside. It’s not a matter of great concern what type of potting mix is you are using; it can be either outside potting mix or homemade DIY potting mix. Both of them are good for plant proper growth. 

And

To know the process of how to report an orchid Phalaenopsis, a large amount of moss is required. Some prefer to use sphagnum moss into the potting mix, and if you find your orchid plant is extremely dehydrated and has the lacking of roots, then the use of moss is beneficial as a potting mix. It is done because moss holds the moisture or water-retaining properties that are beneficial for root and plant growth.

To prevent the root problem by providing proper drainage and airflow, the use of Leca pebbles or packaged peanuts in the middle or bottom of the pot is also beneficial. Knowing how to report an orchid with bark is also the same as it is. 

Watering:

watering has to do in the proper way to know how to report an orchid plant.  As we have mentioned before, the use of drainage containing pot or container is good for the plant, so while repotting, this has to consider.

Many of us are unaware of the proper process of watering for the repotted plant. Sometimes many of the growers tell water as a normal process, and some tell to leave the repotted plant for a few days or a week. But things are not always right according to this process. It’s best to water as a normal process with a drainage system.  

Tips:

  • In general, repotting has to do after 1-2 years of planting the plant.
  • Before proceeding to repot, make a solution of ½ cup of bleaching powder and 1 gallon of water and soak the plant.
  • While taking out the plant from the pot, cover the below surface with a newspaper, as it creates a messy condition.
  • Use cotton pads to sterilize the scissors before make a fine cut. For root trimming, it is done with utmost care and sincerity.
  • While repotting, keep the hanging aerial roots as it is. 
  • Repotting one after another plant, you have to maintain hygiene properly.
  • You can use disposable plastic gloves while working.
  • Make sure so that the root tips are not present in the water. 
  • You can use a stick to push down the potting medium.     
  • Use a few drops of Leca pebbles in the bottom of the pot for extra drainage and airflow.

FAQ:

 

  • Why repotting have to do for orchids plant? 

 

Repotting of the orchid plant is done for two reasons. If the plant is growing out of the container and white roots are coming out, then it’s the most common sign for repotting. Again, when potting media is going to break down, then also repotting has to do. 

 

  • What is the best time to repot an orchid?

 

After the flowering period repotting can be done, and it is considered as the most suitable time for repotting.

 

  • What type of pot is suitable for repotting?

 

You can choose a plastic pot or clay pot that is 2-3 cm larger than the previous pool for repotting. But make one thing clear so that a proper drainage system is available on the bank.

 

  • What type of potting mix is used for orchid repotting?

 

The potting mix is based on the type of orchid plant. You can use buying potting mix as a ready-mix or own made potting mix.  The most potting mix contains bark, perlite, charcoal, and sometimes some peat moss.

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