Repotting orchids
admin June 27th, 2010
Maintaining a garden of orchids may seem like too much of a task for some people. It is in fact quite taxing. However, flower lovers can not easily be discouraged. For the purpose of bringing into being the most beautiful creations, it is worth the effort to do all the measures necessary for being able to produce such eye candies. One of the undeniably most attractive flowering plants is an orchid. The presence of such beauty though involves quite a good amount of responsibility from the keeper. Repotting orchids, for one, is essential for whatever reason it may serve the flower and the house owner.
Repotting Orchids Photo by Nicolas_gent via Flickr
Orchids have to be repotted for various reasons. This is, however, based on the assessment of the gardener. One basic reason is when the plant, upon the growth of pseudo bulbs for instance, outgrows the original pot. Most of the time, the overgrowing part tends to go beyond the limits of the pot. As a result, one has roots dangling without ample protection and be vulnerable to possible causes of various damages. Another possible cause of the need for repotting is due to a broken or damaged pot.
There is no need to go and panic too much though. Orchids do not shrivel up as fast as other plants do when they are uprooted. This is because orchids naturally need greater air exposure.
The process of repotting orchids do not really require too much. In fact, all it needs is ample care, complete hygiene and time. Here are the basic steps to doing it the right way.
1. The plant is turned upside down on the work table and is dislodged by simply thumping the sides and bottom of the pot. If this becomes difficult, one can make use of a kitchen knife to loosen the sticking of the roots to the pot. One does not have to worry about damaging old roots though. Once the plant is completely out of the pot, it should be shaken well to rid of the old potting mixture although it is not expected that all gets detached.
2. Before replanting the orchid in another pot, its roots should be trimmed with a pair of scissors or small shears. All the damaged and dead roots should be removed. They are light brown in color and are mushy.
3. The new pot should be able to accommodating to growth within the next two years at most. Since drainage is one of the greatest concerns of orchids, an extensive layer of broken crocks and plastic foam can occupy the very internal bottom part of the pot. As for the plotting mix, it should first be wet with boiling water, allowed to cool and drained before it can be used. The plant is then positioned in such a way that the new lead has greater space for further growth.
Orchids Photo by Nicolas_gent via Flickr
The main thing most people tend to forget when dealing with plants is how vulnerable they can be to infections and the likes. This is why it is highly important to maintain cleanliness and practice hygienic principles when repotting orchids. Sterilizing the tools and equipment used in the whole process is a must.
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[...] final thing you need to be careful about when repotting orchids is disease. While moving your plant to a new pot, you should use cutting utensils to get rid of [...]