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Repotting
Repotting is very important to orchids. Different people use
different things to repot - we're going to recommend fine,
medium and large bark depending on what kind of orchid you'll
repot. Sometimes, when an orchid likes more moisture, we'll
mix in some sphagnum moss. Soak bark in water before using
for a couple hours.
Repotting
Technique:
Orchid
Care Jump Menu Phalaenopsis care Dendrobium care Oncidium
Care Cattleya care Miltonia care Paphiopedilum care Vanda
care Repotting
The best
time to repot a Cymbidium, Oncidium, Dendrobium or Miltonia
is when you see new growths coming up like in the photo below.
When they are just starting be careful not to break them.
A new growth means the plant is in a growth stage.
Wear latex
gloves or wash your hands between repotting each orchid!
Orchids
can get bacteria or orchid virus from each other, so keep
it clean. This will make your orchids live a long time.
1. Take
the orchid out of the pot. You may have to pry or use special
tools - but get that pot off!
2. Remove
all the mix from the roots. Either use your hands, or if its
a really tough orchid, use a screwdriver or knife to get all
the old mix out of the roots. If you use a tool, sterilize
it with heat or something in between each use.
3. Pull
off dead roots. If any roots are dead or all mushy, remove
them. Leave and be careful with all live roots.
4. Use
a pot that all the roots will touch the edges of. Sometimes,
if you have a lot of dead roots, you'll need to go into a
smaller pot. THIS IS OK!!
5. With
one hand hold the orchid in the pot with the part where the
plant base and roots join at the top of the pot.
Bark sizes to use: Cymbidiums, Miltonias, Paphiopedilums,
Dendrobiums, Oncidiums: fine bark (may mix in 20% sphagnum
moss if you like to retain moisture). Phalaenopsis - medium
bark. Vandas - large bark.
Fill the
pot with bark around the roots, trying to get the roots pretty
evenly distributed. When the pot is full, push down around
the edges of the bark with your thumbs or a tool to pack the
bark tight into the pot. Don't have loose bark - you should
almost be able to knock the pot on its side after repotting
and have no bark fall out - thats a tight repot! Don't repot
so tightly, though, that you hurt any roots.
6. Water
and you're done! Don't forget to label and change gloves or
wash your hands for the next one. Also, if you're going to
reuse pots, clean them well.
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