Q&A for How to Transplant Orchids

Do this in early spring. Pull the plant up from the pot and at the soil line, pull the plant and roots apart into 2 equal parts.

It depends on the type of orchid being grown. The common types are fir bark, coconut husks, tree fern fibers, and perlite. Sometimes it is a blend of several.

With a gentle pull, you remove the pot from the roots. Once this is done, wash off the roots and remove any brown roots with shears.

Fur is the most common type of bark used for orchids, but pine can also be used. Typically, any mold- or rot-resistant bark will work.

It is acceptable to use sawdust and wood chips as part, not all, of the growing medium. Please note however that they will not provide any nutrients to the plant.

A flower offshoot will appear at the base of a mature orchid plant. It will be a slightly brighter green color than the surrounding foliage. It is slightly flattened in appearance with a mitten shape at the top. In contrast a new root will be silver and more cylindrical in appearance.

That happens if you're watering it too often or if it's holding water in its root ball because it's become too compact.

In general, orchids need to be repotted yearly so they can get a fresh potting substrate. You might need to repot if the roots have completely overgrown the pot its in, if the leaves fall off, or if the roots are turning soft and brown.

For a newly acquired orchid, many orchidists like to repot as soon as it is practical. This may mean waiting until the orchid has gone out of bloom if the plant was acquired while blooming. For an orchid that is not newly acquired, the optimal time to repot is after the plant has bloomed and is beginning a new growth cycle.

It is generally not advisable to plant multiple orchids in the same pot simply because of competition for space. An orchid may suppress another if they share the same pot. Better plant them separately; not all orchids have the same growing speed.

Orchid roots grow wildly on the plant, above the soil, between leaves, and even over the sides of the pot. It's best to leave healthy roots intact when transplanting an orchid, because the make the plant stronger. If the roots are dead or dying, however, trim them off when you transplant.

Yes. But make sure your cutting tool is sterilized, and finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Soak the orchid's pot in water for several hours, remove the orchid from the pot, shake off any loose soil and then soak the roots in cool water or rinse them under cool running water. Inspect the plant carefully, and divide the orchid if you want to make multiple plants.

Healthy orchid roots are whitish, silverish, or greenish in color. However, orchid roots should always be dry. But if they are dry, brown, and mushy should be cut off. Remove the orchid from its medium and cut off the dead roots. Then transplant the orchid to a new pot with fresh medium.

A powder, usually available at your local garden center, containing an inert binder and a plant hormone that encourages root growth.

Any large store that has plants and gardening equipment should have it.

Spring is the recommended time, but it's best to wait until the flowers are gone to avoid complications.

It depends on your environment and the type of orchid. Bark mixes are a good middle ground option usually, but if you have a warmer climate, you might benefit from sphagnum moss. I live in a temperate environment, and I use bark and coconut husk with my phalaenopsis and dendrobiums, and seramis with oncidiums.

As soon as a few blossoms show up. Be careful, it might still be delicate. When the roots fill the whole pot, you NEED to expand.

Once every week to week and a half. Make sure you have good drainage, otherwise the water will cause it to rot. Make sure you give it plenty of time to dry out. If you do the ice cube method, use 3 ice cubes. 3/4 cup of water would also work.

Either carefully untangle it from the holes and slowly remove it from the container or bury the container along with the plant and it will still grow.

Those are called air roots and they need to be left outside the pot.

If your orchid is in spike, you can repot as long as you are careful not to damage roots while repotting. There may be a couple of reasons that you want to repot while your orchid is in spike. These same reasons can apply to plants in bud or bloom. The plant could be in drastic need of repotting.

Make sure they are healthy. Remove all of the flower, including the roots, and put it into your preferred location. Make sure the flower has enough soil to protect the roots. Make sure it has enough water, too.

Try finding a new place for your plant. My orchids love being in a northwest-facing window. Fertilize every two weeks with a product specifically for orchids.

Many orchids need to be removed from the moss that is used to start commercially propagated plants. The moss breaks down and decays and suffocates the roots. Eventually the plant will rot away. Phalaenopsis prefer bark in most cases.

Just cut with sterilized scissors close to the bottom of the stem. It won't harm the plant.

If the new roots are growing below the level at which the plant is currently seated, then bury them. Otherwise, leave them outside.

Yes, the air roots have to stay in the air because those roots have adapted to the air, if you put them in soil it will be like pushing someone into water, then telling them to breathe.