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QuestionHow do you reproduce an orchid?
Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistDo 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. -
QuestionWhat is the best potting medium for orchids?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistIt 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. -
QuestionHow do you repot an orchid plant?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistWith 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. -
QuestionWhat type of bark can be used for orchids?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistFur 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. -
QuestionCan I use sawdust from my workshop as part of my transplant medium?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistIt 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. -
QuestionWhat does an offshoot look like?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistA 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. -
QuestionWhat is causing my orchid's roots to rot?
Harmony CorelitzHarmony Corelitz is a Plant Specialist and the Ecommerce Manager at Crimson Horticultural Rarities, Inc, a boutiue offering rare plants, flower arragements, and handmade goods. Harmony grew up helping her parents run their family business in plant maintenance and interior plantscaping. Harmony specializes in indoor plant care and interior plant design. Prior to her workwith Crimson Horticultural Rarities, she started her pop-up plant and vintage home goods shop called Younger Child and helped her former employer, Plants and Friends, grow and expand to two locations. She holds a BA from the University of San Francisco.
Plant SpecialistThat happens if you're watering it too often or if it's holding water in its root ball because it's become too compact. -
QuestionHow do you know when it's time to repot an orchid?Harmony CorelitzHarmony Corelitz is a Plant Specialist and the Ecommerce Manager at Crimson Horticultural Rarities, Inc, a boutiue offering rare plants, flower arragements, and handmade goods. Harmony grew up helping her parents run their family business in plant maintenance and interior plantscaping. Harmony specializes in indoor plant care and interior plant design. Prior to her workwith Crimson Horticultural Rarities, she started her pop-up plant and vintage home goods shop called Younger Child and helped her former employer, Plants and Friends, grow and expand to two locations. She holds a BA from the University of San Francisco.
Plant SpecialistIn 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. -
QuestionWhen should I transplant orchids?
Community AnswerFor 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. -
QuestionDo orchids have to be potted singly? Or can I plant 2 or 3 together in a larger pot?
Community AnswerIt 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. -
QuestionMy orchid has roots growing all over the place, including in between leaves. Do I cut these off when transplanting?
Community AnswerOrchid 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.
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QuestionDo I cut off the stem that held blooms when transplanting?
Community AnswerYes. But make sure your cutting tool is sterilized, and finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon. -
QuestionHow do I transplant offshoot orchids?
Community AnswerSoak 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.
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QuestionWhat do I do if the roots are dry, hard and brown?
Community AnswerHealthy 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. -
QuestionWhat is rooting compound?
Community AnswerA powder, usually available at your local garden center, containing an inert binder and a plant hormone that encourages root growth.
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QuestionWhere do I get the fertilizer?
Community AnswerAny large store that has plants and gardening equipment should have it.
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QuestionMy orchid started blooming in February. Should I still transplant it during spring or wait until the blooms are gone?
Community AnswerSpring is the recommended time, but it's best to wait until the flowers are gone to avoid complications.
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QuestionWhat medium is used when repotting an orchid?
Community AnswerIt 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.
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QuestionWhen can I transplant the orchid?
Community AnswerAs 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.
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QuestionHow often should I water my orchid?
Community AnswerOnce 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.
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QuestionMy orchid roots are growing out of the holes in the orchid pot. How do I transplant my orchid without damaging the roots?
Community AnswerEither 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.
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QuestionWhat do I do with orchid roots that cling to the sides of the pot when transplanting?
Community AnswerThose are called air roots and they need to be left outside the pot.
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QuestionCan I transplant an orchid plant while it is budding?
Community AnswerIf 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.
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QuestionMy orchid leaves have died at the bottom of the plant. What should I do?
Community AnswerMake 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.
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QuestionMy orchid has only bloomed one time since the initial flowers fell off. The leaves look healthy, so why isn't my plant flowering?
Community AnswerTry 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.
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QuestionIf the orchard is in moss, can it be repotted in bark?
D.L. SmithCommunity AnswerMany 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. -
QuestionHow can I cut a new growth off an orchid that has stopped blooming without harming the orchid?
Community AnswerJust cut with sterilized scissors close to the bottom of the stem. It won't harm the plant.
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QuestionWhen transplanting orchids, should I bury the new roots currently hanging over the side of the pot and outside the dirt?
Community AnswerIf the new roots are growing below the level at which the plant is currently seated, then bury them. Otherwise, leave them outside.
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QuestionDo I leave the air roots growing above the ground when transplanting orchids?
Community AnswerYes, 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.
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