The beautiful and delicate orchid gradually stops flowering, and the pot becomes noticeably cramped for it. To prevent problems with growing and wait for future flowering, you need to know how to replant an orchid at home. The editors of Agronom.guru will tell you in the article what pitfalls can await you during transplantation.
With proper care, the plant will delight you with beautiful flowering
Why you need to replant - the main reasons
The recommended schedule for replanting phalaenopsis into a new container or other substrate is every 2-3 years. This is due to the stress the plant experiences during this process.
Any variety of orchid needs timely replanting
The urgent need for a new pot or soil is due to the following factors:
- soil depletion;
- disturbance of the balance of mineral substances in the substrate;
- change in acidity level;
- loss of breathability;
- soil compaction does not allow the root system to develop optimally and even causes root rot;
- replanting after 3 years is necessary if the main component in the substrate was bark. If it was sphagnum moss, then the soil needs to be replaced within 2 years after planting.
A cramped pot, from which roots stick out in all directions, needs to be replaced with a more spacious one.
If the pot has become cramped, the roots will begin to push the soil out of the container, which will undoubtedly affect the health of the flower.
Indicators for the next orchid transplant
- Substrate salinity is an important indicator for transplantation. Depends on water hardness.
- Substrate density. If it is severely decomposed and compacted.
- The roots have nowhere to grow . The root system is powerful, the roots have entwined the entire pot and are growing upward.
- Different types of orchids grow differently, so you need to look individually .
ADVICE! When watering with hard water, you need to replant approximately once every 2-3 years , with soft water - once every 3-4 years , or less often.
Is it possible to replant a flowering plant?
An emergency transplant during flowering can be done for a number of reasons: an army of pests has appeared on neighboring plants, you notice signs of rotting or other diseases. An orchid is also replanted after purchase, even during flowering, if it is obvious that the flower does not feel well in this soil. We will tell you how to do this below.
Sometimes you have to make a choice: a long life of a plant with delayed flowering or short days in bloom and the death of the orchid. If you want to see your plant healthy and pleasing to the eye for many years, then do not ask whether it is possible to replant the plant during flowering. It’s better to cut off the peduncle and replant the beauty.
What kind of pot is needed - capacity requirements
A pot for orchids must be transparent. This condition is necessary in order to observe the development of roots and monitor the condition of the soil. If desired, transparent containers are placed in a pot that is pleasing to the eye. We recommend choosing a larger pot. It will be enough if the new container is several centimeters wider than the previous one.
Before replanting, the new container is disinfected, and then only a layer of drainage is laid out.
How to choose a substrate and which soil is suitable
The beautiful orchid needs a loose substrate. It is preferable to purchase a ready-made mixture in a store. If you undertake to prepare the soil yourself, then take expanded clay for drainage, sphagnum moss or crushed conifer bark and charcoal.
The substrate should not only provide the flower with nutrition and oxygen, but also help secure the plant in the pot
After a couple of years, you will notice that the coal and bark have turned into dust, the soil has become dense and settled - it’s time to replant. To help you appreciate the benefits of breathable soil, we offer an introductory video on how to replant an orchid at home:
When to act immediately
If you notice that the soil has become dense, all the large components are more like dust, the orchid has become a refuge for aphids, thrips, scale insects and other “cute” guests, then it won’t be long until the plant dies completely. Sometimes you can notice rotting of the roots, or the green mass of leaves has become much larger than the size of the pot, which means you need to urgently replant the orchid, and we will tell you how to do this correctly at home.
If your orchid has just arrived at its new location from the store and looks completely healthy, replanting is not required. But when your ward looks unwell after purchase, it is better to start replanting it immediately.
How to get rid of midges in indoor flowers using simple methods. In a special publication on our portal, we will talk in detail about how to get rid of pests in indoor plants. You will learn the reasons for their appearance, the types of midges and their signs and measures to prevent the appearance of midges.
How to care after shopping in a store?
Experienced flower growers recommend that after a new resident appears in the house, immediately start replanting it , and also select optimal conditions for favorable life activities.
Choose the optimal temperature, lighting and provide the desired humidity. Most often, orchids are sold during the flowering period, so they must be properly cared for.
Many experts advise growing orchids in transparent containers , because this increases the flow of natural light to the roots, which has a beneficial effect on the growth and development of the orchid.
However, in this case, it is necessary to pay special attention to watering, because this procedure is significantly different.
Experts do not recommend leaving water in transparent vases ; excess moisture will lead to rotting of the roots.
The watering system is as follows: the plant is given 20-30 minutes to absorb the required amount of moisture and the remaining water is removed from the vase.
Preparation
The more responsibly you approach the transplant, the more successful the process itself will be. Before you get started, prepare everything you need: disinfected scissors or a sharp knife for cutting faded peduncles, a new transparent pot, fresh loose substrate, an activated carbon tablet.
If the orchid has just finished delighting you with its flowering, then the peduncle needs to be cut off. After this, you can begin the process of replanting the plant.
Step by step guide
To make the process of transplanting an orchid at home easy, we suggest studying all the key points step by step.
We remove the flower from the previous pot. The more careful the better. The root system must remain intact
For trouble-free removal, it is recommended to knead the pot with your hands.
If the soil or pot is too dense and the plant does not give in, then it is better to sacrifice the container rather than the flower and cut it with scissors. Since the process can be messy, we recommend laying out a large newspaper or heading to the bathroom.
It is generally preferable to remove a plant from a pot under running water, so the roots can be removed painlessly and immediately inspected for pests or rot
Now we will tell you how to properly plant an orchid in a pot. Expanded clay is placed in a new container and lightly sprinkled with substrate. Then you need to carefully plant the orchid, spreading the roots evenly. Hold the plant by the root collar. The remaining space is filled with substrate, the pot is tapped and the plant is watered.
The upper aerial roots should not be forced into the pot; leave them on the surface of the soil.
When examining the roots during transplantation, rotting processes or parasites can be detected. Diseased parts of the roots are cut off and thrown away, the sections are treated with Kornevin and sprinkled with charcoal. The same applies to dried roots. If you notice pests, the plant must be placed in a container with warm, clean water for 2-3 hours, and then treated with a suitable insecticide.
Planting into new soil after washing the roots is carried out only after the root system has completely dried
The lower yellowed leaves of the plant are also removed.
Now you know how to painlessly transplant an orchid into another pot
Transplantation process
A properly selected substrate is 60-80% of success in growing phalaenopsis.
Substrate requirements
The substrate for phalaenopsis should be:
- moisture-intensive - must take and retain moisture;
- breathable - should not cake and become dense (do not have fine dust and fine bark).
The best substrate is well-boiled pine bark (at least 16 hours), 2-3 cm in size.
If the bark is not cooked , it does not absorb and retain moisture well. Therefore, you need to add chopped sphagnum moss (30% by volume).
The bark is cut into pieces with pruning shears:
- For adolescent phalaenopsis, the optimal fraction size is 1–1.5 cm.
- For adult specimens, prepare pieces of 2.5–3 cm.
You can read about bark and sphagnum moss in the article “Substrate for orchids.”
Preparatory stage
Before transplanting, soak the bark in water at room temperature for 4-5 days. Then drain the water (no need to dry).
Important! You cannot plant phalaenopsis immediately after a moisture-intensive substrate in clean bark!
Before transplanting, the orchid needs to be watered . The roots will become more elastic and will easily tuck into the pot.
Carefully remove the orchid from the pot, lightly shake off the old substrate that has grown in - do not tear it off .
Inspection of the root system
It is necessary to check the root system of phalaenopsis. Dry, wrinkled roots, as well as threads without velamen, rotten, should be removed.
Important! Do not wash the roots before planting!
All roots should be dense, without blackness or soft wet spots.
Normally, the roots of phalaenopsis are dense, white or yellowish in color; when moistened, they acquire a green color.
If there was pruning or stripping, then dry it for a couple of hours before planting .
Preventative treatment
If there is wet rot on the orchids, they need to be cleaned to the living thing and treated with systemic fungicides : foundationazol (benomyl) or Previkur.
If the stains are local , then make a paste of foundationazole and coat it. If you need to spray or soak the entire plant, then dilute 5-10 g of foundationazole in 1 liter of water.
Transfer
At the bottom of the pot, about 1/4-1/3, put large bark.
Important ! Phalaenopsis should be planted a moist substrate and watered immediately or the next day, but no later.
Align the orchid vertically in the center of the pot.
Do not compact the substrate , but pour it in parts between the roots, tapping the wall of the pot with your palm.
Important! be no substrate in the leaf axils !
When replanting, you need to fall asleep right under the leaves , that is, deepen the orchid.
Why do you need to remove the lower leaves and plant in a hole?
Because new roots are important , which will grow in your conditions and will be adapted to them.
If the lower leaves get in the way (when the roots grow high above the lower leaves), then the leaves are torn off without leaving any residue.
Important! should be remains of dried on the phalaenopsis stem .
Leaves are removed as follows: cut the leaf along the longitudinal vein and tear it off in different directions from the base.
When replanting phalaenopsis with flowers or with peduncles, the orchid takes root faster and grows roots better.
Video from manufacturers about proper transplantation.
Post-procedure care
The period after transplantation is called recovery for a reason. Any major intervention in the life of a plant creates stress for it. So, a few rules on what to do after transplantation:
- the pot is placed in a shaded place, closer to the eastern window;
- air temperature is maintained within +21°C;
- watering after transplantation is done after 5 days;
- leaves can be sprayed daily with warm water;
- after a month they begin to apply fertilizers.
Simple care techniques will allow this beautiful flower to quickly gain strength.
Further care for the transplanted flower
No matter how carefully the gardener replants the orchid, the plant will still experience stress from replanting. It needs time to come to its senses (if the orchid had its roots pruned, it will only be able to bloom in a few months).
Important! The orchid is not watered for 3-5 days after transplantation and is kept with minimal lighting. This way the plant tolerates stress better.
They begin to add fertilizing to the water for irrigation no earlier than the first bud appears on the peduncle.
Temperature
The flower needs an air temperature of +20 +25 degrees during the day and at night, not lower than +18. An orchid is harmed not only by low temperatures (at +12 the flower may die), but also by temperature changes of more than 5 degrees.
Draft and hot air coming from the radiator are also harmful to the orchid. The plant is placed in places that are well lit, but without direct sunlight.
Watering
The first abundant watering of the orchid is carried out immediately after transplantation. Using a shower head, the flower is irrigated from above so that the substrate is thoroughly wet. After excess moisture drains from the pot, the orchid is removed to a dark place for several days. Watering is not carried out on these days.
In the future, a signal that it is time to water the orchid is the whitening of the roots. Once saturated with moisture, the roots of the orchid change color to light green.
Water the plant only through the tray, placing the pot in water for 10-15 minutes. After this time, the pot is removed and the excess liquid is allowed to drain.
The water for watering the orchid should be warm (temperature about +22 degrees) and soft. It is better to use melted or boiled liquid. Tap water must be left to stand for at least 2 days.
For full development, an orchid needs an air humidity of 70-85%. You can maintain such humidity by spraying the foliage of the flower. Some gardeners place the plant in an aquarium or install a tabletop fountain or waterfall near the flowers.
Important! After spraying the orchid, you need to blot the moisture that has accumulated in the center of the flower with a napkin. Stagnation of liquid can cause rotting.
What problems may arise
Let's consider possible problems that may appear after transplantation.
- If the leaves look lethargic, it means you are being greedy with watering: the substrate should not dry out completely. Another reason may be exposure to direct sunlight. Try putting the plant in the shade for a week.
- The plant does not bloom for a long time: if the establishment process is delayed, start feeding earlier.
The more carefully and accurately the transplantation process is completed, the less chance there will be problems after it.
Diseases and pests
Mini orchids are quite sensitive plants that react seriously to pests and various infections. Most often, the disease develops due to improper care. Experts recommend treating leaves and flowers with a specific chemical composition.
Orchids are often attacked by diseases and pests.
Reproduction at home
The royal flower is the orchid. Care and reproduction at home. In a special publication on our portal, we will talk in detail about how to care for and propagate an orchid at home. You will learn how to properly water an orchid, the nuances of caring for different varieties of orchids, and how to make an orchid bloom at home.
If your plant is mature and you know how to plant an orchid at home, you can start propagating it by getting several flowers at once.
If you have an unusual variety, share it with friends or exchange it with others. This is common on flower forums and is a great chance to add to your collection.
Despite the known four methods of reproduction, two are usually used at home: by children and by dividing roots. After the orchid has bloomed, you can find children from it - side shoots. They are planted in a new small container, maintaining high temperature and humidity in the room.
After some time, the babies take root and turn into an ordinary orchid.
The plant is propagated by dividing the roots, provided that the bulb grows well. It is cut in half, treated with charcoal and planted in different pots. Whatever method you choose, you will need to maintain high temperature and optimal air humidity around the indoor plant for some time.
We can say that the orchid is an amazing plant, and you should not be afraid of the difficulties in growing it. If you want to learn more about how to replant an orchid at home, in addition we offer another educational video where you will hear a lot of tips:
Care during the rest period
If you maintain a stable temperature and provide additional lighting in winter, mini orchids do not need a rest period. The exception is those cases when the plant grows leaf mass, but does not bloom. In such situations, to stimulate the formation of a flower arrow, the orchids are kept for 2 weeks at a temperature of 14 to 16 °C.
Attention! The method of lowering the temperature to stimulate peduncle initiation cannot be used continuously. Such conditions are stressful for the plant. In most cases, failure to bloom is a consequence of violation of the rules of care and maintenance.
