🌸 OrchidLog

How to repot an orchid

Repotting feels intimidating, but it is one of the most important things you can do for a long-lived orchid. Bark and moss break down over time into a dense, airless sludge that suffocates and rots roots — so even a plant you never touch needs fresh medium eventually. Done at the right moment and with a little care, repotting is quick and the plant barely notices.

When to repot

Repot every one to two years, and whenever you see one of these signs:

• The medium has broken down — bark crumbles to soft, dark particles instead of firm chunks.
• Roots are climbing out of the pot or circling tightly with no room left.
• The medium stays soggy for days, or you spot rotting (brown, mushy) roots.
• The plant has outgrown its pot and tips over.

The best time is just after flowering, when new root or growth tips are emerging. Avoid repotting a plant in full bloom unless it is an emergency such as severe root rot.

Choosing a medium

Most orchids are epiphytes and want an open, airy mix — not standard potting soil, which holds far too much water. A graded fir-bark mix is the standard choice for Phalaenopsis and Cattleya. Add sphagnum moss or perlite for plants that like more moisture, and use a finer grade for fine-rooted types like Oncidium. Pick a pot only slightly larger than the root mass; orchids resent being over-potted.

Step by step

1. Gently slide the plant out of its pot and shake off the old medium.
2. Rinse the roots and inspect them. With clean, sterilised scissors, trim away any dead, brown, hollow or mushy roots — keep the firm, pale, healthy ones.
3. Choose a clean pot just big enough for the roots. A clear pot lets you watch roots and moisture.
4. Hold the plant so the base of the lowest leaves sits just below the rim, then trickle pre-soaked medium around the roots, tapping the pot to settle it into the gaps.
5. Firm it gently so the plant stands without wobbling — stake it if needed. Do not pack it tight.
6. Wait a few days before the first watering so cut roots can seal, then resume normal care.

Keep the freshly repotted plant in slightly shadier, humid conditions for a couple of weeks while it settles. Noting the date and the medium you used means you will know exactly when this plant is due again.