Easy Steps To Repotting Your Orchids

When considering how to go about repotting your orchids, you will want to take a safe and smart approach. Orchids, while they can be extremely beautiful flowers, need special attention when being relocated into another pot. You will want to first start by making sure your entire work area is properly prepared, using newspaper to line the surface of where you will be doing the repotting. This can sometimes be a messy process, so you will want to take all of the appropriate measures before you get started.

You will want to turn and hold the plant upside down directly over the paper, dislodging it by holding it with your thumbs on the side of the pot. Sometimes you will find that during repotting the roots tend to stick to the bottom of the pot, and if this happens you can simply take out a knife from the kitchen and scrape them loose. After you have successfully removed the plant completely, separate the roots thoroughly, doing so carefully so as to avoid damage to the plant. Don't be concerned if some of your old potting mix sticks to the rest, as this is normal with orchids being repotted.

Trimming the roots of your plant is the next step before you can officially repot them. You can do this using a pair of heavy-duty scissors which should do the trick just fine. You can also use a smaller pair of shears; it accomplishes the same thing and gets the job done right. Make sure that before you start using them they are all sterilized. The last thing you want is the spread of any viral disease that might harm your plants in some way. You can simply take a paper towel dampened with alcohol and apply it directly to the tools you will be using in this process.

Next you will be removing all of the dead roots or one which appear to be damaged. You will be able to identify the damaged ones because they are mostly light brown in color as well as mushy to the touch. All of the healthy roots are going to be completely firm and white in color, with the tips being a shade of light green. You will also want to cut off all the leafless bulbs from the plant to make sure it is ready for repotting.

Now comes the somewhat tricky part which certain people have problems with. You will need to choose a pot that is large enough to where it will have room to grow, but not so large that it will have too much room. You also don't want to select too small of a pot, because then it won't have enough room for the roots to spread out. Doing either one of these things can result in the death of your plant, so make sure to choose carefully. If you plan on using an old pot that you already have lying around the house, then you need to take the necessary safety measures, washing it out thoroughly and making sure to soak in a solution which consists of around 10% chlorine bleach.