pmurphy

I'm looking for information on re-potting an orchid.

I got the plant about 5 years ago when it was tossed in the trash at my office to make room for (of all things) a poinsettia. The orchid is still in the original pot but I don't know what type it is......looks like the standard plant you'll get at Home Depot or Lowe's.

Anyway, I've had it all this time and it faithfully blooms about twice a year, and puts out new leaves when it's 'resting'. But after all this time the roots are hanging out of the pot and are currently long enough to be resting on the soil of my clown fig (I had to make room at Christmas so I placed the orchid - in the pot - in the larger pot). This didn't phase the orchid at all because it is once again producing blossoms.

It's planted in what looks like moss and I have NO experience what so ever with this type of medium. I don't even know if it needs re-potting, or if this is normal. I tried contacting some of the local forums and garden centers but so far have not received any responses.
Can anyone here give me some advise on what to do?

Thanks,
Pam

kubali

they love peat moss or Sphagnum moss and coconut fiber.
The growing medium is always a combination of organic fibers and inorganic materials. Ready-mix mediums are convenient and easy to use and can be bought at just about any nursery or home center. You can also mix your own medium from a wide variety of materials, but to start off with you would be best to buy the ready-mix.

pmurphy

Thanks for the info, I'll see about getting some premixed but do you think it should be re-potted?
If this were any other plant I would have done so long ago but I always see these orchids with the roots hanging out of the pot....is this normal?

kubali

yes,All orchids potted in a typical bark medium need to be repotted every 18 to 24 months, depending on the needs of the individual plant.

The primary purpose of repotting is to provide fresh media, not necessarily a larger pot, but pot size should be selected according to the size of the root masses. All orchids potted in a typical bark medium need to be repotted every 18 to 24 months, depending on the needs of the individual plant.

The primary purpose of repotting is to provide fresh media, not necessarily a larger pot, but pot size should be selected according to the size of the root masses. all the orchids I have grown like a nice snug fitting pot, not too big
ANNUAL REPOTTING: Dendrobium, Miltonia, Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis and their hybrids.
.....EVERY OTHER YEAR: Cattleya, Dendrobium, Oncidium, Odontoglossum and their hybrids.
.....EVERY THIRD YEAR: Vanda and its allies, Cymbidium

pmurphy

Thanks, I'll get some medium and re-pot this weekend.....or should I wait until after it flowers?

kubali

I would wait till after it flowers.

Richard

My non-terrestrial orchids are in #10 pots filled with 1/4" Sequoia Orchid Bark. In turn, those pots are placed in non-draining #12 decorative ceramic pots. They sit on a table next to a window exposed to the eastern sun, and in the winter time have the benefit of overhead T5 VHO 6500K lamps during daylight hours and heat mats underneath maintaining 60F or so heat. Once per week (typically Mondays) I dump 1/2 gallon of municipal water laced with 1/4 teaspoon of urea-free 20-10-20 on each of the plants. About an hour later I dump the excess water from the ceramic pots and drain most of the water from the #10 pots into a bucket that is dumped into the garden. When I want them to bloom, I add 1/4 teaspoon of 5-50-17 to the mix. Shown below is a picture of my orchids taken about 1 week ago:

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sunfish

Ideal for terrestrial to semi-terrestrial orchids, our premium Orchid Mix is the perfect blend of fir bark, chopped coir and perlite. It is highly recommended for Cymbidium, Paphiopedilum, and Phaius orchid species, among others.




Fir Bark, Chopped Coir, Coarse Perlite


Recommended for the cultivation of terrestrial and semi-terrestrial orchids.

Richard

Tony, the mixture you referenced sells for about $4 per quart at Home Depot. In comparison, 1/4" Sequoia Orchid Bark sells for $12-$15 per 3.5 cubic foot bag (thats 104 quarts) at horticulture supply outlets and works better than any other mix I've ever tried. In San Diego county and many other locations across the U.S. it's available from Crop Production Services.

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pmurphy

Thanks for the info, but I've been told mine is a non-terrestrial orchid....the medium I can see is moss. And the way the roots are growing I'm not sure I could get it safely out of the pot





and this is what is looks like in flower...

kubali

looks like you will need to cut the sides of the pot to be able to release it from that container. But you do need to re-pot............

sunfish