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Re Potting A Phalaenopsis |
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| Potting Orchids - Re potting orchids class |
| Re Potting Phalaenopsis Orchids |
Phalaenopsis orchids will require re potting every 12 - 18 months as they continually strive to get out of their pots and assume the more natural 45 degree angle.
| They are quite resilient orchids and do not mind careful root trimming so long as they get the required temperature and humidity afterwards. |
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This plant is growing out of its pot in classic fashion, note the excess of aerial roots and the leaves and flowers growing out at a strange angle. Clearly the plant prefers this but when keeping it on a windowsill it quickly becomes obvious that it is not a tidy plant to look at - the remedy is in hand!
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The first thing you need to do is remove the old flowering spikes and dead or dying leaves, in this case the plant also has a current spike which I am prepared to loose as it's almost finished anyway.
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Any dead leaves are easily removed as they will have broken away from the plant on their own, dying leaves need tearing down the central vein in the leaf. To do this you need to carefully make a small tear right at the tip of the leaf and then pull each half in opposite directions right down to the stem. |
| The old flowering spikes need removing as close to the stem as possible to prevent them from starting a rotting process. |
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The 'compost' used in this procedure is large grade orchid bark or orchid compost, the difference between bark and compost is that orchid compost has added peat and will need watering less often whereas bark is just the bark on its own. Orchid bark is preferable.
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Now that the plant is more manageable it is time to remove it from the pot.
Tip the plant on its side and squeeze the sides of the pot to loosen the old compost then carefully but firmly pull out the plant, use the very base of the plant to hold on to during this process. |
Once you have the plant out of the pot it is a good time to take a look and see if there are any pest on it, in this case all is clear. If your plant has any pests then you should remove them and treat the plant with the appropriate substance.
| Phalaenopsis orchids will often have dead roots under the surface, this is perfectly normal and you can tell the difference easily. Live roots are white/grey and dead ones are brown. The outer covering of live roots is also firmly attached to the core but a dead roots outer covering simply slips off whilst holding it leaving a kind of thin wire behind. |
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You should remove any dead roots right up to the base of the plant and sorten any broken ones. Any overly long aerial roots should also be trimmed back as they will not function in the potting medium and may rot and kill the plant. This is because they have formed an outer skin which is designed to take water from the atmosphere rather than in compost.
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| You should add a small quantity of large chunks of bark to the base of the pot to act as a kind of pot crock, you could also use pieces of polystyrene. |
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Once you have established that the roots are alive and that there are no pests on the plant is it time to position it in the pot.
In this case we have washed the pot and are re using it as it is the right size for the plant. Don't be tempted to over pot the plant as this will cause unused compost to sour and you could loose the plant, if in doubt use a smaller pot rather than a larger one. |
Now is the time to add your preferred potting medium, make sure to compact is very well to hold the plant in position once you let go and that all the roots are in the compost.
It is very difficult to over compact orchid bark or orchid compost so please don't be afraid to press firmly as a loose plant will have difficulty getting established. |
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One thing that really helps with the stability of a newly potted orchid is making sure that the roots are in contact with the compost.
As the compost is very open you may need to go around the roots and add smaller chunks to pack in between the roots. |
All that's needed now is labelling of the plant so you know what variety or species it is.
Give the newly potted plant a good watering of fresh water and then again in 15 minutes time, don't use any fertilizer as you want the plant to send out roots rather than growing. |
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Keep the newly potted plant out of direct sunlight and more humid (spray lightly twice a day at 9am and 3 pm) for around three weeks.
The finished article, in less than 5 minutes you will have extended the life of your Phalaenopsis orchid and given is a good foundation on which to flower again in a few months time. |
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