Repotting a Mini Phalaenopsis Orchid

Sep 7

Anna Disco, Anoka County Extension Master Gardener

I recently received a small Phalaenopsis Orchid (“moth orchid”) as a gift from my son. Although I was delighted, I knew very little about the care of this special rainforest native plant. This opened a whole new area of plant knowledge for me.

UNIQUE NEEDS OF ORCHIDS:

Do not pot in soil (many come in a decorative vase with a coir blend plug)
Maintain temperatures of 60-80 degrees, humidity and indirect sunlight (east, west, or shaded south windows)
Minimal watering requirements using lukewarm water–never melted ice cubes!
Avoid misting flowers and leaves, as bacteria can develop in small “pools” here.

REHOMING YOUR ORCHID:
I chose a mix of bark chips and sphagnum moss as a potting medium for my orchid. I presoaked the moss for a few minutes in a bowl of lukewarm water, squeezing out the excess. The bark chips took a bit longer soaking, about 5 minutes. Next, I gently freed the orchid plant from its original pot, using the stake clipped to the stem to guide me. The roots were visibly adhered to the solid coir soil “plug,” but I was able to break it up in bits freeing up the roots. I ran the plant’s roots under lukewarm tap water. On inspection, some roots were gray and stiff, while others were green, firm and spongy to touch. A few were yellow white, but still firm, worth preserving. I cut off any gray roots, leaving healthy tissue above, where possible.

REPOTTING:
My new plastic pots had slits, which allow the roots to “breathe.” I began filling the pot with moistened bark chips and moss, using a chopstick to arrange the roots of my orchid on top of this first layer. I continued adding more mixture, pressing lightly, and keeping the orchid upright until the medium reached the level of the first set of leaves. I tapped and squeezed the pot, leaving the small air pockets necessary for root health and I placed the new pot on a table out of direct sunlight.

ONGOING CARE:
After a few days, I checked to be sure the medium was moist to touch. I adjusted the medium by adding more water-soaked bark chips and removed some of the moss.

1. For planters with moss: pour water slowly over the moss and the roots for about 10 seconds to flush. Allow the pot to drain well.

2. For planters with bark chips: place the plant inside a larger container, fill with water to a height just below the level of the leaves on the orchid. Soak for 5-10 minutes, then remove the plant and let it drain well.

3. Be sure that there is no water pooling in the crown of the plant or leaf joints. This can lead to bacteria or root rot. (Dab any with tissue or paper towel.)

My sources recommend fertilizing the plant weekly while the orchid is putting out new growth, then reduce frequency to weekly or longer. There are a variety of orchid specific products to choose from, either granule or liquid form.

Resources:
https://hennepinmastergardeners.org/easy-orchids/#content

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/growing_orchids_for_beginners

https://www.aos.org/orchids/articles/growing-phalaenopsis.-what-can-go-wrong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ2IZoI0kKQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhPvFIxJtys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWFyQzJbGDg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6A551-Sfnw

https://www.repotme.com/collections/potting-medias

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeiXCM2jfOk