So I’ve read that the orchid needs to be reported when the media is broken down, but how do I k ow when it is broken down? I bought this amazing orchid for $5.00(what a deal!), and I’m thinking about repotting it soon, but how do I k ow if it needs repotting or not? (I used flash for the second pic because it was too dark)
Yeah your media looks great. Usually you can tell if the roots are starting to blacken, but yours look healthy! Check out MissOrchidGirl on you-tube for everything you ever want to know about repotting orchids and beyond.
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The top part of the media in your photo looks to be in pretty good shape. It looks like newish orchid bark. While it’s difficult to see in the pic the exact state of the media toward the bottom of the pot, it does look a little broken down as evident in the smaller particles. Based on the photos, I think you are fine to wait until next spring. If you really want to repot, I would wait until the blooms have dropped. If you need a better metric for comparison, you might consider purchasing orchid bark without any additives so see what it looks like new.
1 me gustaShould I repot every spring? I repotted my other orchid last week, and I hope it’ll stay fresh because repotting can be time consuming and a lot of work for me who is new to orchids. Should I change the repot when the flowers fall because then I can repot both my orchids at the same time?
0 Me gustaIf you use decent bark, you can wait 2-3 years between repottings, as long as the roots are looking healthy and the bark doesn’t seem soft and a little stinky (as opposed to a fresh woodsy smell.)
1 me gustaI’m asking this question because people usually say to repot as soon as you get a new orchid because the media is usually old, but the place I got it from seems to be pretty good now. My other one was bought at a supermarket and was potted in mulch, so there is a pretty big sifference in the stores I guess. Thank you for all your help!!
1 me gustaThe only suggestion I would give you in addition to the above comments is that orchids tend to thrive in pots with some ventilation. Your media looks good, but I would add some holes or slits to the sides of this pot in order to help the roots get a little more aeration.
1 me gusta Repotting as soon as you get it is something you’ll need to evaluate on a case by case basis. Orchids roots like to dry out and old media or tightly packed sphagnum don’t allow that. My MO is repot anything a sphagnum as soon as feasible. I’ll wait a year to repot things in bark unless it looks like it’s a mess in there. Things in lava or other media that don’t break down, I’ll wait a couple of years sometimes.
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