So, I’ve always been a “leafy greens” kind of girl and not so much a flowers girl, but my partner gifted me an orchid for mother’s day and I’m officially humbled. The care is different from what I’m used to and the potting medium and roots definitely made me work when I repotted it — but I’m worried I botched it lol. Can someone please tell me if this plant needs correcting before I end up accidentally committing plant murder? 😭
Yours is so pretty! I can’t help with care because mine is practically dead😬. I do recommend repotting into a bigger pot with an orchid mix.
2 likes 🤣😭 Thank you so much! I’ve managed to keep it alive for a month… So that’s a decent start 🥲 I worry that repotting it may have been a mistake but it looked so cramped in its tiny store pot 😭
2 likes It is not a mistake!! Mine would have been dead waaaayyy sooner if I did not repot. Mine is still hanging on!😅
1 like I repotted into a pot about 3cm bigger in diameter like two days ago with orchid mix. The pot is a decent size but I think I struggled to get the roots all the way in with the mix? I’m used to a much more loose potting medium (potting soil, moss, etc) so it felt a bit clunky and awkward to me 😭
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The roots are always all over the place with them. They make special orchid pots with lots of holes. I only repot in orchid bark. Oh and make sure you get rid of the moss plug they put around the base of the roots. This guys been around for 3 years now
Your orchid looks good to me. One thing I’ve recently learned and tried was soaking my orchid bark in Water for about 24 hrs before using it to repot my orchid.
1 likeHi there! Welcome to the wonderful and sometimes frustrating world of orchids. 😆 Your phalaenopsis will prefer bright shade or indirect sun. Direct sun will burn the leaves. This orchid is an epiphytic type, meaning it needs air around its roots just as much as it needs water. That’s why the preferred media is usually a mix of sphagnum moss and bark. Depending on your environment- dry or humid-you can find the balance of what to use more or less of. You DON’T want the roots to stay constantly wet. They need to dry between waterings. When the roots look silvery gray, it’s time to water. If they are still green, wait. The orchid will tell you how often they need watering, based on your medium, whether they are in a big growth spurt, and your environment. Repotting into a clear plastic slotted pot, with lots of drainage holes all the way around is an excellent idea. You can see the roots better, and it allows for more air flow so you don’t develop root rot. So the pot you are using may need some holes or slits put in around the sides. Think airflow, not just drainage as you’re used to with other houseplants. When you repotted- if any of the roots were mushy or papery thin and dried out, they should be trimmed away. You only want roots that are firm and full of substance. The concerns you had about fitting all the roots into your new pot- if you soak the medium and roots for about 5-10 mins prior to repotting, they tend to be a liiiittle more flexible and will cooperate when trying to fit into the new pot. The good news is- this type of orchid is actually the most forgiving and resilient for new growers.
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to add on to other comments, i think orchids generally prefer a snug pot (it’s ok if their roots get everywhere they develop aerial roots), and it’s best to only repot after the orchid is done flowering. good luck :)
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