Green Witch 🪴
First time orchid parent!! I’ve heard these are ALMOST impossible to keep alive. I know I need to repot her soon, can someone tell me what their best repot/care routine? 🖤
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First time orchid parent!! I’ve heard these are ALMOST impossible to… | The Orchid Oasis | Communauté Planta
8 commentaires
- Jen
They are not impossible to keep alive. Just likely different than the other house plants you are used to. This is what I’ve started copying and pasting to answer your questions, as it is the same thing that all new orchid owners worry ask… When your flowers are finished blooming, it’s the perfect time to repot a new orchid. If you decide to do that, there’s a whole set of advice we’d recommend. Let us know when you’re ready! If you are just looking for general tips- no problem. 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.
4 J'aime- Green Witch 🪴
Thank you so much!!
2 J'aime 
MattL+1 to everything Jen said. Phalaenopsis are actually easy! I think the fact that the roots literally change color when they’re ready to be watered makes them so easy—BUT don’t judge by the surface roots, keep it in a clear pot and look at the roots further down. If you don’t like ugly clear plastic pots, just stick it in a cache-pot.
3 J'aime
PlantlifeI also like to put mine in cover pots as I find mine don’t appreciate all of their roots out in the sun
3 J'aime- Green Witch 🪴
Cover pot? Like the decorative ceramic ones?
0 J'aime - Green Witch 🪴
Thank you! I will definitely keep an eye on them!
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- Waspinator
I agree, repot after the blooms are done; it lets you check on root health, trim away any dead roots, and remove any weird packing materials from the nursery. Soaking the roots for 20 minutes to a full day before a repot helps make them flexible for that. For watering, these don't pull in water from thier substrate like most plants, so get water directly on the roots. Use room temperature water, never ice cubes. Never let water pool/sit in the bottom of the pot, and never get water in the crown (where all the leaves meet. If you splash it there, dry it, especially in the crevices, with paper towel.) On average, these need watering about once a week. If you under-water, the roots will wrinkle first, and eventually the leaves will wrinkle and get floppy. Leaves change color if they're getting too much (leaves turn yellow or eventually dark purple) or too little (leaves turn dark green) light. The leaves' current color is ideal. The flower spikes can rebloom, so look up how to trim them right after the flowers drop and it may or may not keep the spike for next time. If the spike dries out (they shrivel and turn a light tan) then you can cut them at the base. Phalaenopsis (this type) are a great orchid for rookies, and very forgiving of mistakes as long as you avoid rot. If you ever branch into other orchid species, some good ones for starting out are dendrobiums (likes frequent watering, drought tolerant), oncidiums (similar care to phals), paphiopedilums (easiest terrestrial), and jewel orchids (lower light needs, easy terrestrial)
2 J'aime- Green Witch 🪴
Thank you so much!! If I can keep her alive I will definitely look into the others! 🖤
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