Hey! so im pretty new to orchids and i bought one since i knew they were low maintenance ish and this is her.. i noticed before i repotted her that some roots were brownish and the reason i did repot was her roots were up out of the soil. is there anything im doing wrong or any suggestions to make sure she thrives, shes 2ft and has a 1ft pot in diameter with orchid potting soil. any suggestions would be really helpful and appropriate - also is she a moth orchid?
This is a phalaenopsis orchid, yes, sometimes known as a moth orchid. I wouldn’t say you are doing anything ‘wrong’. However, generally, it’s a good idea to repot after your blooms fall, as repotting can shock a plant into dropping its flowers. It may be fine though, this one looks hardy. Another good tip I would have given prior to the repotting is to use a plastic clear slotted pot (with lots of holes for ventilation) 2-3 inches larger than the mass of roots. This type of orchid is epiphytic, meaning the roots need air just as much as they need moisture. The ventilation and good drainage are key to prevent root rot. The clear pot allows you to keep an eye on the roots- specifically the color of the roots as you water them. When they are green, let them alone. As the medium dries, they will go silvery. Only then should you water again. They should not stay damp all the time. (I would not count on planta’s watering schedule, or anyone else’s, since your environment, watering techniques, humidity level, and the media you choose for your orchid is different than everyone else’s.) Let your orchid tell you when it’s thirsty. Just pay attention to it and you’ll be able to tell when it needs water. The roots growing out of the pot are totally normal- they are called aerial roots, and are adapted to dryer conditions. Be cautious about how wet you keep them now that they are in a pot.
4 likesokay thank you!
1 likeEverything Jen ^^ said 💯 Don’t be concerned if the blooms fall. That might be a result of repotting when its got flowers, hence why Jen said its a better idea to wait. But what’s done is done :) To add to what Jen has said about the pot and air flow, if you are new to orchids absolutely move it into a clear orchid insert in an orchid specific medium. It will allow you much more control and be able to see what the roots are doing. Orchids will grow air roots, that’s normal. And you usually don’t want to put them under the medium unless you’ve trained it right from when it starts. Its growing this root specifically for the environment its in, meaning its absorbing moisture from the air and isn’t built to be super moist all the time. Their roots are like sponges, they’re meant to take a good absorption of water and then be allowed to dry a bit. Another reason the plastic insert is helpful, you can see the color of your roots so you know when to water. Then you can fill your pot up with water and let it sit for 10-15 mins,. You pull out your plant in its insert and dump all the water out. They are very low maintenance if you have them set up for success. But again, as Jen said, watering schedules and such are sooo dependent on your own growing environment. What works for one person’s environment will be different then what works in another’s.
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