--- title: "How do you repot an orchid? right now its in a plastic pot,but I want…" description: "How do you repot an orchid? right now its in a plastic pot,but I want in in a purple glass pot." url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/65061dc86eed7b59bc9e12c4?language=es" community: "Pests, diseases and problems" author: "Plantlife!" published: "2023-09-16T21:27:36.997Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gFD0600vYqCVQYJeR2D_BbOAmfs1cZoRsiZi16M-VWo/baa43a49b65b4f49849264de4fe290e3.webp?size=large" --- [Comunidad](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=es) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md?language=es) # How do you repot an orchid? right now its in a plastic pot,but I want… _Publicado por Plantlife! el 2023-09-16_ How do you repot an orchid? right now its in a plastic pot,but I want in in a purple glass pot. ![Adjunto 1 de 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gFD0600vYqCVQYJeR2D_BbOAmfs1cZoRsiZi16M-VWo/baa43a49b65b4f49849264de4fe290e3.webp?size=large) ## 6 comentarios ### MeasomerPi comentó el 2023-09-16 Repot once it is finished blooming. The flowers typically last one to three months, annually. I would cut the inflorescence back to the base of the plant once the final bloom drops. There is a way to try for a second bloom but the flowers tend to be fewer in number and sometimes smaller. Flowering is very taxing process for the plants. Typically, when you bring home a plant, they are in sphagnum that is tightly packed. That’s not a great setup for the home grower. Or those in bark, the media is beginning to break down. Generally, you’ll need to repot every 2-3 years or when the media is broken down. When you get ready to repot, I would first give it a good soak as things are easier when hydrated. Take the orchid out of the pot and gently remove the media from the roots. Try get it all, but it’s fine if you have to leave some so you don’t damage the roots. And don’t worry if you damage some roots. It isn’t great but it happens. Just try to minimize as much as possible. Examine the roots for health and pests. Trim off any dead or dying roots. Dead roots are papery or mushy, black or brown. Healthy roots are firm and green when wet, silvery when dry. Deeper into the media you may encounter pale yellow roots. It just means they haven’t been exposed to light. They are fine as long as they are firm. I would leave any wrinkled roots as long as they are firm. I recommend you use your glazed pot as a cachepot. Use an orchid pot with additional ventilation. They are typically clear so you can monitor root development, and have ventilation holes on the sides of the pot. If you don’t have one, you can add holes to a growers pot or any other plastic pot you have on hand. Size the pot so that the roots just fit in the pot. They like a tight fit. To minimize transplant shock, use a similar mix to what it currently is in. If your plant is in sphagnum, I would repot using a mix of 50% sphagnum 50% bark. That will allow moisture to hang around long enough for the roots to take in what they want without cutting off air circulation. If you are a heavy waterer you can reduce the amount of sphagnum in your mix. My preference is straight bark. The key is a loose airy mix that will allow the roots to dry between waterings. Regardless of what mix you use, gently work it around the roots. I use an old chopstick for the job. The goal is to firmly seat the plant in the pot without packing the media. You want an airy mix that allows the roots to grab the water they want and then dry out. Orchids like their water but the LOVE for their roots to dry out. When I water, I soak the pot for 10-15 minutes. Wait until the media dries out (look for silver roots). For my setup, that works out to once a week. Each time I water, I use fertilizer at 1/4 strength. One a month flush with pure water to reduce salt buildup (this is especially important if you are using synthetic fertilizer). Put your plant in in bright but indirect light. I know, I know, every plant wants that. But direct sun will burn a phal pretty quickly. Too low and you won’t get blooms. I have mine an a west window that is shaded by landscaping. They get absolutely no direct sun. If the edges of the leaves turn reddish you know you are at the max limit of sun for your plant. I also recommend Miss Orchid Girl on YouTube. She is very knowledgeable about various types of orchids. I’ve also started checking out Hello Plant Lovers. He grows his orchids in similar conditions to mine. I find caring for orchids very rewarding and mildly frustrating. Luckily they are tough plants. As long as you don’t drown it you will do great. Good luck! #### Dave\_opuntiaface respondió el 2023-09-17 🫶 ### Plantlife! comentó el 2023-09-16 thank you! #### MeasomerPi respondió el 2023-09-16 My pleasure! Oh and if you post in the Orchid Oasis you’ll have better luck connecting with experienced orchid growers 😁 ### Kim comentó el 2023-09-17 I thought the clear pots were important to allow light to get to the roots. Sure I read that somewhere! #### MeasomerPi respondió el 2023-09-17 Clear pots are super helpful but not necessary. While the roots do contain chlorophyll, the vast majority of photosynthesis occurs in the leaves. I find the biggest benefit to clear orchid pots to be the ability to observe the root development. And generally, clear orchid pots have ventilated side which are superior for root health. --- _La comunidad de Planta (https://getplanta.com). La lectura está abierta a todo el mundo. Para publicar, comentar y dar 'me gusta', descarga la app de Planta: https://getplanta.com/download_