From time to time, orchids will need to be repotted. Learn how to easily repot your orchid even if this if your first time.
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What you need to repot an orchid
Step by step guide to repotting an orchid
- Wait until your orchid has stopped blooming. Repotting an orchid while it still has flowers on it can shock your orchid and cause the flowers to fall off. If your orchid has roots that look unhealthy, you can repot it even with the flowers still on it. Ideally though, you should wait.
- Carefully remove your orchid from its pot. Grab at the base of the orchid and lift up gently while squeezing the pot to loosen everything. If your orchid isn't coming out of your pot, check the bottom to see if a root is stuck.
- Examine the roots for any sign of root rot. Unhealthy roots will look soggy brown and sometimes even black. They can sometimes still be green, but they will be squishy when squeezed. Cut these off and discard. (A healthy root will feel hard and won't get soggy when squeezed.)
- Pick out a new pot that has plenty of holes in the bottom and sides to help with air flow and drainage. We like these slotted orchid pots.
- Add about an inch of potting medium into the bottom of your pot. Then, carefully place your orchid back into the pot. With one hand holding the orchid, use your other hand to add potting medium into the pot around the roots.
- Tap and squeeze the pot to help the potting mix fall down into the pot (This helps prevent air pockets). Then continue adding the medium until the orchid pot is filled.
Why orchids need to be repotted?
- Needs fresh potting mix (which is why it's important to use one of these best orchid potting mixes)
- Orchid roots are overcrowding
- Root rot
Should orchids be routinely repotted?
Yes! Orchids typically need to be repotted once every couple of years. This is because the potting mix will deteriorate or the roots will start to overcrowd.
Sometimes though you will have to do this more often. Especially if your orchid has root rot.
Unfortunately a lot of garden centers don't know how to water orchids properly, so you might need to repot your orchid right after buying.
You can learn all about properly caring for your orchid here (along with the proper way to water).
Anne MacIntosh says
Hi Linda, I have 14 orchids which I have over the years picked up after they were thrown out and are beautiful, flowering abundantly. Being a pensioner I cannot afford fertilizers and special pots but I have repotted some of them - in larger plastic pots. I just used small orchid bark but they seem to have more roots than others. Can the pots be too big which will just promote root growth instead of blooms. I love the tips.
Joanna Stephens says
Hi Anne, yes you are right that a pot too big will actually cause the plant to dry out and it won't produce flowers. I have found that my orchids always flower for longer when they have fertilizer, but I understand your dilemma. You could try and make a DIY banana peel fertilizer to save on costs! I will add a new post on how to do this!
Daxa says
I have 6 orchids and some are blooming and some are not so can you help me out to see what I need to do and potting soil to use and the pots to put the orchids repotting in
Daxa
Joanna Stephens says
Some of the common reasons for orchids not blooming are not enough sunlight or too much, roots overcrowded, or needing to use a fertilizer. Since some are blooming and others aren't, have you tried rotating your orchids so they are all getting the same amount of light?
As for repotting, it's best to use a potting medium like Perfect Plants Orchid Potting Mix and choose a pot that has holes for drainage. Hope this helps Daxa!
Allen says
I have several Orchids that have put out a vertical shoot and formed what looks like a new plant at the top. Should I cut off the new plant and pot it up in new mix?
Joanna Stephens says
Hi Allen, when this happens it's called a Keiki (essentially a baby orchid). Wait until you start to see some roots growing before you cut it off so that it has a chance to survive on it's own. Hope this helps!
Ingrid Sutherland says
I have a 3-year old orchid that has done very well, however, about a month ago, I saw an aerial root that is growing straight up and is a foot long and it appears I have another root that wants to grow straight up too and it's about 4" long. Can I cut these off? Why are they not bending downwards?
Joanna Stephens says
Hi Ingrid, so orchids in their natural habitat will grow aerial roots to help anchor the plant to a tree or branch so this is why some of the roots are growing up. It's best to leave these roots alone, do NOT cut them off. Hope this helps!
Linda says
I have 3 orchids about the same size. They are in a 3 inch pots. Can I plant them all together in one pot. I have the perfect spot for them in my west window and the are doing beautifully.
Joanna Stephens says
For your orchids to do the best, keep them potted separately. Overcrowding can harm your orchids and they won't grow well and the blooming may be stunted.
Karen NoLand says
Mine have outstanding spikes/little tubular things growing very very long, some are 12” long! I don’t know what to do with them!? Tuck them inside the new pot? They’re so long they’re nearly impossible to set anywhere as they stick out way too far!! Trim them? Stick inside with the dirt/ potting medium?
Joanna Stephens says
Hi Karen, great question! There are a couple of possibilities for this.
-Are they growing upwards and are a bunch of them--(could be aerial roots) in which case you don't want to tuck them inside the potting medium.
-If they are growing in a downward direction, you can repot the orchid with a larger pot to hold these growing/overcrowded roots.
Hope this helps!
Tara says
Is there a way to keep orchid in same pot but contain the roots ? I like the pot mine is in but the roots are over growing. Thanks!
Joanna Stephens says
Hi Tara, most plants you can prune the roots, but not with orchids. If the pot is too small, it's best to repot it into a bigger one. From the sound of it, if the roots are overgrowing, it definitely needs a bigger pot!
Linda says
I just bought a new pot to replant my orchid but not sure if it’s too big !
It is an orchid pot with the holes around it and at the bottom, it is a 5” pot (across the top) , my orchid is currently in a 3” plastic pot . Very crowded roots and lots of long roots above the pot .
Will the new one be too big and hinder the growth of the plant ?
Joanna Stephens says
Hi Linda, a 5 inch pot will work great! You will just need a lot more orchid potting mix to fill in the gaps. Make sure to tap on the pot to let all the potting mix settle into the gaps and then add in more where it needs.