A visit to my greenhouse to repot my orchids
Recently, Tom Purviance, co-owner of Parkside Orchid Nursery in Ottsville, Pennsylvania, was a guest on my television show. He brought several beautiful specimens of unusual varieties of orchids that his nursery is known for. We discussed how the orchid family is the most numerous in the plant kingdom, with 30 to 40 thousand known species. There are two types of orchids - terrestrial, which grow on the ground and epiphytes, which establish themselves on trees. The vast majority of orchids are epiphytes and to successfully grow them in containers, requires some special materials, such as orchid media and orchid pots or baskets. On the show, Tom Purviance also demonstrated how to plant an orchid basket.
When Shaun Kass, my gardener, saw that episode, he became inspired to repot all the orchids in the greenhouse. They had been growing in the same pots for many years and he felt they would benefit from the attention. Shaun contacted Parkside Orchid Nursery and learned a great deal more about how orchids should be repotted and which potting media to use with which orchids. When the supplies arrived the other day, Shaun and Wilmer got busy and started repotting all of my 250 plus orchids! We can't wait to see how they grow!
1 This is the phalaenopsis potting media. It contains medium fir bark, medium charcoal, medium perlite, and chunky peat moss.
2 This is how the orchid mix comes - one bag goes a long way.
3 A different mix for different orchids.
4 You can see just how chunky these orchid medias are.
5 Orchid media should be soaked in water for several hours or overnight before using.
6 Shaun used this large rubber pail for soaking.
7 Wilmer is removing this orchid from its pot.
8 Orchid roots need a lot of air circulation and orchid pots should have air holes like this one.
9 All the old potting media is removed from the roots.
10 With sterilized shears, any dead roots are cut away.
11 It's important to remove unproductive roots to increase air circulation for the live ones.
12 All trimmed and healthy
13 All of this old material will, of course, be taken to the composting area.
14 It's important to give the used pots a good soaking in warm, sudsy water.
15 Shaun then scrubs each pot clean with a stiff pot brush.
16 The head house is equipped with deep stainless sinks for jobs like this one.
17 Many of my orchid pots were thrown for me by master potter, Guy Wolff. www.guywolff.com
18 These broken pot shards are good to cover the bottom drain holes of the pots.
19 Shaun positions a trimmed orchid in a clean pot.
20 He grabs a handful of soaked media.
21 It is added to the pot.
22 Another wet handful
23 With each handful added, Shaun uses the blunt end of a stick to tamp the media into the orchid roots. Orchids like to be anchored securely.
24 Next, a good watering
25 This helps the roots and media to 'settle' in.
26 Now, that's what I call a good watering!
27 As you can see, this special orchid fertilizer has been blended specifically for well water, which we have here at the farm. Shaun will feed the orchids the next time they get watered.
28 With that batch done, Shaun points to many more orchids that need repotting.
Photo By Eliad Laskin
Wow, that is alot of work, I can not wait to see how they turn out..With that much attention they should be stunning..Maria
Posted by: Maria Batelot | February 1st, 2010 at 1:50 am
Hi Martha,
seeing something from your house & garden is always a great inspiration for me ! I love Orchids but I have 5 cats in the house and I think Orchids are poisonous for them. Can I keep the plants under glass cloches or do you have any other ideas ?
Have a great & inspiring day !
Posted by: Dani & cats | February 1st, 2010 at 9:13 am
Hi Martha,
Thank you for sharing your story and wonderful photographs. I've been eyeing the Orchids at Whole Foods for the past 2 weeks now but because of a move across the country in our near future, I haven't bought any yet. I also have been eyeing a Meyers Lemon tree at Whole Foods but again, refrained from buying. Do you have any tips you can share for moving house plants from MA to TX? I have some other house plants that I will have to give away if I can't figure out how to move them.
Posted by: Christina | February 1st, 2010 at 9:55 am
Shaun and Wilmer are inspiring me on this first day of February to keep up my gardening plan for the spring. Thanks for the inspiration Martha.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | February 1st, 2010 at 10:29 am
what a great piece of information - so helpful - thank you!
Posted by: jeannette | February 1st, 2010 at 11:49 am
Martha,
I would love to see a follow up that shows how to keep Orchids healthy and how to get them to bloom again - outlining the whole process. I know I have trouble with a second blooming after I have purchased one. Whole Foods has a great sellection on sale for 12.99.
Posted by: chad | February 1st, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Love the picture of the broken pot shards, very cool!
Posted by: Wendy (Give Love Create Happiness) | February 1st, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Fantastic detail in the photo instructions. We have been collecting orchids here in San Francisco and getting them to flower with success. I cannot say the same for when we lived in Wisconsin, but I think the steady Bay Area conditions have helped.
I remember one of our first plants we acquired after moving to SF was a Moth Orchid found as an impromptu yard sale which is still producing flowers today. I think we will need to give it a transplant now that you have inspired us with your post.
Matti
Posted by: Matti | February 1st, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Martha,
I do agree with Chad and would love to see a long segment all about growing/caring for orchids at home. I had a very large pot of orchids in the Master Bath that was thriving and was absolutely loaded with new buds. But they shriveled up and all dropped off. I think from overwatering as I watered and then my husband did too. Any ideas? Thank you,
Leslie
Posted by: Leslie | February 1st, 2010 at 3:35 pm
How interesting and what a good project!
Posted by: sherey | February 1st, 2010 at 6:39 pm
It was great reading about and seeing this repotting process! I recently discovered how enjoyable orchids are as an indoor house plant-even in NH!
Posted by: Trudi | February 1st, 2010 at 7:06 pm
I have a couple of orchids in my kitchen window. One has just begun to branch out and possibly have buds, that would be such a blessing. I hope you will share the orchids as they celebrate their new bath and beds! Happy Gardening Martha!
Posted by: Pamie G. | February 1st, 2010 at 9:33 pm
oh by the way, Martha, I did have a mealy bug problem but I took a paper towel and dipped it in bleach and wiped them off and then washed the whole plant with a mild soap, it seemed to really help. Mealy bug can get out of hand pretty quick! Happy Gardening, Pamie G.
Posted by: Pamie G. | February 1st, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Orchids are great because they live a long time with really no maintenance. After a few months, as they fade, you can replace them with new ones. Also, only Martha would have someone personally throw her own pots. Awesome!
Posted by: Eric | February 1st, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Hi Martha, What a fabulous lesson on how to repot different kinds of orchids. Thank you to Tom Purviance, Shaun Kass, Wilmer and of course, Guy Wolff. All of these guys are so important in how well they can teach all of us how to do these projects. These photos were terrific. Always love to see any gardening activity at your farm. Your mini-marathon of 'Ask Martha' on Sirius Radio today was fantastic. The 3 hours went by so fast and were full of all kinds of information. I was absolutely thrilled to talk to you and Anna Last today and will wait anxiously to see the recipes for yougurt covered raisins, etc. in Everyday Food Magazine soon. Thanks. Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | February 1st, 2010 at 10:41 pm
EXCELLENT tutorial! In Florida, the growing of orchids is obviously much simpler with much less fuss year-round, but the need for repotting inevitably comes no matter where you are. Keep up the great work.
Posted by: Cheryl Mardis | February 1st, 2010 at 11:59 pm
I read your blog each morning before my day starts. Someone does a GREAT job preparing and writing them all up! Alot of work. I so enjoy all the animals around your farm and you seem to be so happy in all the pictures with them!
Posted by: LB Howell | February 2nd, 2010 at 8:34 am
That was very informative, thank you for sharing Martha. I'm sure you will enjoy beautiful orchid blooms very soon...
Posted by: Sandra (L'esprit Sud Magazine) | February 2nd, 2010 at 9:38 pm
The pictures were so very helpful. I have been raising orchids (3) for over 15 years now. I was always dubious about transpanting them this really cleared the questions for my transplanting. Thanks so much.
By the way mine froze in our hard freeze this year. I am anxious to see how well they come out of it, they were covered with blankets.
D. Redenbach
The Villages, FL
Posted by: Deanna Redenbach | February 3rd, 2010 at 7:16 am
My orchid collection consists of three pots~one I got for my birthday last November~it still has 2 blossoms~the rest of the flowers are spent. The other two plants are from last year~one was my mother's and one mine. My last year's orchid is budded and will be blossoming again. I think the key was feeding it each time I watered it~not often probably once every ten days. Can't wait until I have blossoms again. Wish I had a greenhouse then I'd have more room for plants. Thanks for the orchid info.
Posted by: Cathybytheriver | February 3rd, 2010 at 10:47 am
What a project, Martha! -I cannot imagine! (well, I CAN, actually...) 250 orchids!...you're like me - you want one of everything!
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All these little beauties will definitely benefit from their special attention, and before long, you'll be showing us a breathtaking photo gallery of all the blooms they're bedecked in!
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In many years past when I seemed to have a gazillion houseplants, I always found my focus especially diverted to them in the winter, since I had the time to give them thorough attention from having a break from all the summertime duties outdoors. I have just a select few now and would like more, but my little calico Mandy girl =^..^= has taken a liking to what I currently have (if ya' know what I mean! [giggle] ) I used to be a member of the AVSA (African Violet Society of America) and have had a hankerin' for some of those lately. I remember reading articles in their publication where commercial growers would have TRAYS of violets ruined, because the kittiekittie liked to lay on them! Darned (but beautiful/lovable/fluffiewuffable) cats! [giggle]
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This little(?) project was a nice mid-winter-day-pick-me-up, Martha. With my hands always in the dirt, I just can't seem to keep polish on my nails! [giggle] And that's okay!
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=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | February 3rd, 2010 at 3:35 pm
I'm excited that I have a flower spike on 2 of my orchids! Martha - you've been looking really extra good the past couple of days - what's the secret???
Posted by: susie dymoke | February 4th, 2010 at 11:33 am
I had an orchid that I proudly had not killed in a year, that even bloomed twice but then we had a warm day and I put it outside and it disappeared.
I just hope whoever has it manages not to kill it.
Posted by: Maureen | February 4th, 2010 at 9:23 pm