Repotting Orchids in the Greenhouse
As you may know, I have a rather large orchid collection, which is in the process of getting even larger. Ryan McCallister, my gardener, has been very busy in the greenhouse lately, repotting nearly every plant. During these bitterly cold days of winter, repotting can be a most satisfying task. Growing orchids is daunting for many people, but things become a whole lot clearer if you understand some orchid basics. In nature, most orchids are epiphytes, which means that they grow upon other objects, such as rocks and even trees. Their roots need to breath and should never be packed tightly in a pot. The roots are designed to soak up water rapidly and will never tolerate being buried in regular potting soil. There are special pots and orchid mixes, designed specifically for these special roots. Also, never repot a blooming orchid. Wait for the flower spike to fade before giving the plant a new home.
1 My orchid collection takes up space on two long tables in the greenhouse. Ryan McCallister, my gardener, surveys the scope of the repotting project.
2 These clay pots are made specifically for orchids. Many of these pots were hand thrown by master potter, Guy Wolff, http://www.guywolff.com/ or by his son, Ben. http://benwolffpottery.com/
3 Ryan came upon these great pots in the greenhouse basement. I think I found them at a tag sale. The natural clay material is porous and allows roots to breathe and the numerous drainage holes help protect against over watering.
4 Before reusing flowerpots, Ryan empties and scrapes each one clean.
5 He then scrubs the pots with a very mild bleach solution - 9 parts water to 1 part bleach - This will kill any disease organisms that may be present.
6 After rinsing, he allows the pots to air dry.
7 After removing the orchid from its pot, Ryan loosens and breaks apart all the old potting medium, exposing the orchid roots.
8 Using sharp secateurs, he trims away any roots and leaves that look shriveled. This may seem rather extreme, but orchids thrive with a good pruning and cleanup.
9 Unless things look buggy or diseased, in which case discarded, all of the old potting material and trimmings are added to the compost pile.
10 One by one, every phalaenopsis orchid in the collection, also known as moth or butterfly orchid, is pruned up and set aside for repotting.
11 For repotting orchids, Ryan uses a mix of bark, charcoal, and perlite, also called sponge rock, for it's absorbent qualities. The charcoal helps to filter out impurities.
12 This is the sphagnum moss, which was given a good soaking in water. Depending on the species, sphagnum plants may hold from 16-26 times as much water as their dry weight, which is why orchid growers like to use it.
13 Ryan blended the moist sphagnum with the bark mix.
14 You can see the difference between the lower, darker-colored roots and the upper, greenish aerial roots.
15 Ryan chose a slightly larger pot than what this orchid came out of.
16 The lower roots go right into the pot, while the upper aerial roots are threaded through the side holes and over the rim of the pot. Threading helps to anchor the orchid in its new home.
17 With the base of the orchid leaves even with the rim of the pot, the space around the roots is filled in with the potting mix.
18 Many of the phalaenopsis orchids have flower spikes and this repotting will give them a nice energy boost. Ryan supported the flower spikes with wooden sticks and orchid clips.
19 If you're new to growing orchids, phalaenopsis are readily available and quite tolerant - a very good choice for beginners.
20 When all the phalaenopsis were completed, Wilmer, Ryan's right-hand-man, went to work on the oncidium section. Like phalaenopsis, oncidium are epiphytic, meaning they grow on rocks or in trees - never in the ground.
21 Wilmer sprayed the roots with Physan 20 Orchid Disinfectant, which is used to control bacteria, fungus, virus and algae. It's a good preventative measure when repotting.
22 Each oncidium orchid was divided, making two or three new plants.
23 Like all orchids, oncidium do not like wet feet and are usually planted in a coarse, fast draining media.
24 Oncidiums are unique because they are equipped with a storage tank at the base of each growth called a pseudobulb. These pseudobulbs provide moisture to the plant during long dry periods in nature between rain showers.
25 Wilmer tamped the potting mix firmly into the pot, anchoring the orchid.
26 Watching my orchid collection grow like this is very exciting!
27 Orchids can give you many years of colorful blooms, if you maintain them correctly.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Hi Martha,
Thank you for this blog entry on orchids. They're such a beautiful and majestic plant, but I can never keep them alive! I'm definitely going to try some of the techniques and methods you've recommended here.
Any tips on how to prune to ensure you get beautiful blooms? And when should one prune an orchid?
I live in the Southern Hemisphere (Johannesburg, South Africa), so if you can reference seasons, that would be helpful.
Sincerely,
Joash
Posted by: Joash Narainsamy | February 4th, 2013 at 1:07 am
Hi Martha,
Thanks for sharing how to care and transplant Orchids, I have one I need to transplant and wasn't sure how to do it and what kind of Material to use to put in the pot and the type of pot to use,Thanks again-I enjoy your Blogs very much and the comings and goings of Sharkey and Francisca- Glad Francisca is doing well and hope she will be back soon doing their Blog and all the exciting things they do on the Farm-Have a good week,Fran
,
Posted by: Fran Danville | February 4th, 2013 at 1:23 am
Martha, that was a very good class in re-potting orchids. Thank you!,
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | February 4th, 2013 at 1:26 am
Hey Martha is good to be back on line . I love those orchids especially the way Ryan does it . So much care cleaning those pots . Great !
Posted by: Iulian Cristea | February 4th, 2013 at 2:24 am
Martha,
I have an orchid for the first time, and this information will be invaluable for it's proper care. It has a flower spike coming up on it now, so I'm very excited to see the blooms. Thank you for sharing.
Angela
Posted by: Angela | February 4th, 2013 at 5:26 am
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog. Hoped you enjoyed the superbowl and safe journey back home.
Posted by: KLBrown | February 4th, 2013 at 6:55 am
Good morning Martha, I enjoyed your tweets about your lovely meal in New
Orleans by Emeril. The food looked so delicious!
I have to say I've been intimdated by orchids hearing how difficult they are to keep alive. Ryan has done a great job though showing us the proper way to clean the pots, how to prune and the correct potting mix to use for orchids.
Posted by: Cindy F | February 4th, 2013 at 7:47 am
Hi Martha, Thank you so much for this inspiring blog about how to replant and grow perfect orchids! My brother loves orchids, but he hasn't been able to take this perfect care of them and they always stop growing for him! I absolutely appreciate being able to see and read how your great gardener, Ryan, presented everything I need to share with my brother! Every one of these photos and comments about your beautiful orchids and the pots from Guy and Ben Wolff are fantastic! I have some of Guy Wolff's regular pots and will need to buy some more for the orchids! You have the most gorgeous orchids in your greenhouse that I have ever seen and they look great in your houses when they bloom! I loved seeing Ryan clean all of those pots and used that great sponge rock to plant all of them! Can't wait to see how your orchids look when they bloom again! Thank you also for all 26 of those fabulous tweets and 7 photos you shared about going to New Orleans for the NFL championship game! They were all wonderful! Sure hope you have another great day and please hug Francesca for me and DDR! God Bless all of you!! Off to see Francesca and Sharkey in today's Daily Wag blog! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | February 4th, 2013 at 9:03 am
So LOVE this post!! One of my goals this year is to finally keep an orchid alive and healthy!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Posted by: Rozanne | February 4th, 2013 at 9:14 am
Hi Martha,
I hope you enjoyed the Super Bowl - it must have been very exciting to be there. I enjoyed it on tv. Nice lesson on repotting orchids - if I ever get any orchids I'll refer back to this blog. I had one just once and didn't know the first thing about caring for it so when it died, I didn't get anymore. I actually prefer low-maintenance plants like all the ones I have in my garden. They transplant themselves and keep on growing. You have a basement in your greenhouse! I don't think you've ever shown us that. I didn't know greenhouses had basements. I read you will be on the Chew tomorrow - I guess I'll check it out. Trish
Posted by: Trish | February 4th, 2013 at 9:23 am
This is great! I decided over the holidays I needed a hobby and orchids are it. I'm enjoying finding out they aren't as challenging as I thought.
Posted by: Shaun Proulx | February 4th, 2013 at 9:28 am
I've never had an orchid before but this is useful information. I should get one today! Nice greenhouse.
Posted by: Franco | February 4th, 2013 at 9:31 am
As an orchid lover I was happy to read all these tips... I seem to have luck keeping them alive but not so much when it comes time to repot them... Thank you for the pruning tips... and I need some of these pots...:) xv
Posted by: Vicki Archer | February 4th, 2013 at 9:32 am
Beautiful; many thanks for posting! I love Orchids!
Posted by: Carlton Hobbs | February 4th, 2013 at 9:44 am
Hi Martha,
A friend of mine had a real green thumb with orchids. I always enjoyed visiting her just to see what was blooming. She had a multi -shelved growing table in her basement and would "redecorate" her living room, powder room & kitchen with the blooming plants. Always a treat.
Good day all,
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon | February 4th, 2013 at 9:50 am
I have a few orchids that I received as gifts from my husband over the years. I just put repotting my orchids on my to do list yesterday. Thanks for the perfect timing of your post. I will be much more confident about giving my plants a new home now.
Posted by: Kim Anderson | February 4th, 2013 at 10:47 am
Dear Martha-
A very dear friend of mine told me during lunch one afternoon that her grandfather "Canning" of surname had an orchid named after him. He was an avid gardner. They really are beautiful flowers.
Posted by: Teri | February 4th, 2013 at 11:15 am
This information is perfect for me at this time because I have an orchid that needs "new shoes" right now! My brother from Florida gave me so many beautiful plants over the years, and I've struggled to properly care for them here in Pennsylvania...without a greenhouse!
I will give immediate attention to my precious ones with your wonderful insight!
My father always "steamed cleaned" our homemade soil religiously to kill all sorts of bacteria and other unwanted organisms.
I have a question concerning the use of the products to use here at my home.
May I use my household solution prepared by Gen X 3?
http://www.gen-x-3.com/
Posted by: Barbara Mayer | February 4th, 2013 at 11:48 am
This is a very timely and useful posting! I will plan to repot my 3 orchids this month too.
Posted by: laline | February 4th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Hi Martha,
I love flowers. I am not a green thumb lady but flowers add so much color and beauty to life's every day. I make a point of going to my neighborhood florist every Saturday where she puts together a bouquet of flowers and greenery for me for my kitchen counter. I am inspired by your website, magazines and blog to come up with ideas for her each and every week. Orchids are one of those special flowers that I have yet to bless my kitchen. I usually go for a mixture. One day I will though - when the time is just right. I love getting a peek inside your greenhouse and meeting your gardener Ryan by photos! Did you take those with your new Samsung Galaxy Camera?
Thank you for today's post. It touched a part of my brain - gardening - which is not my forte but I love learning about it.
Have a great Monday!!
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa Gordon-Miller | February 4th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
I have four to do in the next while... thanks or the reminder!
Posted by: Holiday Baker Man | February 4th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Hi, Martha,
Thank you for the tutorial on refreshing orchids! My mother always knew what to do with orchids and could keep them blooming for the longest time. She would put an ice cube in the center of the plant once a week and the slow melting and watering seemed to work perfectly. She's gone now and I miss her and her orchids.
Your information has made me brave enough to try growing an orchid.
Also, the blog on composting was very informative. If your going to grow, you need to get dirty. Did it get replaced?
Thank you!
Posted by: Bobbie | February 4th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Hi, You should be able to stack a larger pot beneath and just let the roots grow into that pot - voila! a new plant or two or three...Of course then it becomes harder to maintain neatness. I had a fern inside for the winter and its dry roots reached out and searched and found a new home for its new family in another pot. I let them grow through the winter and then severed the babies from the mother plant when they were strong enough to be on their own. Not unlike us, :^) ..... they just needed a little space of their own!
Posted by: Dianna | February 4th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Orchids are my favorite flowers! I wish I had a collection like yours.
Posted by: Laura Dembowski | February 4th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
I have a small collection of miniature orchids. I've kept them in honor of my Mom who loved orchids of all varieties, especially cattleyas. I don't do much to care for them except water and talk to them. I'm affraid if I do more, they will die. This group has been with me awhile now, at least 7 years and they are beautiful. Right now they are blooming. As soon as the blooms fall I am hoping to transplant them to more spacious pots. I loved your blog on orchids and keep alot of this information in mind when changing my plants. Thank you.
Posted by: Eldy | February 4th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
hi Martha,i really enjoyed your blog oorchids.i have 24 of tthem.right now my phals are spiking.i would love to have a green house like yours.right now my husband is closing in the breezeway into a plant room,the orchids and all of my other plants,i have about 80,will go in there.i love all your blogs but especially the plants ones.thank you for taking the time to educate us and inspire us.
Posted by: maria | February 4th, 2013 at 5:11 pm
I always enjoy these informative posts. Could you share your knowledge on succulent propagating and care? Thank you!
Posted by: Cindy from Austin, TX | February 4th, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Wow! Very impressive orchid collection! I love my orchids. I always take the rejected plants from friends who don't want to take the time to take care of them. I was very excited to see one of my plants bloom last month! Always a treat. Thanks for all your gardening tips. I know that is why mine are still here!
Posted by: Dawn Sterner | February 4th, 2013 at 7:42 pm
i love orchids
Posted by: chip scull | February 4th, 2013 at 10:56 pm
I think I may actually try growing one. What an inspiring post!
Posted by: Paloma | February 5th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
I used to grow orchids when I was younger -- this was about 40 years ago! I, now, live in Virginia where I could grow some of those I couldn't grow in Florida, like some miltonias, cymbidiums and such. Now, if I could only figure out what kind of greenhouse to get for our climate. You have reinspired me. Thank you.
Posted by: Iris Moon | February 5th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
I have been trying for several years to maintain a few orchids without much luck. I get the flower spike coming out and get so excited that I'm going to have blooms but then the buds just dry up and fall off. Does anybody have any suggestions about what to do about this or what I might be doing wrong? I water once a week, let the water completely drain out of the pot and don't get any water on the buds or leaves at all. I'm down to about the last 4 buds on the spike - looks like the buds are swelling some, so I may get a bloom from this plant soon, but I'd like to get all the buds to bloom and not just one or two. I'd appreciate any help anybody could give me. I loved your tutorial and the pictures - they helped me out a lot. Does Ryan use certain proportions for the charcoal, perilite and bark, and now does he judge how much moss to use? Thanks!
Posted by: Marlene | February 7th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Until I moved to Guam recently I always thought of orchids as fussy shade loving plants. Full sun and easy to grow is the orchid culture here.
Posted by: Barbara | February 7th, 2013 at 7:11 pm
I am so glad I read this article. I have never repotted my three orchid plants, and I am surprised they are still alive. I am going to try this, because they can't look any worse then they do now. Thank you, Martha.
Posted by: Marilyn | February 13th, 2013 at 11:00 pm
Martha,
This is so helpful. I had my ever rebloom on an orchid so I'm inspired to save my past-bloom orchids and repot them. This was a great step-by-step guide. I love the pots with big holes. Where do you find them? Thanks!
-Jeff from HamptonsGarden.com
Posted by: Jeff | February 14th, 2013 at 7:36 am