How to Plant an Orchid Just Dug Up? Detailed Guide to Potting and Planting

If a newly dug orchid has not been out of the ground for long and still has flowers, it can be planted directly. If it has no soil, check how severely the roots are damaged and prune appropriately to reduce nutrient loss, so the plant can recover its vigor as quickly as possible after potting.

If it has been out of the soil for two days or more, first place it in a shady spot and mist the leaves. If the roots are exposed, soak them in clean water overnight so they can fully absorb water. Then, depending on how severely the roots are damaged, prune the branches and leaves and remove rotten or withered roots to improve the survival rate.

After the flower buds of a precious orchid emerge from the soil, if there are too many buds, keep the strong ones and remove the rest of the thin, small ones. It is best to keep 1-2 flower buds per pot. If there are too many flower buds, not only will the current year's flowers bloom poorly, but the mother plant will also consume too many nutrients, affecting the next year's bloom. Ordinary orchids generally do not need their flower buds removed.

Choosing a pot: For a newly dug orchid, it is best to choose a well-aerated clay pot, ceramic pot, or an orchid-specific pot. Be careful not to choose one that is too large.

Soil: Use a mix of leaf mold, river sand, and red soil for planting, with leaf mold at 60%, red soil at 30%, and river sand at 10%. Soil mixed in this ratio has good aeration, drainage, and fertility, and orchids grow well in it. Never use alkaline soil.

Temperature and humidity: When an orchid goes from growing wild to being cultivated, temperature and humidity are unstable. You can place a water basin or build a water pool, cover it with wooden boards or place bricks on top, and set the flower pot on top to solve the problem.

Watering: Never water too much, as this causes root rot. You can combine misting the leaves with watering the potting soil until it is slightly moist. Orchids can tolerate light rain, but avoid mold-causing rain, showers, or continuous rain. When watering, pour water in from the edge of the pot, and do not pour it into the flower buds, to avoid causing rot.

Light and ventilation: Most orchids are semi-shade plants, and most species are afraid of direct sunlight, so they need appropriate shading. Indoors, there should be plenty of light, preferably facing south, as this is beneficial for orchid growth. It is best to place the orchid pot on a wooden stand or table, not on the ground, and maintain ventilation and air exchange.

Fertilizing: For a newly dug orchid from the mountains, never apply fertilizer before new roots have developed. It needs 1-2 years of cultivation, and only when the new roots are vigorous can fertilizer be applied; otherwise, the plant is prone to withering and dying.

Disease prevention and pest control: Orchids are plants prone to many diseases and pests, especially in seasons with high temperature and high humidity, so attention must be paid to prevention and control.