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How to repot a Phalaenopsis orchid? A step-by-step guide to repotting methods

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The growing medium for Phalaenopsis orchids must be well-draining and slightly water-retentive, while also providing ventilation and air permeability. Commonly used materials include tree fern roots, sphagnum moss, bark, charcoal, coconut husk and expanded clay pebbles. Whichever medium you use, when the Phalaenopsis plant becomes too large and its aerial roots become tangled with one another, repotting becomes necessary. Repotting should be done in summer during the growing season. The method is to first tip the plant out, remove the old growing medium, and cut away aged and rotted aerial roots, then place a layer of charcoal pieces at the bottom of the new pot, set the plant in, fill in the new medium, firm it down, water it, and it is done.

The growing medium for Phalaenopsis orchids must be well-draining and slightly water-retentive, while also providing ventilation and air permeability. Commonly used materials include tree fern roots, sphagnum moss, bark, charcoal, coconut husk and expanded clay pebbles. Whichever medium you use, when the Phalaenopsis plant becomes too large and its aerial roots become tangled with one another, repotting becomes necessary. Repotting should be done in summer during the growing season. The method is to first tip the plant out, remove the old growing medium, and cut away aged and rotted aerial roots, then place a layer of charcoal pieces at the bottom of the new pot, set the plant in, fill in the new medium, firm it down, water it, and it is done. Generally speaking, the repotting interval should depend on the growing medium. For example, sphagnum moss used as a growing material will rot in 1-2 years, and when it rots it secretes an extremely acidic substance that directly damages the aerial roots; if you do not repot in time at this point, it will lead to root rot. Therefore, when sphagnum moss or bark is used as the medium, the plant should be repotted once every 1-2 years; when tree fern roots or coconut husk are used, it can be repotted once every 2-3 years; when expanded clay pebbles or charcoal are used for growing, extending to 3-5 years before repotting is no problem either, but fertilizer should be applied more often and in dilute doses to make up for the fact that these media contain no or few nutrients.

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