How to repot a Cymbidium orchid after flowering? Master the key points and it will bloom again next year

When growing Cymbidium orchids, it is best to repot them once a year after flowering, trim away the rotten roots, and replace some of the growing medium with fresh material. This helps them bloom again the following year. Below, the editor shares with you how to repot a Cymbidium orchid.

Materials needed for repotting a Cymbidium orchid

1. Decomposed pine bark.

You can collect it yourself or buy it online. Before use, boil it for 30 minutes to remove oily substances and kill insect eggs and bacteria.

2. Flower pot.

An orchid-specific pot one size larger than the original pot. It should not be too large, otherwise the water will not dry out easily and the roots will rot easily. Orchid-specific pots have better air and water permeability. If you really do not have an orchid-specific pot, you can also use an ordinary flower pot, but it is best to buy a tower-shaped drainage cover and put it inside the pot.

Preparation work before repotting

1. Stop watering the Cymbidium orchid for a few days before repotting, because when the roots have absorbed plenty of water they are more brittle and break more easily; when water is withheld, the roots become soft and are less likely to break.

2. When removing the plant from the pot, be careful not to damage the roots. It is better to break the pot than to destroy the roots.

3. Clean up the rotten roots, empty roots and some old leaves (just cut off one leaf per pseudobulb), because there are usually insect eggs under the old leaves, and cutting them off also provides more nutrients and growing space for new leaves.

4. If there are many rotten roots and a lot needs to be trimmed off, we need to put it in a cool, ventilated place for two days. This helps the root wounds heal.

The actual repotting

Put the decomposed pine bark into the flower pot, adding enough so that the original soil level of the Cymbidium orchid is level with the rim of the pot. Do not plant it too deep, then fill in decomposed pine bark around the sides. It must be filled in completely so that the roots and the growing medium are in full contact.

Then the repotting is complete. Because boiled pine bark is used, there is no need to water. For the growing medium, pure pine bark is enough; there is no need to add anything else. This is what a professional orchid-growing expert said.