Orchids used to be an expensive luxury plant grown primarily by collectors. But, thanks to the amazing technique of tissue culture, orchids are now common finds at grocery stores, flower shops, and gift boutiques. This rapid, inexpensive propagation technique is very, very good for folks like me who love orchids but have never been able to afford them before. Because of tissue culture, the most commonly available orchids these days are in the genus Phalaenopsis, otherwise known as moth orchids. The blooms of Phalaenopsis orchids last for months, but eventually the flower stalk dies and the plant outgrows its container. That’s when it’s time to repot. Phalaenopsis orchid repotting is not a complicated affair. However, there are some important steps to follow.
When to repot a Phalaenopsis orchid
There are several signs indicating that it’s time to repot a Phalaenopsis orchid.
- The lower leaves pucker, turn yellow, and start to die back.
- The plant stem gets leggy and flops to the side.
- Aerial roots grow down over the edge of the pot.
- If the orchid is potted in coarse bark, the bark may be crumbly and soil-like, instead of firm.
If you haven’t repotted your Phalaenopsis in three or more years, that’s another sign that it’s time to repot your orchid. Fresh orchid potting mix and a renewed fertilization program stimulate the production of future flower stalks every few years.
What time of year to repot an orchid
It’s best to repot Phalaenopsis orchids in either the spring or the fall, especially if you take them outdoors for the summer. If your plant hasn’t bloomed in a few years, Phalaenopsis orchid repotting is best performed in the spring. That way you can feed the plant throughout the summer and (hopefully!) generate blooms the following fall or winter.
While spring and fall are the best times for transplanting orchids, you can also repot moth orchids in the summer, as long as you make sure the plant gets enough water during this peak growing season. The only time you do not want to repot a Phalaenopsis orchid is when the plant is in bloom. If you do so, all the blooms will drop off due to stress and transplant shock.
Phalaenopsis orchid repotting step-by-step
1. Materials needed to repot an orchid
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- You’ll need a pot that’s only 1 inch wider in diameter than the pot your orchid is already in. Phalaenopsis orchids are epiphytes, meaning that in the wild their roots cling to tree branches, rather than delving into the soil. Orchids perform their best when slightly pot-bound, so bigger isn’t better when it comes to the container. Choose a plastic orchid pot, terra cotta, or a decorative ceramic orchid pot, and make sure there’s one or more drainage holes in the bottom or sides of the pot. Terra cotta pots are more decorative and heavier, which helps support a top-heavy orchid. However, they dry out quickly. I solve this problem by growing my orchid in a plastic pot and then dropping the plastic pot into a decorative clay or ceramic container for display.
- Potting mix formulated specifically for orchids. There are many brands on the market, but here is my favorite orchid potting soil.
- Clean, sharp scissors or pruners.
2. Remove the plant from its current container.
Gently grasp the plant with your hand and tip the pot on its side. In most cases, the orchid slips out nicely. In cases where the plant is extremely root bound, it requires more effort and may be quite the wrestling match.
3. Gently use your fingers to comb through the roots and remove the old potting medium.
Don’t worry about hurting the plant or its roots; you can be pretty aggressive with them and cause little to no harm. If pieces of bark get stuck in the roots, wash them out with a sharp stream of water from a sink or hose. Used orchid potting soil is a great addition to the compost pile.
4. Use the scissors to cut off any dead or dying leaves and roots.
Dead roots appear shriveled and dry; new roots are plump and smooth. Work your way through the Phalaenopsis orchid’s roots, cutting off any that are dead, damaged, or rotten. Make your cut where the root grows out from the plant. Again, don’t be afraid to get a bit aggressive here. Any roots that aren’t 100% healthy should be cut off.
5. Add a few inches of orchid potting mix to the bottom of the pot.
Be sure not to add too much. If you overfill the pot before adding the plant, you’ll take room away from the roots.
6. Gently place the root-pruned plant into the pot.
Spread the remaining roots out into the container. Keep the plant at the center of the pot. The bottom leaf should sit just above the pot’s rim.
7. Once the roots are settled into the pot, add more orchid potting mix.
Nestle more potting mix down in between the roots, and make sure there are no large pockets of air. Tap the pot on the table a few times throughout the process to settle the mix snugly against the roots. Fill the pot to within a half inch of the upper rim, leaving a little headspace for watering.
8. Water your newly repotted Phalaenopsis orchid in well.
I water mine by placing the pot in a sink full of room temperature water up to the pot’s rim. Let the pot sit in the water for about 45 minutes, then drain and put the plant back in its display location. By the way, though ice cubes are often recommended as a way to irrigate orchids, they are far too cold for these warm-climate plants and may cause root rot.
Extra tips for Phalaenopsis orchid repotting
- If you’re completing the job indoors, spread newspaper or craft paper over your work space. It’s a messy job.
- As you repot an orchid, check the entire plant for pests. Phalaenopsis orchid pests, such as mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites, can be wiped off the plant easily with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol. Transplant time is a great time to do this.
- Do not fertilize a Phalaenopsis orchid for two to three months after repotting. Doing so could burn tender, newly developing roots.
- When repotting Phalaenopsis orchids, it’s also a good time to clean any dust or debris off the leaves. A thick layer of dust restricts photosynthesis and detracts from the beauty of the plant’s glossy, green leaves. Use a damp cloth or paper towel to gently wipe off the leaves after transplanting is complete.
- Repotting orchids in the spring often stimulates blooms the following fall or winter, especially if you’re careful to use an organic orchid fertilizer every two weeks throughout the summer.
Phalaenopsis orchids are among the toughest orchids, but they do require regular care to thrive and rebloom. Transplanting is an essential step in maintaining the health of these lovely plants. To try your hand at growing another type of easy-care orchid, please visit this article on jewel orchid care.
Do you have experience with Phalaenopsis orchid repotting? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
For more on caring for indoor plants, check out the following articles:
- Common houseplant pests and organic control
- Fertilizing houseplants for success
- The best houseplants for apartments
- Caring for air plants
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Recent orchids I’ve bought are potted in moss. They don’t seem to do well, likely because the moss holds too much moisture. I’d like to re-pot them but the orchids don’t seem to be in immediate need of repotting. Yet would hate to wait until they are in distress or with rotted roots.
I suggest repotting them in the early spring, just before active growth begins.
Love reading all your posts but am unable to ‘pin’ those I need to keep, like this one on orchid replanting. The ‘pin it’ looks just like that, not enabled to actually pin it – just the two words. Used to be able to pin, wonder what has changed?? thanks!
You can pin any of our images by clicking on the Pinterest icon at the top or bottom of any of our articles. When you click that icon, it will offer you all the images from the post and ask you which one you’d like to pin. Another option, if you use Chrome, is to install the Pinterest browser extension. If you do that, when you hover over an image, the option to Pin it appears in the upper left corner of the photo.
This is my first orchid and I don’t know what kind of potting soil to use and when to transplant my plant still has alot of flowers . Do I cut it back please help
Don’t transplant orchids when they are in flower. Wait until after the flower is finished. There is a link to a specific orchid potting mix in the article, but any brand of orchid-specific mix will be fine to use.
When repotting do you put the air roots in the dirt?
I try to guide them down into the pot, yes. But, I don’t ever force them.
I’ve had a phalenopsis orchid that I purchased two years ago that is in need of repotting (lots of dead roots, dry crumbling soil that has been reduced from watering). But as I was doing steps 2-3, I noticed it has a moss root ball, and the roots wrapped around it look pretty healthy. Should I remove the moss ball or leave it and simply add new potting soil around it as described above?
I would suggest removing the ball and untangling the roots before repotting.
For a while now, Mother’s day, birthday, Easter…my kids have given me 0rchids, probably bought at local a grocery store. A couple of them have rebloomed 1 or 2 years later, but I am still keeping them in the pots they came in. Should I be repotting them?
On anther note, I have no idea why there is so much blank space in my comment.
Yes; it’s probably time to repot them.
My orchid has root rot and is in full bloom it appears. Do you recommend treating it now or waiting? Also- any tips for dealing with root rot? What I have read online says to remove from medium, rinse, trim rotted roots with sterile scissors, spray with 3% peroxide, let dry, and re plant
I agree with the treatment plan you shared. If you know for sure it’s root rot (roots are black and mushy), I would not wait to treat it. If it’s just a few roots turning brown and drying up, I wouldn’t worry about it too much and I would hold off treating until it’s finished blooming.
My husband bought me a phalaenopsis orchid for this Valentines day. It looks like the plant is in plastic inside its container and the container does not have drain holes. Am I suppose to replant it right away? I’m confused.
I would not repot until spring has arrived. When you water, be sure to dump out any extra water that collects in the pot since the lack of drainage holes will prevent the excess water from flushing out of the pot.
I have 2 phalaenopsis currently in flower, but I forgot about them after I had to move them out of my room. Both are dehydrated and in need of repotting, one more severely than the other. I have had them for at least 2 years and have not repotted before. It’s pretty bad but they have been in flower for a few weeks now. How long should I wait to repot?
Any time in early spring would be fine. The goal is to transplant just before a period of active growth.
I have an orchid that I’ve had for a couple of years it’s one of the Paleo orchids and I have all these roots that have grown outside the pot. I didn’t know if when I re-pot this should I cut those off. I am in full bloom right now and really just caught my eye because the leaves started to struggle and It was sitting in water
Do not cut off any roots. In their natural habitat, orchids are epiphytic, which means they don’t live in the soil. Instead, they cling to the branches of trees by their roots. The roots growing outside of your pot are part of their natural growth habit. If you’d like, you can tuck them into the new soil when you repot. Or you can allow them to stay outside of the pot. Either option would be fine.
Hi thanks for this info!
We have a grocery store orchid bought one year ago. It bloomed for a long, long time. We just noticed a new flower coming from the potting mix, and also new growth about half way up the previous flower stem. The roots are very tight, and some nice, white roots have come through the drainage holes in the clear plastic inner pot. I wanted to do a quick repotting before it blooms, but the roots coming through will get broken for sure. When I repot in spring, there might be a lot more roots coming through more holes. How can I get it out without damaging the plant?
I would not repot it while the plant is in bud. Wait until after it is done flowering, even if that’s a year from now. A dramatic repotting while in bud could lead to bud drop which would be very sad. They are used to living up in trees without any pot at all, so roots coming out of the container isn’t that big of a deal.
When I repot my orchid, shout I cut off the old flower stems back to the base of the plant?
Yes. Any old, dead flower stalk should be cut off.
I have an orchid that was given to me as a gift. I am sure it was bought at the local grocery store. It has bloomed a couple of times for me. It is still doing fine. It does have several very long roots that are growing out of yhe top of pot. I know it needs to be reported. I was curious if it could be put on cork wood mount in stead of a pot, and best way to successfully do without harming plant. Any advice would would be appreciated.
Yes; you can grow Phalaenopsis orchids on a wood round or cork mount. They are quite lovely that way, but the roots need to be regularly misted and it is definitely more challenging to keep them watered. Wire the plant to the board securely as if you were fastening it to a tree trunk like they grow in the wild. You can even purchase special orchid mounts that have a wire cage filled with orchid bark pre-mounted onto the wood or cork round. It’s a beautiful way to display orchids.
I have an older orchid that needs repotted, it’s in rough shape, lots of dead roots… it’s January, should I depot now or wait until spring??
I suggest waiting until early March when the days really begin to lengthen and active plant growth begins again.
Have a year old orchid. Healthy new leaves. It is in clear plastic pot. Showing at bottom of pot, many roots circling pot bottom, inside the pot. When repotting how do I handle these roots
Loosen them with your fingers and trim off any that are soft or rotten. Choose a slightly larger pot and situate the roots in the pot so they are spreading out, rather than circling around. If you need to trim a few of the super long ones off, you can do so, It won’t hurt the plant.
I want you to know that this has been the most informative I’ve read on this topic. Even more attributable is the fact that you’re not selling anything. Also I noticed that you responded to all of the questions asked. Kudos!