Orchid - one of the most mysterious and capricious flowers on the windowsill. In its natural habitat, the orchid grows directly on the branches of trees. This amazing plant absorbs nutrients not from the earth, it eats light, water and air. You will never see an orchid in a pot with a soil mixture in the usual sense. For the cultivation of these flowers, special soil is needed that is as close as possible to the natural conditions of the tropical forest.
Can I transplant an orchid?
You brought it from a flower shop or received this completely unusual flower as a present. After a while you will begin to think about transplanting this plant, because the orchid grows and her native pot becomes clearly small for her. In a new substrate, an orchid needs every two to three years. Do not rush to transplant a flowering orchid. In this period it is better not to touch the plant, rooting takes a lot of strength, it can damage the plant. The best time when you can transplant an orchid without harm to the plant is the spring or autumn season. The main thing is do not forget to put it in a sufficiently lit, but not too hot place.
How to transplant an orchid process?
Before you transplant an orchid, you need to properly prepare for it.
- Which pot should I transplant an orchid? In size, the new pot should be 2 cm in diameter larger than the old one. When you decide which pot is best to transplant an orchid, start from the way of its life: it is better to give preference to a plastic and transparent pot. This is necessary for photosynthesis and the intake of a sufficient amount of light for the plant.
- Prepare the following tools: garden shears, a knife, a bamboo stick, a special substrate.
Now step by step we begin to transplant the orchid correctly:
- We take the plant out of the old pot. Remember the pot a little and hit the bottom. Then it will be easier to take out the orchid without damaging the roots. If the roots have grown too much, you will need to carefully cut the pot.
- Now you need to remove the old substrate. It needs to be done very carefully, but decisively. Interlaced roots can be washed under a stream of warm water and spread out with a lump. Now you need to cut off all dead roots with scissors. Scissors it is desirable to pre-treat with alcohol. Trimmed roots should be treated with crushed charcoal.
- How to properly transplant an orchid into a new pot. First, fill the pot with a quarter fresh substrate or drainage. This will help prevent damage to the roots by moisture. Now carefully place the orchid in a new pot. Previously, you need to dry the roots of the plant. Then gradually fill the remaining space with the substrate. You do not need to force roots, some can be left outside. This will allow the plant to absorb more light and air.
- A little to compact the space between the roots can be a bamboo stick. Press the substrate very gently, so as not to damage the roots.
- Watering an orchid after a transplant is only necessary on the fifth day. By this time, all wounds have time to heal and the risk of infection through water is minimized. Instead of watering the plant should be sprayed with water daily. You need to start feeding only after 4 weeks.
- Support the long peduncles with a bamboo stick. Otherwise they will begin to bend under the weight of the flowers.
- In winter, the orchid has a rest period and it is desirable to touch it only as a last resort. Fertilize the flower in this period is not necessary, and water very rarely. But at the same time to maintain high humidity and light intensity is necessary.