The best-selling orchid, Phalaenopsis, lives in the wild clinging to trees: its roots are in the open air, drinking the rain and then drying out within hours. In a pot, the whole secret is to recreate that. That’s why it’s never repotted in potting soil.
When to repot?
- Roughly every two years.
- After flowering, when the plant is producing new roots or new leaves.
- When the mix breaks down into crumbs, stays wet for a long time or smells musty.
- When brown, soft roots appear in the pot.
Avoid repotting an orchid in full flower: it may drop its blooms.
The right potting mix
It must be coarse and airy, and dry quickly between waterings. Our ready-to-use orchid mix is made of large pieces that let air and water through and never compact. It comes in 1, 2 or 5 litres: the 1-litre bag is enough for one or two orchids in 12 cm pots.
The right pot
A pot with holes, preferably clear: you’ll see the colour of the roots, which tells you when to water, and the roots benefit from the light. The same size as the old one or barely bigger: orchids like to be a little snug.
Step by step
- Prepare the mix: rinse it, soak it for 10 to 15 minutes, then drain.
- Take the orchid out by squeezing the pot, and remove all the old mix from between the roots.
- Sort the roots: green or silvery and firm, they’re healthy. Brown and soft, hollow, or dry as paper — cut them off with clean secateurs.
- Repot: set the plant in the centre, with the base level with the rim, and slide the mix between the roots while tapping the pot, without pressing down. Aerial roots can stay outside.
- Wait about a week before watering: small wounds on the roots heal.
After repotting
- Water by soaking: stand the pot in water for 10 to 15 minutes, then let it drain well. Never leave water sitting in the cover pot.
- Water when the roots turn silvery again, not on a fixed date.
- Never let water into the heart of the plant, between the leaves: it would rot.
- Bright light, no direct sun: near an east- or west-facing window, behind a sheer curtain.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use ordinary potting soil?
No: it suffocates the roots, which rot within weeks.
My orchid won’t flower again — what should I do?
Usually it needs more light, or a slight drop in night-time temperature in autumn. A light feed during the growing season also helps.
Do you repot orchids?
Yes, at the studio: see our repotting service.
Need an opinion?
Send a photo of your plant to our Plant Doctor: the whole plant, a close-up of a leaf (top and underside) and the surface of the soil. The diagnosis is free. You can also drop by the studio at 6 Rue Zemmour, Aviation district, Rabat.
