How to Repot Orchid Flowers
- 1). Wait until late spring or summer, when the plant has completed flowering, to repot. Remove the plant from its old pot or container. Place the plant upside down on a piece of newspaper and gently tap the sides. Use a knife to loosen the roots, if necessary.
- 2). Trim the plant's roots. Use a pair of pruning shears to cut the roots, exercising precision to cut off and discard any dead or damaged roots. Look for roots that are light brown or have a mushy appearance. Keep only the light green tips, the healthy roots of an orchid.
- 3). Prepare the pot that will house the repotted orchid. Wash old pots in a solution that contains 10-percent chlorine bleach. Let it soak for 30 minutes, drain it, then allow it to air dry. Allow clay pots several days to air dry. Soak a new clay pot with water before repotting.
- 4). Place pieces of broken clay pots or foam packing pieces at the base of the pot to aid in drainage.
- 5). Wet the potting mix with boiling water, then allow it to cool and dry slightly. Fill the new container with the mix and place one division on top. Press the mix firmly around the roots.
- 6). Stake the plant with a piece of twine or rhizome clip until the root system becomes established. Set the plant in an area that receives low light. Relocate it to an area that receives brighter light once new growth is apparent.