3 Telltale Signs It’s Time to Repot Your Orchid

It’s a question we often get asked about our orchids: When should you repot them?  

First, it’s important to note that you should never repot your orchid when it’s in bloom! Always wait for your orchid to lose its blooms before you worry about repotting it. Repotting can be a slight stress on your plant, and you wouldn’t want to risk that when its blooms are open, bright, and beautiful!   

You should repot your orchid every one to two years to keep it healthy and help it grow. Repotting also keeps the potting media in good shape, allowing for the rapid drainage and root aeration that Phalaenopsis orchids require.   

If you've never repotted your orchid before, you might wonder if it's necessary. You might also be hesitant to repot your orchid because you don't want to damage it.  

Luckily, orchid repotting is super simple! Here are three telltale signs it's time to repot and what you need to do next.  

Why Repot Your Orchid? 

Orchids are typically potted in loose, coarse fir bark mixed with other organic materials such as sphagnum peat and moss.   

Over time, organic materials break down. As particles become small, finer, and more tightly packed, the growing medium is unable to supply the orchid with sufficient nutrition. Air is no longer able to circulate around the orchid’s roots properly. Worst of all, fine, silty soils retain more water, enveloping orchid roots in perpetual moisture, which can quickly lead to root rot and/or the development of fungal disease.  

Generally, Phalaenopsis orchids should be repotted every one to two years, but sometimes you might need to repot them sooner.  

Inspect your orchid plants periodically. Look carefully at the texture of the potting medium. If it appears to be breaking down or compacting, it’s time to repot. To check for excess moisture accumulation, remove the clear plastic grower pot from the decorative pot and inspect the plant’s roots. Healthy Phalaenopsis orchid roots should be a healthy green color. If roots look brown or soft, they are drowning in too much water. Roots that have turned grayish white are not receiving enough water.  

When To Repot Your Orchid?  

Like we said above, never do this when your plant is in bloom; wait until all blooms have dropped and your plant enters the resting phase.  

1. Your Orchid Has Outgrown Its Pot

Once you notice your orchid’s roots seem too crowded in its current container, it’s time to repot your orchid. If you see roots beginning to grow from the plant stem or start to crawl over the side of the pot, it’s a telltale sign your pot has become too small. This does not include aerial roots, which always live above the surface of the soil.  

2. When The Potting Media Goes Bad

 Your orchid gets nutrients from its potting media, but eventually, enough nutrients will be leached from the media, and it will begin to break down into compost. While repotting every one to two years should prevent this issue, your potting media may begin to decay sooner, especially if your current pot isn’t properly draining. If you begin to notice a bad odor, it’s definitely time to repot.  

3. Your Orchid Roots Are Tightly Tangled

New Phalaenopsis orchid owners often mistake the plants' natural, tangled growing pattern as a sign that their orchid is pot-bound and in need of repotting. If roots are loosely twisting and overlapping, you can wait to repot. Tightly tangled roots show that your orchid needs repotting. Repotting your orchid will provide it with the nutrients it needs to flourish and bloom.  

What Else Do I Need to Know About Repotting Orchids? 

This video breaks down orchid repotting in just five easy steps:  

1. Wait until your orchid has finished blooming and all the flowers have fallen off before trying to repot it.
   
   
2. When it's time to repot, be careful when removing your plant from its current container. You’ll need a new pot that is around an inch or two larger than the pot your orchid has just outgrown — and make sure it has drainage holes. Ideally, all the roots of your plant will fit into the new pot with about half an inch of space around the sides of the pot, which you can then fill in with potting media.  
   
   
3. You can soak your orchid for 10-15 minutes before repotting to help loosen the media. If you do that, you do not need to water your orchid immediately after repotting. You can wait a week and resume your normal watering routine. 
    

Next, follow these steps:  

• Trim the orchid spikes or cut one inch above the top node of the healthy spike. Make sure to use sterilized scissors.  

• Remove the orchid from its pot and shake gently to loosen the medium. You can use your hands to remove it as well.  

• Trim any brown or soft roots.  

• Place the orchid into a pot that's one to two inches larger than the original one.  

• Add the new potting media.  

Want to make repotting even easier? Order our Orchid Repotting Kit!  

It contains everything you need to repot your orchid, including a new grower pot, potting media, and step-by-step instructions.