As of: February 29, 2024, 8:00 a.m
By: Ines Alms
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Orchids are more robust than they seem.
Find out how bold pruning when repotting keeps plants healthy and how to deal with aerial roots.
Repotting orchids is an important care measure that you don't have to worry about injuring the delicate plants.
Despite their delicate flowers, many orchid species, such as Phalaenopsis, are more resilient than generally assumed.
The following applies: When the aerial roots begin to overgrow the pot, it is time to repot the plant.
It is advisable to remove old roots generously, even if this seems a bit rough at first.
Courageous pruning is an important care measure
There is no need to be squeamish when pruning orchids: healthy (aerial) roots are retained and dead parts of the plant are removed.
© Pond5 Images/Imago
Orchids should be repotted every two to three years.
This can be done in a few minutes: You completely remove yellow, rotten and dried roots with clean, sharp scissors.
This also applies to stunted aerial roots that grow outside the pot.
When healthy, silver-colored, they play just as important a role for the orchids as the roots in the pot.
The dried middle section of the root should be broken off down to the healthy roots.
Only fresh, plump, white or greenish roots that provide the orchid with nutrients must remain on the plant.
With this courageous approach, only a few roots may remain.
But that is no reason for alarm.
On the contrary: pruning too cautiously can lead to fungal infestation and disease.
That's why it's particularly important to cut back weak plants thoroughly and maintain healthy aerial roots.
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What you need to consider when repotting orchids
When repotting these exotic houseplants, you should also keep the following in mind:
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Very good times for repotting are spring or autumn, best when the orchid is not blooming.
A clear pot can serve as a watering indicator, but is not essential.
Use sharp pruning scissors as dull scissors can cause more harm than good.
If you want to propagate your orchid, repotting is the time to do it.
Place the plant in a clean pot and new orchid substrate.
Not all aerial roots have to be in the pot.
Only after three to four days do you immerse the orchids in a water bath for a few minutes.
The repotting is then complete.
An alternative: Many types of orchids can be kept easily and easily in water culture without a substrate.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.