When should orchids be repotted
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Some orchid enthusiasts are considering repotting their orchids, but are unable to determine the right time to do so. There is a timing to repotting, and mastering the appropriate timing for repotting and planting orchids is an important part of taking care of them. The "Linghai Orchid Sayings" orchid经典 mentions the "Six Taboos" of planting orchids: "Avoid planting during severe heat, extreme cold, intense sunlight, when the plant is weak, when the orchid sprouts are open, and during heavy rain (枪: orchid plant)", and it is advisable to avoid these conditions when dividing and planting.
The "Six Taboos" clearly tell us that under these six conditions, it is not suitable to plant orchids and should be avoided. The "Linghai Orchid Sayings" also says: "The division and repotting of orchids is like people moving out, if overgrown without division, the roots will wither, and if divided too often when not fully grown, the leaves will be weak. With proper cultivation, generally, common orchids should be divided every three years, and premium orchids every five years is the most moderate (common orchids: general orchids, premium orchids: high-quality orchids). Divide spring orchids after the Spring Equinox, and autumn orchids after the Slight Cold, at this time the old leaves are gone, new sprouts are about to grow, and there will be no mistakes." This clearly points out the appropriate timing for planting orchids. The总结 of our predecessors has important guiding significance for the division and planting of orchids.
Traditionally, the season for repotting should be during the Spring or Autumn Equinox, and in the north, it should be after the Spring Equinox or before the Autumn Equinox. Due to the climatic differences in various regions, we can also control it by temperature, generally keeping the low temperature above 10 degrees Celsius and the high temperature below 30 degrees Celsius as the normal suitable temperature for repotting.
Accordingly, the time for repotting orchids is generally most suitable in spring and autumn, when the orchid plants are in the mature stage, and the damage rate can be reduced to the minimum. In the first half of the year, it is best from the Spring Equinox to Guyu, when the flowering period is over, leaf buds have not yet sprouted, and it is not prone to frost damage, so it is suitable to repot. In the second half of the year, it is best from the Autumn Equinox to Frost Descent, when orchids will enter a dormant state, and repotting at this time will have less impact on the growth of orchids. After a winter of rest and recuperation, and nutrient accumulation, they can bloom and sprout well in the spring. Mastering the timing of dividing orchids is also an important part of taking care of orchids.
Repotting is an important measure in orchid care. In the process of cultivating orchids, there will always be some phenomena that hinder the growth of orchids, which must be resolved by repotting. Generally, there are seven situations that require repotting:
First, after two or three years of potting orchids, the nutrients in the planting material have been exhausted and can no longer meet the needs of the orchid seedlings, which appear thin and stunted;
Second, the orchid soil has changed its structure after years of waterlogging and sunlight, causing the planting material to compact and affecting air and water permeability;
Third, the orchid seedlings have grown too much, with intertwined roots, leaving no space for new seedlings and roots to develop, also affecting the normal growing environment of old seedlings;
Fourth, the planting material has been infected with bacteria, fungi, or viruses, posing a survival threat to the orchid plants;
Fifth, repotting for the coordination and unification of pots and planting materials;
Sixth, repotting to produce more seedlings for separate planting, and seventh, repotting for exchange or sale of plants. However, it is not advisable to repot randomly and frequently. Only repot when necessary and avoid unnecessary repotting.
Meanwhile, repotting cannot be carried out in a mechanical manner; it is necessary to understand the condition of the orchids and handle different orchid conditions with different repotting methods. For example, for diseased plants: the focus of "repotting" is sterilization and disinfection. The diseased plants should be strictly pruned, washed, disinfected, dried, and soaked in root-promoting solution. Then, after drying the roots, potting them in fresh planting material is essential. One step cannot be missed. Although sterilization also kills beneficial orchid bacteria, leading to a temporary停滞 period in orchid growth, it is completely worth it to sacrifice the growth of orchids for the sake of eliminating pathogens.
For weak plants without disease: the focus of repotting is to supplement nutrients (G-Y). There is no need to disinfect the matrix, only simple pruning, soaking in root-promoting hormone, and replacing the planting material with fertilized soil is needed. Watering "rooting water" after two days is sufficient. This achieves both supplementing fertility and reducing harm to beneficial symbiotic bacteria, shortening the dormant period.
For strong plants without disease: the focus is on solving the problem of pot size expansion, and there is no need for excessive work. Simply rinsing, pruning, dividing, and replacing some of the matrix in the pot is enough. However, for some plants that have had diseases or with most of their roots damaged, it is necessary to soak in a solution for a period of time. But before soaking in the medicine, there is no need to rinse with water, as the rinsed orchid roots will quickly swell, hindering the absorption and effectiveness of the medicine. If rinsed with water, it needs to be dried before soaking in the medicine.
Therefore, repotting is simple, but the operation has its complexity and science. If done well, repotting can promote active nutritional growth, enhance the disease resistance and rejuvenation of orchid plants, and bring vitality to orchids. If not done properly, it can also pose potential risks to orchids. Especially for some diseased and weak seedlings, it can accelerate their death. Therefore, repotting is not only an important part of caring for orchids but also a technique that every orchid grower must experience and master. If not operated according to their habits and requirements, random operations can lead to poor repotting, and orchid plants may suffer. Therefore, it is necessary to put in a lot of effort in repotting and planting, following the guiding principle of "seven parts planting, three parts management," and not randomly repotting.
The above is [] about when to repot orchids, hoping it is helpful to you!