11 Signs It’s Time to Repot Your Orchid

September 18, 2024 steven

Orchids can be mysterious, especially for those new to the hobby. These epiphytes don’t grow in soil in the wild like most common houseplants, so their fundamental needs are a bit different. How do you repot them, and when should you do it?

When repotting a growing orchid, a general rule of thumb is to pursue a new container that’s one size up from the previous. This means about two inches wider in diameter. You should always use fresh bark or potting mix.

There are a handful of tell-tale signals that it’s time to move your orchid into a bigger, fresher pot. There is also a list of not-so-obvious indicators, including situations where repotting could help a struggling plant flourish once more. Consider the following signs that it’s time to repot your orchid.

Crowded Roots

Someone holding the plant upside down to remove it from a transparent container, having thick-looking roots with green hues — Transfer them to bigger containers based on the roots to prevent overcrowding.

While people often make the mistake of choosing pot size based on the size and shape of plants, you should really select pots based on the size of the root ball. But with orchids, the pot sizes should specifically be based on the volume of roots.

If you glance at your pot to discover a tangled mass of crowded roots, it’s time to repot. Of course, this can be a bit complicated since healthy specimens may have plenty of aerial roots outside of the pot, growing above the growing medium.

Regardless of aerial roots outside the potting mix, you don’t want those inside the pot to be too crowded.

If the root-to-medium ratio is off, with way too many roots in a pot and not enough medium, then there may not be enough of your chunky mix to retain moisture for the plant. You may find yourself having to water more and more often to keep the plant happy.

Lack of air circulation in the pot of an epiphyte is also never a good idea. The more crowded everything is inside the pot, the more likely you may experience fungal growth or rot.

Top-Heavy Plant

A close-up of purple orchids highlights their delicate petals and intricate patterns, set against a softly blurred background. Lush green leaves provide a complementary backdrop, adding depth to the composition. — They might become too top heavy and fall out without proper maintenance.

While the volume of roots should mostly determine the size of the pot, you may also need to repot a top-heavy plant.

These epiphytes naturally grow in a horizontal manner in the wild. Unless frequently rotated, they will likely grow this way in pots, too. Over time, this leads to them “falling out” of the pot. A specimen with large, heavy leaves can easily topple over, especially in a lightweight or small pot.

If you have a top-heavy plant that keeps falling over or appears to be in danger of doing so, evaluate its roots. Are they somewhat crowded? If so, it’s definitely time to upgrade.

However, if they seem to fit just right and you have fresh healthy orchid mix in your pot, what should you do? While it doesn’t seem like the traditionally correct time to repot, you certainly don’t want your plant falling over.

What you can do in this instance is repot into a pot of the same size that is much heavier. This will anchor your top-heavy plant in place. Materials like ceramic and terracotta could work. Just make sure your new pot has plenty of drainage holes and vents for aeration.

Old Medium

A plant removed from the container exposing roots that need pruning, placed on a brown wooden table beside a pair of scissors — Improve its health by transferring it to a new pot with fresh growing medium.

One of the trickiest aspects of growing orchids for houseplant enthusiasts is getting the growing medium right since it’s so different from the potting soil you’d traditionally use for a Monstera, a peace lily, or a cactus.

Once you finally have the right balance, whether you’ve created your own blend of orchid bark and other media or simply purchased a high-quality “orchid potting mix,” keep an eye on the medium inside the pot. Over time, it will begin to break down.

Old, broken-down potting medium that is decomposing can lead to root rot. As bark breaks down, it holds excess moisture. It may also harbor bacterial or fungal growth.

Even if it seems like the roots fit in the current pot perfectly, you’ve got to protect your healthy plant from old media. If the current pot is still the right size, you can remove the plant, throw away or compost the old medium, and replant the orchid in the same pot with fresh media. Just make sure you clean and disinfect the pot first.

If the medium is old, smelly, and decomposing, and your plant is also a bit too big for its current vessel? Repot, with fresh medium in a larger container.

Lack of Blooms

A person soaking a potted plant in some water, in a ceramic bowl, placed on a white and shiny table in a sunny area — Many issues can cause scarce blooms.

Let’s be honest. There are a lot of reasons why orchids may not bloom as often or as prolifically as you’d like. Lack of light, lack of fertilizer, incorrect temperatures, drafts, unhealthy roots, and other issues can all cause a plant to stop blooming.

If yours hasn’t bloomed in a year or two, there are a lot of potential culprits. First, you should play detective, slowly making it through the checklist of reasons why blooming has stopped.

Make sure it’s getting the proper amount of light, water, and fertilizer. Ensure that it’s housed in the appropriate medium with plenty of airflow. Confirm that your watering technique is correct. Really investigate all of the potential causes.

In my experience, lack of light tends to be the final culprit. You may think your orchid is getting enough light near your preferred window or under a grow light, but maybe it isn’t. Move it to a truly brighter spot, and you may see a new leaf within weeks, and a flower stalk to follow later.

If you’ve done your due diligence, simply believe that there’s nothing else you can do, and have waited patiently for more than a year, then try repotting. Perhaps an airier vessel or fresh medium will do the trick.

Stunted Growth

A close-up reveals the delicate beauty of a white Phalaenopsis orchid, showcasing a cluster of pristine white flowers that gracefully bloom. Beneath, vibrant green leaves add a touch of freshness, elegantly potted in a decorative brown basket-like container, resting on a windowsill. — They may require more light to grow and develop correctly.

Similar to the “lack of blooms” sign, many factors can cause stunted growth. Orchids need just the right amount of water, properly applied fertilizer, and more light than you’d think to grow properly.

With time, your epiphyte may experience stunted growth. This can be especially apparent when you’ve had a plant for a long time and are familiar with how quickly it grew in the past. If you’re certain that your orchid has slowed down, it’s time to consider a repot.

Maybe there isn’t as much room in the current container as needed. Perhaps this is causing a lack of water or nutrient uptake. Maybe the medium isn’t exactly rotting, but it’s not as fresh as your plant would prefer. These plants can be picky!

If your orchid has grown consistently for years and is in an excellent position for proper sun exposure, but it’s suddenly begun to grow much more slowly, consider repotting it. Moving it into a slightly larger vessel with fresh medium could do the trick.

It will also give you the opportunity to investigate closely when you’re moving from one container to the other.

Wrinkled Leaves

Leaves appearing dried with yellow discoloration, having whitish green roots exposed sitting on brown growing medium — The leaves may wrinkle when they lack water.

Wrinkled leaves in an otherwise healthy orchid are an indicator that the leaves are not uptaking as much water as they’d like, leading to the puckering, wrinkled appearance. These leaves are likely also floppy and struggle to maintain their shape.

Of course, the first thing you should do for an orchid with wrinkled, wilting leaves is water it. However, if you’ve discovered that your leaves continue to appear this way despite a stellar watering schedule, it’s time to investigate the root cause.

Orchids that have outgrown their container will dry out much faster. The medium in their containers can only contain a certain amount of moisture each time you water. If the plants have grown larger with significantly more roots, they won’t have access to enough moisture.

Roots may also be unable to uptake much moisture or nutrients from decomposing medium, which can lead to wrinkled leaves. And finally, ironically, if you have watered too much and too often, the roots may have rotted. This means they cannot uptake water, leading to wrinkled leaves.

Consider repotting to a slightly larger container with fresh medium. If your orchid roots are rotten, carefully remove the roots to fix root rot, repot into an appropriately-sized container, and take measures to avoid rot going forward.

Excessive Exposed Roots

A plant with glossy deep green leave, showing its roots near the rim of the pot, having someone touching the roots with bare fingers — Exposed roots are normal but may signify plant health issues.

It’s totally normal for orchids to have exposed aerial roots. In nature, these plants wouldn’t be growing in soil. They wouldn’t be growing anything that much resembles “orchid bark” or “orchid potting mix” either. As many orchids are epiphytes, they flourish when attached to trees or other plants.

Their roots have multiple functions. They not only uptake water and nutrients but also wrap around and attach to bark, tree limbs, and other surfaces to keep the orchids in place.

As such, it totally makes sense that they send out roots in wild directions, not all of which are downward into the medium. You may have even discovered some sticking to your walls or furniture.

While exposed roots are normal and natural, an excessive amount of them may mean that it’s time to repot. More and more may be growing beyond the medium because the vessel is too crowded.

In summary, your orchid has outgrown its container. When upgrading to the next container, choose one that will be able to contain more roots. Be careful not to break any during the transition.

Spent Blooms

A vibrant display of orchid flowers captures attention with a mix of fiery orange and red hues, adorned with intricate veins. Surrounding them are delicate yellow blooms, complementing the main spectacle, while promising orchid bulbs await their turn to blossom. — Choose the right timing when planning to transfer them to new pots.

If your orchid has just finished blooming—as in, the flowers have fallen and the stem has turned brown—it might be time to repot. This is not because the current vessel caused the blooms to fade, but because the post-flowering period is the safest time for plant maintenance.

Blooms can last for two to three months, and then their time is done until next year. This is a normal, healthy part of the plant’s life cycle and shouldn’t concern you. For most growers, the flowers are the main reason they grow these plants.

Repotting orchids while they’re producing a flower stalk or actively blooming can be stressful to the plant, causing the stems or blooms to fade away. This is why the best time to repot, for whatever reason, is just after it’s finished blooming to prevent damage.

Don’t be sad about spent blooms. Instead, embrace this window of time to safely repot your orchid without damaging any flowers.

Perhaps you’ve noticed that it’s slowly outgrowing its current container or that the medium is getting kind of old. Maybe you just have a new, attractive pot you’d like to use. Now is the time to make the switch.

Pest Problems

Closeup of a mealybug on an orchid leaf — Different pests may target these plants.

There are quite a few pests that orchids may struggle with, especially when grown in old decaying medium that hasn’t been refreshed in a few years. Mealybugs, scale, and other common houseplant pests can make their way onto your beloved plant.

If you’re having pest problems, the first thing you need to do is identify the pest and research the best way to handle that pest. It’s highly likely that part of that process will involve removing the plant, inspecting its roots, and replacing the medium.

Once you’ve tackled the pest in whatever way is appropriate, it’s probably a good idea to just repot your plant entirely. Why risk the old pot or the old medium that could still be somewhat infested?

Start with a clean, unused pot. Get fresh orchid potting mix or bark. Choose a vessel with excellent air circulation that’s just slightly larger than the root mass. Your orchid has been through a lot; why not treat it to a clean new home?

Rotten Roots

Woody and fleshy roots appearing damp and covered with soil, having damage caused by rot due to uncontrolled moisture — Rotting roots can be common because of overwatering.

There are a couple of reasons why your orchid’s roots may be rotting. The most common is overwatering, which can occur when you water the plant too often, when the medium returns too much water, or both.

Another cause of root rot is decomposing medium, which encourages fungal growth which leads to root rot. Decaying matter is not a good place for orchid roots to sit in the stagnant air inside a home.

Whatever the reason, if your roots have rotted, then it’s time for a refreshing repot. Take the appropriate measures to remove the rotted portions, using sharp, clean pruners to sever them from the host plant.

Once the rotted portions are gone, evaluate the size of the remaining root mass. Choose a new vessel that is the right size. Depending on how much you removed, the new pot may be the same size as the old one, or possibly even slightly smaller.

Determine why the rot occurred in the first place. Did you water too often? Did the media hold too much water? If you need to adjust the type of potting mix, do so now during the repot.

Poor Nursery Pot

Someone placing the plant in a new container, scooping dark brown material into the container while resting it on a white table — Check the pot to see if it has adequate drainage.

Finally, sometimes you get a new orchid at the store or receive one as a gift, only to immediately realize it seems doomed from the start. It could be in a pot with zero drainage, in traditional potting soil, or potted too deeply with a buried crown.

Whatever the reason, it’s probably not too late to save it. Just repot your new plant right away. Keep in mind that blooming orchids may drop their flowers if disturbed, so pursue this repot at your own risk. You need to weigh the importance of the blooms to the precariousness of the plant’s current situation.

If the orchid is in a decent situation—not ideal, but not deadly—consider waiting until after the blooms are spent, then repot. If you think the current situation could rot the plant after a month or two, then you should probably move it to an appropriate pot right away.

If it isn’t blooming to begin with, then why not repot it now? Give it a week or so to acclimate to your home, and then move it to a fitting container with fresh, airy potting mix.

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