Choose a potting mix that suits your particular type of orchid. We use cookies to ensure we give you the best experience on our website. However, it also tends to break down (decompose) more quickly than soil and other types of orchid potting mix. Because bark and other organic potting materials break down over time and become less proficient at providing the water and nutrients Phalaenopsis orchids need to survive, Just Add Ice Orchids should be repotted in fresh orchid growing medium every one to two years. The American Orchid Society can be a great resource to find less common potting media and to get advice from experienced orchid growers. When repotting monopodial orchids, place them in the center of the pot, not at the back. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. Whether you mix it yourself or buy it ready-made — it must be wetted before you use it. Osmunda fiber is still the medium of choice for epiphytic orchids when available. This can be a problem when decomposition attracts microbes that can do damage to orchid roots and lead to root rot. To achieve this precise blend of traits, you will likely want to combine more than one media together, such as one-part bark, one-part synthetic, and one-part moss. Older, larger plants tend to favor a more coarse mixture. Many online and local resources exist for locating the best orchid potting mix for the species you want to grow. Choose a potting mix that suits your particular type of orchid. Place the plant in the pot so it’s at the same depth as it was originally. Every orchid grower seems to have his own ideas about what makes the perfect orchid potting mix. Large, coarse bark mix is best only for large established plants which can withstand more dryness between waterings. However, their stunning good looks and unique care needs can make it feel like they are for advanced gardeners only. But if you have some lying around it can be useful on a short-term emergency basis. If you are not able to find the precise blend in a ready-made commercial product, you can whip up your own orchid potting mix at home fairly easily. This clumping quality can then prevent the air circulation orchid roots need. Whether you mix it yourself or buy it ready-made — it must be wetted before you use it. Other orchids choose to grow in the highly porous and diverse media found on the forest floor. Even if you have some potting soil on hand, never use it for orchids. This means it is necessary to keep an eye out for root rot. It is also slow to decompose so you can take longer between repotting. For instructions on how to repot your Just Add Ice Orchid, watch the orchid care video on our website. Tree fern fiber is also a great choice with similar properties to regular tree bark when used as an orchid potting mix. It should not be your first choice. Also consider the size, age, and growing type for the orchid you are potting. Epiphytic (plant-growing) orchids particularly love coconut coir. This is the exact opposite of what orchids need to survive, let alone thrive. Pine is more readily available but is a softwood and thus not as resistant to retaining moisture around orchid roots, which causes root rot. Rinse the mix thoroughly to wash out the dust that was in the mix. If the roots are healthy, firm, and filling the pot, put the orchid in a pot just one size larger than the one you removed it from, placing the older growth toward the back so the new lead or growth has plenty of room. Monopodial orchids are those with one growing point that always grows vertically, not sideways (such as phalaenopsis, angraecums, and vandas). Despite their reputation, orchids are tough, and repotting helps them thrive. Hey there! Here are two examples. Cymbidium is a very popular terrestrial orchid. Sphagnum peat moss is not regarded as suitable for potting orchids long-term. It is more porous than soil and also larger and chunkier to permit better airflow and moisture drainage – two things orchid roots crave. Press the fresh potting material into the pot and around the orchid roots with your thumbs and forefingers. Repotting orchids is really quite easy and fun. Below we list some frequently asked questions about repotting orchids. The ideal time to repot most orchids is when the plant starts new growth — usually right after it finishes flowering. For example, horticulturalists at the University of Tennessee recommend a Phalaenopsis potting mix that is 3 parts fir bark, 1 part perlite and 1 part chopped sphagnum moss. Fir is a solid choice overall. Soil has properties that tend to pack closely around the plant roots. While special orchid mix blends may be marketed as “orchid soil,” it’s important to know there isn’t any actual soil in orchid mix. This is why a variety of potting media types exist. Seramis is a type of clay potting mix. Osmunda fiber, or osmundine as it is sometimes called, comes from the roots of the Osmunda fern plant. It has comparable moisture retention to fir and a similar decomposition period. For example, horticulturalists at the University of Tennessee recommend a Phalaenopsis potting mix that is 3 parts fir bark, 1 part perlite and 1 part chopped sphagnum moss. These orchids are technically called “epiphytes” (air plants). It’s fantastic for potting orchids, so much so that one of its nicknames is “orchid peat.” But it is tough to obtain today. Some orchid hobbyists enjoy experimenting with different potting materials and mixing their own orchid media. Bark is an optimal medium to use for potting orchids. You’ll know it time to repot orchids when, The plant itself is going over the edge of the pot, Potting material is getting soggy and drains poorly. You don’t have to do this if you’re using shallow, azalea-type pots. Choose the right potting mix, and you are already halfway to enjoying the beauty of orchids for years to come. You may need to use a knife to circle the inside of the pot and loosen the roots. There are two kinds of peat moss: sphagnum and German. Did you know that there are more than 20,000 known species of orchid and even more hybrid varietals? Soil is dirt. Different kinds of orchids may respond better to different types of potting media. When soil packs around orchid roots, it cuts off the airflow that the roots need to pick up nutrients. Epiphytic (plant-growing) orchids particularly love coconut coir. Remove the old, loose, rotted potting material and any soft, damaged, or dead roots. Most commercially available orchids are of the terrestrial type. The most popular types of orchid bark mix include fir, tree fern, pine, and redwood. Try a variety of mixes to see which ones your orchids like the best. Smaller, younger seedlings and plants will do well with finer material. The new shoot should be level with the pot rim. This is actually one of the most challenging aspects of orchid care to master, even though it essentially boils down to semantics. The best potting media for a moth orchid will be a combination of moss, bark, and synthetics to retain moisture without damp and avoid crowding the roots. You can use it on its own or mixed with bark, as one orchid enthusiast describes it. For example, the popular Phalaenopsis (aka “moth orchid”) is what is called a monopodial orchid. These orchids are “terrestrials” (earth plants). Do Different Orchid Types Need Different Potting Media? When you’re ready to repot the orchid, spread out some newspaper over a work surface.