Good afternoon, my reader. For many indoor plants, including the delicate Phalaenopsis orchid, transplanting is stressful. It is important to follow certain rules so as not to weaken the flower.
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When Phalaenopsis needs a transplant
You can understand that it is time to transplant phalaenopsis by the following signs:
- The onset of the standard date for replacing the substrate. The soil in the pot gradually thickens, losing the breathability necessary for the orchid. Also, the amount of salts in the soil increases in excess of the norm, the acidity index may increase (a pH of 5.5-6.5 is required). Therefore, the replacement of the substrate is practiced with an interval of 2-3 years.
- Insufficient dimensions of the pot. As it grows, the root system fills the entire volume of the pot, displacing the soil from it.
- Root decay due to improper watering or the use of poor-quality potting mix.
- The appearance of harmful insects on the plant.
Phalaenopsis transplant rules
It is recommended to time the orchid transplant to the dormant period, performing this operation in the fall or early spring. But if necessary, you can carry out the procedure at the stage of bud development, cutting off the peduncles by 20 mm beforehand to activate the growth of roots and the formation of lateral peduncles.
After purchase, a transplant may be required if the root processes of the orchid have lost their elasticity, turned pale and look wrinkled. In good condition, the plant is left in the same substrate.
Pot selection
When choosing a new pot for a capricious orchid, several rules are followed:
- Its diameter should exceed the previous capacity by 30-50 mm.
- Preference is given to plastic dishes, in which you can independently make the ventilation holes necessary for air exchange.
Glass pots allow the roots to receive the necessary lighting, but due to the impossibility of doing in the walls ventilation openings will require constant monitoring of the elimination of excess liquid after watering in order to exclude decay of roots.
Clay pots are less suitable for orchids, as the roots can penetrate the porous material and become damaged during transplantation.
Selection of the composition of the substrate
An orchid for transplantation needs a special substrate based on the use of bark. It is more convenient to purchase a ready-made mixture of the middle fraction in specialized salons.
When self-made, pine bark without rot and mold, taken from fallen trees, is crushed into pieces up to 20 mm long. The material is disinfected by boiling for half an hour and then dried.
Coarse-fiber high-moor peat is added to the bark (you can use sphagnum moss boiled for 5 minutes and dried), as well as expanded clay (or foam). The proportions are 3: 1: 1. Each liter of the prepared mixture is supplemented with lime (2 g).
Phalaenopsis transplant algorithm
Carry out work with rubber gloves. The instruments used are disinfected with alcohol.
Procedure:
- Carefully remove the orchid from the pot by running a spatula along the inner surface of the walls. The plastic container can be slightly wrinkled or cut if necessary.
- The roots are washed by directing a stream of warm water to them.
- Noticing signs of pests, the root system is immersed for 3 hours in filtered water heated to 20-25 degrees.
- Cut off dry or rotten root shoots, sprinkling with powdered activated carbon. Dried leaves and flower stalks are removed at the same time.
- Leave the orchid on the table for 8 hours. This will allow the roots to dry well.
- The pot is treated with a dish cleaner. After 15 minutes, it is thoroughly rinsed and dried.
- Drainage is poured into a pot up to a quarter of the volume. Set the plant in the center and fill the voids with the substrate, slightly shaking the container to distribute the soil evenly.
- If some roots remain above the surface, they do not need to be pressed. Leave in this state, since the orchid is able to receive the moisture necessary for development from the surrounding atmosphere.
There is no need to try to straighten the recumbent stem when transplanting, as this is its normal position. Any pressure can break the plant.
Further care
The transplanted orchid is kept at 22-25 degrees, providing shade for a week. Water after 5 days, when possible injuries heal. This measure reduces the risk of penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the root tissue.
For irrigation, use water settled at room conditions. The indicator is the dry state of the substrate. It needs to be soaked completely until moisture begins to ooze from the holes. After 5 minutes, repeat the procedure. After a while, all the liquid is poured from the pan.
A warm shower can be arranged if the tap water is not hard. After irrigation with moisture with a temperature of about 45 degrees until the substrate is completely moistened, leave the pot for 15-20 minutes to eliminate excess liquid. An hour later, gently wipe the leaves with a soft paper towel.
You can immerse the pot in a bowl of water for about 30 seconds. Water saturates the substrate through the holes.
For a month, the foliage of the transplanted orchid is sprayed daily. If the weather is hot, then the number of procedures is increased to three per day.
Top dressing after transplantation will be required after 3-4 weeks. The flower is watered, and then special nutritional complexes are introduced, for example, "Bona Forte", "Kemira Lux". Prepare a working solution in accordance with the instructions. Then, during the growing season, fertilizing is repeated every 15 days, and in winter, once a month.
Possible problems
If the leaves of the transplanted phalaenopsis orchid begin to wither, the cause may be a lack of moisture. In such a situation, it is necessary to adjust the watering.
Leaf plates can fade when the burning rays of the sun hit them. It is necessary to provide the plant with shading for a week immediately after transplanting.
A transplant for the phalaenopsis orchid is a mandatory procedure. You should treat her carefully so as not to damage the capricious beauty.
Do you grow orchids at home?
Original articleand many other materials, you can find on ourwebsite.
Read about caring for orchids in the following article:The orchid has crawled roots from the pot: reasons for what to do