Phalaenopsis orchid transplant rules
Transplanting the phalaenopsis orchid at home is a matter that requires certain knowledge. To understand all the intricacies of the issue, you should thoroughly study the algorithm of actions and perform them, follow the instructions. Then the orchid will thank you for proper care with abundant flowering and beautiful appearance.
Phalaenopsis transplant
Preparing for transplant
The substrate in which the orchid grows, over time, loses the qualities necessary for its full growth. Hard mineral salts accumulate in it, air permeability deteriorates and the acidity level changes. The gradual destruction of the structure of the substrate causes an excess of moisture, which further provokes a decrease in plant immunity or decay of its roots. To avoid such situations, the soil in which the phalaenopsis grows is changed to fresh once every 3 years.
To transplant phalaenopsis, you will need:
- pruning shears or sharp scissors;
- Activated carbon;
- priming;
- capacity;
- "Epin" and pest drug "Fitoverm" (if necessary);
- peduncle holder.
To ensure adequate nutrition and comfortable development, the choice of a new pot and soil should be approached with all responsibility.
Transplant reasons
After the phalaenopsis has faded, the question arises about the advisability of its transplant. If he is healthy, he has strong, green roots with a silvery sheen, he sits firmly in the container, and the soil is without external changes and limescale, then it is better to postpone the transplant for another year or two. When deciding to transplant a phalaenopis orchid, the most ideal time for this is early spring or autumn.
Phalaenopsis is transplanted in the following cases:
- sudden wrinkling and yellowing of the leaves, rotting of the roots or covering them with limescale;
- the quality of the substrate has deteriorated due to prolonged use of unfiltered water or a large amount of fertilizer;
- Phalaenopsis disease or pest damage;
- the root system filled the entire container, displacing the soil;
- the plant has fallen to one side and outweighs the pot, making it unstable;
- the walls of the pot from the inside are covered with a green bloom;
- suspicious lumps of compressed sphagnum or pieces of foam between the roots;
- the fall of the pot, in which the plant fell out;
- 3 years have passed since the previous transplant;
- when the baby grew up.
If an urgent transplant of a phalaenopsis orchid after purchase is required for a flowering plant, then, after cutting off all dried and rotten roots, the peduncle is also cut off to the first bud, so that it can more easily endure the stress of loss of roots and recover faster. When it falls out of the container due to the fall, it is returned to the same or to a larger pot.
Transplanting a new orchid
Transplanting the Phalaenopis orchid after purchase is optional.Having changed its place of residence, the flower suffers stress, so they give it a couple of weeks of quarantine, they observe it, the state and speed of drying of the soil, and upon completion of acclimatization, a decision is made.
Substrate replacement is carried out immediately after purchase, only if the roots are thin and shriveled. This appearance is due to the fact that transplanting and watering phalaenopsis at home is different from those in the nursery. After abundant spraying with stimulants, the roots of the plant are depleted, because all forces were directed to the growth of the peduncle and buds.
Baby transplant
An orchid baby is recommended to be transplanted if its root has grown 5 cm long. This means readiness for independent existence.
Tools are required similar to those used for transplanting adult orchids, only the fraction of the soil is smaller. The baby is separated from the mother plant, leaving a small section of the peduncle on which she sits. Places of cuts are treated with activated carbon. Drainage and a little soil are poured at the bottom, then the baby is placed in the center of the pot and the substrate is evenly distributed around it. From above, the soil is covered with sphagnum and put in the shade for a week. Watering begins in 2-3 days.
Phalaenopsis baby transplant
Pot selection
Phalaenopsis in a transparent plastic planter should not be exposed to direct sunlight, because due to the greenhouse effect, the roots die, and a green bloom from algae forms on the walls. Also, do not choose large containers, because after processing and trimming the roots, the plant needs a pot of the same or smaller size.
The new container must meet the following requirements:
- should be 3 cm wider than the previous one and slightly higher;
- transparent plastic is preferable to other options, because the roots take part in photosynthesis for proper development;
- for the intake of air in sufficient quantity, the presence of ventilation holes is required;
- pots in the form of sticks or nets with a large number of holes are not suitable for indoor conditions, since the substrate constantly dries up: it is better to use them for decorative purposes;
- at the bottom there should be a small foot for air circulation.
If the selected pot is made of ceramic, the inside must be smooth so that roots do not grow. Glass planters are less preferred. For phalaenopsis mini, prepare a pot of the smallest size or a plastic glass with holes for draining water.
Choice of substrate
In nature, orchids are epiphytes that grow on trees and cling to them with roots, therefore, a soil consisting of bark is optimal. It should be breathable, dry relatively quickly after watering, and decompose slowly. The ideal option is pine bark. In some cases, a small amount of sphagnum moss is added to the surface of the soil to increase the moisture retention time of the latter.
The main qualities of the substrate:
- for rooms with dry air, the soil is selected more moisture-consuming;
- it should be loose and not collapse into a dense mass;
- the speed of complete drying is 3-5 days;
- particle size - 1.5-3 cm;
- made from freshly sawn pine bark.
Before use, the bark is sorted out and boiled for sterilization. Substrate from a specialized store is not sterilized. The main component of such soil is also pine bark with the addition of crushed fern roots and charcoal. The main requirement for the soil from the store is looseness, airiness and coarse fraction.
When transplanting, part of the old substrate is mixed with a new one in order to transfer the microflora familiar to plants into a new soil.
Phalaenopsis orchid substrate
Transplant process
A phytosporin solution is preliminarily prepared to soak the orchid in it. For this 1/5 tsp. substances are diluted in 2 liters of water and 10 drops of epin are added to stimulate immunity.
The orchid is carefully removed from the pot, holding it by the base of the trunk. For relief, the pot is lightly crushed. Because of the strong growth of roots, the pot is cut with scissors. After extraction, the flower is placed in a wide basin and gently shaken off the old soil, except for the adherent particles. The residues are washed off with water.
Examine the leaves, roots and trunk of the plant. Any rotten, yellowed, blackened or wrinkled areas are removed, leaving healthy, green or silvery areas. If such a problem is found, rotten and black spots on the surface of the outlet are cleaned to healthy tissue. The leaves are removed by first cutting lengthwise and then removing the remainder from the stem.
After completing the inspection, the roots of the plant are immersed in a previously prepared phytosporin solution for half an hour and dried. To protect against waterlogging, lay out drainage 3-5 cm thick at the bottom of the container, and a little soil on top. Phalaenopsis is placed in the center, next to it is a stick that supports the peduncle. It should be made of bamboo and varnished so that the roots touching it don't start to rot. Gradually, the voids between the roots are filled with soil, placing large pieces of bark at the bottom, and smaller pieces on top. If necessary, the substrate is covered with a thin layer of sphagnum to protect it from rapid evaporation of moisture.
Post-transplant care tips
Correctly transplanted healthy phalaenopsis easily tolerate this process and begin to grow roots in order to gain a foothold in a renewed nutrient medium. The first 10 days they are kept in the shade at a temperature of 22 ° C and are not watered, but fertilized no earlier than a month later. Caring for phalaenopsis after transplanting consists in observing the watering regime, and after activating root growth, in feeding with fertilizer intended for orchids, in accordance with the instructions on the bottle (once every 2 weeks). It is considered more effective to immerse the pot with the orchid in water for 15 minutes, so that the soil absorbs moisture, and not overhead watering.
An indoor flower that has lost most of the roots during transplantation requires step-by-step care. After transplanting into a container, the orchid, covered with sphagnum on top, is strengthened with chopsticks to fix it. At first, the flower is not placed in direct sunlight. The care system includes constant monitoring of the weakened plant and timely watering, fertilized only after the phalaenopsis releases young roots.
Possible transplant errors
- wrong choice of soil (too small fraction provokes root rot due to lack of sufficient air and humidity);
- a small number of drainage holes in the pot;
- moxibustion of the roots with brilliant green;
- transshipment into a new pot without inspecting the roots and soil;
- too spacious container chosen for transplanting (it provokes the growth of green mass instead of flowering, as a result the orchid grows, not blooms);
- the habit of spraying instead of watering (this method of moistening leads to latent drying of the roots, and after excessive drying out, the substrate does not absorb moisture well, the roots dry out and die from its lack);
- watering by soaking for a long time immediately after transplanting.
Conclusion
Phalaenopsis orchid is a plant of a tropical climate; it does not tolerate excessive waterlogging. The structure of its roots allows it to accumulate a sufficient amount of the necessary moisture in the layers of velamen and gradually use it. She also does not like excessive spraying, direct sunlight and a large amount of fertilizer. This is a less capricious plant than it seems at first glance, because after a careful study of the system of rules, replanting the plant is easy.