If you want to grow plants well, apart from daily watering, fertilizing, temperature control, and avoiding harsh sunlight, repotting is also an important step. For beginners, repotting may feel like an unfamiliar concept, and it’s natural to wonder how to do it properly. It can seem a little intimidating, but let’s go through some practical repotting techniques together.
When you bring home a beautiful Phalaenopsis orchid, you naturally hope it will bloom again the following year. However, problems like root rot and yellowing leaves may appear. At that point, the most common advice is: repot it. But how exactly should you repot a Phalaenopsis?
Step 1: Prepare the Medium
First, soak the sphagnum moss ahead of time and gently loosen it. Spread it out into a layer about 2 cm thick. Carefully remove the orchid from its original pot, trim away any yellow leaves, and tidy up the roots. Hold the root system with your left hand, and with your right hand spread out your fingers, take a handful of sphagnum moss, and wrap it evenly around the roots. Make sure all roots are covered and not exposed. Then place the plant into a prepared 12 cm nursery pot, pressing it down lightly to secure it.
Step 2: Adjust the Tightness
How can you tell if the moss is packed at the right firmness? The quickest way is to gently squeeze the soft nursery pot. If it feels springy and elastic, it’s just right. If it feels too loose, it means you need to add more medium; if it feels too compact, you’ve used too much and should reduce it. The tightness of the moss is very important, as it directly affects water retention and fertilizer absorption. To grow a high-quality Phalaenopsis, this step must be done well.
Step 3: Positioning
When placing the newly repotted orchids, keep the flower spikes facing south and in the same direction. This way, when the flowers bloom, they will look uniform and tidy. You can also arrange them by variety on the growing bench, since plants of the same type usually have similar growth habits, making watering easier to manage consistently.
Step 4: Post-Repotting Care
The first week after repotting is critical. On sunny days, spray the leaves once or twice between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to keep the moss moist. If the sunlight is strong, use a shade net to reduce intensity, keeping the light level at 3,000–4,000 lux, the temperature at 20–25°C, and humidity between 70%–80%. On cloudy days, spraying is unnecessary.
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