What is Repotting and why do you need to Repot?
Orchid repotting is the process of moving an orchid from its old container to a new one with fresh potting mix to refresh its growing medium, provide more room for roots, and remove dead or rotting parts.
It is an essential part of orchid care, typically done after flowering, and it helps the plant stay healthy and promote future blooms.
Why and when to repot?
Why?
It is necessary to repot orchids primarily when the potting mix breaks down or when the plant outgrows its container.
Repotting is essential for providing fresh, airy media for roots to thrive, preventing root rot, and ensuring the plant has adequate space to grow.
Signs it is time to repot include overcrowded roots growing outside the pot, the plant becoming unstable, and the growing medium appearing broken down and compacted.
When?
The best time to repot is after the orchid has finished flowering.
- Signs it's time: Repotting is necessary when the potting medium starts to decay and hold too much moisture, when the roots are overflowing the pot, or when the plant seems to be "going over the edge" of its container.
- Frequency: Repotting is generally recommended every one to two years.
Our Re-Potting Clinics
The Jacksonville Orchid Society is happy to announce that it now conducts two potting clinics as described below.
Stay in touch with our Facebook updates at: https://www.facebook.com/Jacksonville-Orchid-Society-133723160023084/
Hagan Ace Hardware – 12501 San Jose Boulevard in Mandarin
The first Saturday of the month from February through November, Jacksonville Orchid Society members are available to talk with you, answer questions and help you repot orchids. We will be at the Ace Hardware at 12501 San Jose Blvd. in Jacksonville from 10 am until 1 pm. Ace usually has a special orchid sale for JOS members with big discounts on orchids and orchid supplies and bigger discounts on out of bloom orchids. Don’t miss it!
The Plant Ranch Nursery – 14108 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, 32250
Introducing a monthly Orchid Potting Clinic at The Plant Ranch Nursery starting April 17, 2021.
Starting on the 3rd Saturday in April, and each third Saturday thereafter (until the winter arrives) an Orchid Repotting and Education Clinic will take place at The Plant Ranch Nursery, 14108 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, 32250. The clinic will run from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
The society provides all the materials and the orchid parent provides the plant. Orchid Society volunteers provide the experience, enthusiasm, and excitement that makes orchid collecting so contagious. A nominal charge to cover the cost of materials used in the repotting process will be in effect.
This is NOT a re-potting service but a clinic intended to teach the public and members how to repot their own orchids. With that in mind, we’ll restrict the number of orchids being re-potted to not more than 5 orchids per individual.
We are lucky to count Dr. Courtney Hackney among our members. He is a former (retired) Director of Coastal Biology at the University of North Florida.
Dr Hackney wrote a number of articles on this topic, that are listed below.
Click on an article to read the PDF document