Re-Potting your Just Add Ice Orchid

A Just Add Ice Orchids expert walks through the steps of re-potting a phalaenopsis orchids, the type of pot and soil that should be used and where to cut the flower stem when re-blooming your flower.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Just Add Ice Orchids
• Just Add Ice
• repotting orchids
• orchid care
• caring for orchids

[berryluvz]

WTF happend to his hands

[tahoeskiier]

@berryluvz

It looks like he tried to retrieve something from a garbage disposal

[richardzavaleta]

the cinnamon method works!!!!

[informant007]

@visceralanding That's good to know. I did try the cinnamon technique and it seemed to work. The end of the cut spike hardened a bit quicker, sealing it.

One other thing that's important is to add anti-fungal material, like Physan 20 or "Mosquito Bits". The damp nature of orchid potting mix can attract fungus gnats. I learned that the hard way!

[visceralanding]

@informant007 you bring up a very important point – sanitizing any tools which come into contact w/your plant! as for applying cinnamon (or other such 'disinfectant') I myself have never applied anything onto the freshly cut ends of spikes (or leaves, should i need to sever a mature one when pruning) and I've never had any problem/issues with infection of any kind. I believe if you take care to sanitize your tools, and don't touch it w/your fingers right afterwards, it's fine (no infection).

[visceralanding]

should you soak the orchid medium overnight (the night before repotting)? because it seems like it might do better if the bark were saturated a bit, no? ...anyone know? and if not, then are you supposed to water it immediately after you repot, or should you wait to water? please answer, somebody! (anybody!) thanks in advance :-)

[informant007]

You might want to mention about cleaning the cutting tool before using on the orchid, as orchids are very vulnerable to infection. I've also heard it is a good idea to apply something to the cut end to also help prevent any infections (I've heard cinnamon is a good natural choice).

And about the pot size, you don't always want to go to a larger one. After removing all of the old soil and mushy roots, you may find that the original pot is still OK.

Anyway, nice video--thanks.

[bobbymalta73]

Thanks for sharing.

[missanna208]

Really, when you water, you should hold the plant over the sink and pour water all over the surface of the media and let the water drain out the bottom. This will help prevent mineral build up (hard water) that can harm the plant. It also will ensure that all the media becomes wetted. Ice cubes will not thouroughly wet all the media (especially bark based) because there is no capillary action to draw the water around to other parts of the pot.