Commercial Floriculture

Annual repotting

The frequency and time of repotting has certain rules:
• Calanthe, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis and its hybrids, Paphipedilum and Phalaenopsis.
• Every alternate year- Cattleya, Dendrobium, Oncidium and Odontoglossum
• Every third year- Vanda and its allies, Cymbidium
• Less frequently -all ‘tussock’ orchids
• It must be stressed again that repotting can seriously disturb a plant and therefore should not be undertaken more than necessary.
• Repotting times do not vary very much but should usually be at the beginning of the active growing season or at least when the new roots appear.
• The techniques of repotting may be difficult both for amateurs and professionals
• Certain points must be considered, especially regarding the treatment of the roots.
• To remove the root-ball from the pot it is advisable to use a knife.
• All old potting material, dead roots and shriveled pseudobulbs have to be removed.
• With sympodial orchids such as Cattleya, Dendrobium, Odotoglossum, etc., not more than 5 or less than 3 pseudobulbs should remain.
• When the older pseudobulbs, the backbulbs are removed from many orchids it will be noted that they often have ‘eyes’.
• These backbulbs can be planted in small pots and within 2-3 years will be like ordinary plants.
• The containers, pots, pans, baskets or rafts, should be large enough to carry two shoots or developing growths.
• Too large pots are to be avoided because they can actually retard growth and inhibit flowering.
• While repotting, the plant is held at the base and loosened along the pot inside. The old roots and leaves are removed. Then the plant is potted again.

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