Lovers of indoor plants take care of their "pets" very carefully and carefully: they control humidity, fertilize the soil, remove excess leaves and stems. Another important procedure that affects the quality and life expectancy of an indoor flower is transplantation. This is a very sensitive issue, especially when it comes to exotic or demanding plants. One of these flowers is the orchid. Even experienced growers of indoor plants cannot always tell you how to transplant an orchid so that it does not disappear and blooms on time.
A brief description of the indoor orchid
The evolutionary history of the flower is quite long, as it has more than 80 million years. Currently, more than 25 thousand plant species are distinguished. Many of them are bred by selective breeding. Initially, the flower lived exclusively in the tropics, but now it can be found on the windowsill of almost any home.
Orchid has distinctive features that are unique to it. It is these data that characterize the plant in a livingnature. To know how to transplant an orchid correctly, you need to know the main characteristics of a houseplant:
- The roots of the flower are thick, round or flattened. Their structure helped in the wild when collecting moisture and strengthening the flower on almost any surface in nature.
- The flower loves moisture, as the thick stem and dense leaves require a large amount of fluid to sustain life and carry out photosynthesis.
- The stems of the plant are quite tall, so auxiliary support is often required. The future bud is concentrated in the bed of each leaf. The plant can produce up to a hundred flowers during the flowering period. The diameter depends on the type of orchid.
Is there a need to transplant an orchid at all?
Indoor gardeners know that the orchid is a very capricious flower that requires constant care and attention. At the same time, excessive care can also harm the flower. A particular threat lies in the improper cropping of leaves, dry flowers and transplantation. Therefore, many novice gardeners are interested in whether it is possible to transplant an orchid at all?
Timely transplantation is one of the main points of proper plant care. The procedure is necessary for the following reasons:
- The root system of an orchid eventually takes up all the space in a flower pot, which leads to coarsening of the soil.
- Often the roots simply push the soil out of the pot, resulting in no nutrient medium.
- Over time, water during irrigation begins todelayed by the root system, which leads to their decay.
- If the capacity is large and the root system does not stick out, then a transplant will still be needed. The flower absorbs all the nutrients from the soil within 2-3 years - it all depends on the base.
In the period between transplants, it is necessary to feed the soil. The transplant itself should not be done more often than after 2 years, as this procedure is fraught with stress for the plant.
Best time to transplant
Experienced flower gardeners have noticed that after transplanting, orchids may stop developing for a while, grow poorly, and not bloom for a long time. This is due to the stress that the flower endures in the process of changing the food environment.
Sometimes growth and development is affected by poor timing of pot changes or premature transplanting. Therefore, it is worth considering several factors regarding the choice of the most optimal periods for a flower.
You also need to remember when you can transplant an orchid, and when you should not:
- The procedure is carried out no more than once every 2 years.
- Plan a transplant in the spring when the orchid's growth phase is at its highest.
- During the period of active flowering, do not disturb the flower.
- Even if the soil looks bad and it's not time to transplant yet, the flower looks he althy and strong, no need to disturb it.
If you take into account all the factors, then the moment for the implementation of the plan is easy to choose on your own and without harm to the plant.
What you need to know forquality transplants
There are many factors that affect the quality and outcome of an orchid transplant. Inexperienced housewives and beginners usually have a lot of questions.
With beginner flower growers, the most popular question is about capacity: are orchids transplanted into ceramic or darkened flower pots? Experienced gardeners know that it is desirable to choose transparent containers. In such pots, you can easily make drainage holes in the required amount. And most importantly, it is easy to monitor the condition and development of the plant's root system, which is very important in the care process.
Properly selected soil is also an important point. The type of nutrient medium determines the timing of transplantation and the quality of life of the orchid. The wood substrate provides the longest period of preservation of the nutrient medium - 3 years. It is worth taking care of the means for disinfection and cutting the roots.
Special skills are needed to carry out high-quality processing of the root system. It is worth, for example, taking small florist courses or being present during the procedure by an experienced gardener.
Preparation before transplant procedure
Before transplanting an orchid into another pot, you need to make the right preparation: pick up a new container, arrange tools, choose soil and disinfectants.
To prepare for the transplant, you should:
- Purchase a transparent plastic pot so you can keep an eye ondevelopment of the root system.
- The soil should have an acidity of 5, 5-6, 5 pH, it is worth choosing a wood base.
- For disinfection, you should choose activated charcoal, cinnamon powder, antifungal and antiparasitic agents.
- Filtered water and a spray bottle.
To protect the hands and the transplant itself, auxiliary tools and materials will be required.
Step by step instructions for transplanting a plant
When you can transplant an orchid, it is very simple to determine, but after this moment another problem arises, how to transplant. Orchid transplantation is not performed according to the standard scenario. One mistake and the plant will die. If, however, each of the stages is completed qualitatively, then there will be no threat regarding the growth of the flower.
How to transplant an orchid at home, step-by-step instructions for a beginner florist are given below. She will help to do this without risk to the plant.
- Remove the flower from the old container so as not to damage the root system. An old pot can be slightly crushed to separate the roots from the walls.
- Remove the old soil from the roots by rinsing the soil under running water.
- Cut rotten and dry root shoots, check for pests. Disinfect sections with activated charcoal or cinnamon.
- Place in a special antibacterial solution for 15-20 minutes. Warm purified water will also work.
- Cut off the lower sluggish leaves and bulbs with sharp scissors and process the slices with the same tool,as roots.
- Dry the roots for 8 hours after treatment. Place the plant on a paper towel or napkins.
- Prepare a transparent container: disinfect the walls and bottom, lay out a thin layer of drainage.
- Set the plant in the middle of the new pot and gradually cover the soil. It is not necessary to compact the substrate.
- Spray the top of the plant with warm water that is well cleaned.
The transplant process is complete. In the future, it is important to properly care for the plant.
How to transplant an orchid with a baby
In the place where a flower should appear, sometimes a baby appears, that is, a process. The shoot develops its own root system and stem. There comes a time when a graft is needed.
And how to transplant a baby orchid. Everything is extremely clear and relatively simple:
- Separate the baby from the parent plant when the roots of the shoot reach 4 centimeters. The cut must be made in a centimeter from the parent to the root.
- Put the baby in a solution with growth hormone. The residence time in the special liquid is 20 minutes minimum.
- Transplant the baby into a plastic pot with holes and lightly spray with clean water.
- Place the seedling in a plastic bag for a week. Periodically open the bag to ventilate the plant.
Seating by using the root
One of the most optimal methods of plant breeding isroot division. This method is relevant when the root system of the orchid is too voluminous and needs to be reduced in size.
You can transplant an orchid root as follows:
- Remove the plant from the pot.
- Rinse roots under water.
- Examine for vermin and spoiled parts.
- Separate into two equal halves using sharp scissors or a knife.
- Treat the sections with an antiseptic. Place in growth solution.
- Place in a pot and fill with substrate.
Flower breeding in several ways
Knowing how to transplant an orchid into a pot, you can propagate a tropical plant. Florists distinguish four main ways:
- Stem separation method.
- Transplanting baby.
- Division of the root system.
- Replanting a side shoot.
Each of the presented options requires transplanting and processing the roots of the plant.
Features of caring for an orchid after transplantation
It is not enough to know how to transplant an orchid, it is important to properly care for the plant during the recovery period:
- Set the transplanted flower in the shade.
- The room should not be too hot: the optimum temperature is 22 degrees.
- Watering should be done once every 5 days with a spray bottle.
- Spray the top of the plant with warm water every 7 days and wipe with a cloth.
- In a monthfertilize the soil after transplanting.
At first, stick to a strict grooming schedule.
Methods of resuscitation in case of unsuccessful transplant
Even if you follow all the conditions of how to transplant an orchid without a threat to the plant, unforeseen circumstances can happen. The indoor flower may begin to wither, the roots fester, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. This does not mean that the plant will completely disappear. It is worth taking emergency measures to save what is left of the orchid. Usually the whole problem hides in the root system.
Stages reanimated orchids:
- Check the root system for decay. Roots should be firm to the touch. It is worth identifying the whole processes of the rhizome. Particular attention should be paid to light shoots. Color determines age.
- Using a sharp pruner or garden shears, cut off festering roots to a he althy dense tissue. Remove dry areas of the root.
If there are still many he althy shoots left during the cleaning process, then the plant is transplanted into a new soil and well looked after. When the entire root system is practically gone, the rescue work must continue.
- Dry the flower on a paper towel for an hour. Do not leave the plant in the sun or outside.
- Disinfection stage. Powdered activated charcoal, lubricate the cut sections of the root processes. Instead of activated charcoal, you can take cinnamon powder.
- Place the roots in the fungicide solution for a quarter of an hour. This procedure will help get rid of harmful spores.fungi and bacteria.
- After the flower is planted in a new substrate.
Quite large plants can have so-called babies. Therefore, the question arises of how to transplant an orchid baby with festering roots. The principle is no different from the resuscitation of an adult plant. After the “rescue”, the orchid will require special care for a long time.
