Features of the epiphyte content: how to transplant an orchid at home.

Magnificent plants, whose flowers resemble bright tropical butterflies, and the stems are gracefully curved, are loved by the florists of the whole world. Bought in the store orchids long pleases the eye, keeping beautiful flowers on the stems up to several months. Orchids are strong enough plants with good adaptability to external conditions, but care for them is far from simple.

In the natural habitat, orchids live on the bark of trees and are not limited in any way in growth. They like moist air and open spaces. Caring for epiphytes is different from caring for terrestrial plants. Before buying an exotic flower it is necessary to find out in advance how to water and spray, how to transplant an orchid. At home, the plants are kept in a substrate of moss and tree bark in dry and not bright rooms. To ensure that the orchid grows well and throws out the buds, you must follow certain rules.

Why transplant an orchid?

Orchid is gentle, capricious, badly restores the root system. Do I need to transplant an orchid in general, or let it grow?

It is necessary to replace it all the same. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. We sat on the spot. The plant is in its pot for more than 2 years. The substrate is compressed, it passes moisture better, does not breathe, is impregnated with salts coming in with water. How often to transplant an orchid depends on the filler. If the substrate is a bark, the plant can live in it for up to 4 years. Artificial fillers should be changed every 2 years, moss - every year.
2. Unexpected surprise. The orchid brought from the store is mercilessly flooded with water, in a pot of earth or peat, the roots are in a deplorable state. When appearing rotten roots, it is necessary to transplant immediately!
3. A strange smell. When there is a smell of rot, mold, leaves, it is best to transplant a plant.
4. Our regiment arrived. Orchids appeared babies, roots overflowed the pot and bulge outward. With good care, the orchid grows and needs to be resettled, then the question of how to transplant an orchid at home can arise.

If the plant does not need an emergency transplant, then it is better not to disturb the flower during flowering and active growth of roots. Usually it's spring and early summer.

Transplant rules

The period of relative rest of most orchids is the beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn. If the plant does not observe the growth of new shoots and leaves, it's time to look for information on how to transplant an orchid.

At home, you can make an excellent substrate, using a steamed bark cut about a year ago, pine or oak. If the substrate is bought in the store, you need to remove peat and debris from it, leaving only moss and bark.

The pot is needed from glass or clear plastic with large drainage holes. In the ceramic pot, roots can grow, in addition, the absence of light will slow down the process of photosynthesis. The pot must be larger than the previous one. Still need a clean sharp knife, cinnamon, coal or sulfur and a wooden stick. On how to transplant an orchid at home and what to prepare, it is necessary to know in advance.

An hour before transplantation, the substrate must be well moistened by watering with warm water. This will make it relatively easy to remove the plant from the pot. If the roots are stuck, they can be carefully separated from the walls with a stick. Before planting on the bottom of a new pot, you need to place a drain, previously boiling it. Top the ¼ of the volume with the substrate.

When separating the roots from the old pot, difficulties may arise. If you can not separate without losses, you can break the pot or cut it. When the plant is extracted, it is necessary to carefully clean the roots of the old filler with your fingers. If the roots are healthy, they are allowed to leave part of the substrate. If a putrefactive process begins, it is better to clean them completely, use a warm shower and wash off the debris from them. Knife should remove rotten parts of the plant, rinse in water, sprinkle the cuts with cinnamon or charcoal.

Welcome - landing in a new pot

The plant is kept on weight over the pot, the roots gently fall inside and are evenly filled with a new filler. Press, can not be trampled. You can tap on the walls and push small pieces inside the stick, trying not to hurt the roots.

If a part of the roots does not fit in the pot, they can be left outside.

After transplanting put in a moist shaded place, sprinkled daily with warm water. Do not water a week, do not feed for a month.