moth orchids

Posted on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 3:37 am

How and what to re pot moth orchids in. Mine are in a 3 in. nursery pot, how much larger pot should I use?

Moth Orchids only need to be re-potted when their roots have really filled the pots – if aerial roots are present, this doesn’t matter, and is not a sign that they need re-potting, or their planting mix has broken down, resembling soil, rather than bark chips. In nature these Orchids use their roots mainly to secure themselves to tree bark, and they don’t grow in soil. For this reason use a special Orchid potting mix, which is likely to be small bark pieces.

When you’re ready to re-pot, use a pot that’s only marginally larger. If you see any transparent pots you could use these too, as Phalaenopsis, the Moth Orchid, has roots that can photosynthesise, and so benefit from some light reaching them.

Usually re-pot every 2 or 3 years, depending on growth. I gave one of my old teachers a Moth Orchid when she was 60, and it grew and flowered, without re-potting for 7 years – this was an extreme, and I wouldn’t generally recommend that though!

Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob