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Repotting Orchids
As a general rule Just Add Ice Orchids should be repotted every one to two years. The main reasons for repotting orchids:
- To replace the media the orchid is growing in. Overtime the media starts to break down which creates a susceptible environment to root rot.
- Repotting orchids is also necessary if the orchid has outgrown its current container or if the media starts to smell unpleasant.
Follow these simple steps when repotting your Just Add Ice ORCHID:
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1. Soak the new dry orchid plant media for 24 hours in water so that it may absorb moisture. |
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2. Remove any flower spikes or wait until the orchid is done blooming. |
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3. Remove your orchid from the old container, removing any media that is attached to the roots. |
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4. Trim off any dead or dying roots, these roots will be brown and soft, as opposed to live roots which are firm and white (or green). |
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5. Place the orchid plant into the new container so that the base of the lowest leaf is approximately a half inch below the rim or the same depth as the previous container. |
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6. Gently scatter the new media around the roots pressing it down lightly with your fingers, and then carefully tap the pot to settle the media. Continue to add media until it reaches the base of the lowest leaf. |
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7. To check if you have repotted your orchid correctly, gently lift the plant up by the stem without having the pot fall off. If the pot falls off, the media was too loose. In this case, just start over; this won’t harm the plant at all. |
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The best way to select a new pot is to choose the smallest container that the newly trimmed root mass will fit into comfortably. To encourage root growth after repotting, place in a warm location and withhold from watering by misting the plant over a 10 day period making sure the leaves are dry by nightfall. After 10 days you can go back to your simple orchid watering schedule of "3 ice cubes per week."