repotting
a Phalaenopsis in sphagnum
the
repotting
a Phalaenopsis in sphagnum
what you'll need:
click on photo to see a close-up
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| It's a good idea to begin every orchid potting session by sterilizing all of your cutting tools, that way you won't forget and cut a plant with a potentially contaminated tool. Remember to re-sterilize between plants. | We will pot this Phalaenopsis in sphagnum moss. Pre-soak it while preparing the orchid to repot...over night is even better. If you like, you can add a few drops of mild liquid detergent to soaking water. As a safety precaution you may want to wear waterproof gloves to protect against Sporotrichosis. | Remove any clips or other hardware holding the Phal in its old pot. Use the knife to coax any stubborn roots off the outside of the pot. |
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| Working around the edge of the pot use your knife to gently lever the Phal out of the pot. | Remove as much old potting material as possible by working at it with your fingers. | Using sterilized shears, cut away any dead roots. Dead roots will appear either soft and mushy or dried and shriveled. Cut away the part of the stem below the live roots. |
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| Using a disposable cotton swab, dab a little paste made of powdered fungicide and water on the cut part of the stem. | Select a pot that the plant fits comfortably . As a rule of thumb the diameter should be about 1/3 to 1/2 the plant's leaf span. Add an inch of drainage material to the pot. | Squeeze the water out of a handful of sphagnum and begin working it in around the roots. Hold the Phal centered and so that the leaves are level with the rim of the pot. You may add a handful of lava rock to the sphagnum to keep the media open. |
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Potting Phalaenopsis in different media involves basically the same procedures. Click here for potting a Phal. in fir bark. |
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| Continue adding moss all around the pot to within one half inch of the rim. Do not cover the base of the leaves. The moss should be packed so that it is still springy but not so loose that the Phal flops around. The plant must be secure or else it will never get established. | Don't forget the nametag ! Click on the above photo to see how your finished Phalaenopsis should look. |
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