How to plant orchids

The vast majority of orchids are epiphytic plants . This means that they are species that in their natural habitat live by anchoring on trees or rocks instead of being buried. Therefore, if you bury your orchid in a pot with soil in the usual way in other plants, it is most likely that you will end up killing the plant by rotting its roots, which are better if they are more ventilated.

Thus, the choice of pot is very important in the case of orchids, since there are different types of containers other than traditional clay pots and that are especially recommended for these plants. The usual thing with orchids will be to use small containers, although there are exceptions, as in the case of Cymbidium orchids , which need larger pots in which their large root system can fit. These are the most recommended pots for orchids :

• Transparent plastic pots: these are the most suitable both for orchids that photosynthesize through their roots, and for those whose roots warn us when the plant needs watering, since they allow us to see its root system without having to manipulate the plant.
• Metal mesh pots: they allow a greater respiration of the roots, and their design makes them easy to hang in high places, both for aesthetic purposes and to put the plant in places where it receives more sunlight.
• Wooden pots: These are made from a special type of rot-resistant wood. Its design also leaves small holes, which help improve both the respiration of the root system and the drainage of the container. It is advisable to cover your interior walls with a layer of moss before adding the substrate.

Of course, we can also resort to traditional ceramic pots or specific pots for orchids that are sold in specialized stores.

There are three main types of orchid substrates that can be made depending on the specific species of orchid. All of them coincide in their absence of soil, which does not benefit the roots of these plants. We have chosen mixtures that are made with one part perlite, one part medium grade charcoal, and four parts shell or coconut fiber or fine, medium or coarse grain fir bark.

• Coarse mix: this substrate is especially recommended for Cymbidium and other large species.
• Medium Mix: This is recommended for Cattleya and Phalaenopsis species , among others.
• Fine mixture: it is one of the most used for Oncidium, Paphiopedilum, Oncidiinae and basically all those that require higher levels of humidity due to their small roots.

In this other AgroCorrn post you can find a guide on How to make substrate for orchids .

To transplant or plant an orchid , follow these steps:

1. Clean the plant of debris: Remove any dirt or moss from your orchid before planting it in its new location.
2. Prune off bad roots – Some roots may have blackened or withered. Cut them with a properly disinfected tool so that the plant does not lose energy in that part in poor condition.
3. Place the orchid in the container: then fill it with the mixture of one of the three substrates described above, depending on the specific type of orchid.
4. Give it a suitable location: orchids need a good supply of light and be in an area where the air circulates, so make sure to locate your new container in a suitable place. It is preferable that they receive light indirectly, although in abundance.

Planting orchids on the trunk of a tree that acts as a support is very simple. Follow these instructions and you will see that it is not something complicated.

1. Prepare some mesh cuttings: these will be responsible for keeping the plant fixed to the support until its roots take hold.
2. Fill the sachets with some substrate: this way, the orchid will have a source of food until it is firmly established.
3. Secure the orchid to the trunk with the substrate mesh: over time, the roots of the orchid will grip themselves to its supporting trunk, and you can remove the mesh without any danger.

Here you can find some Tips for growing orchids in trees .

Orchids should be transplanted roughly every 2-3 years , but the plant does give us some signals when it needs a container change. If the roots are dying due to lack of space , the plant is too big for its pot, or the leaves closest to the substrate have dried or wilted, it means that the orchid needs a transplant .

In this other article you can learn more about when and how to transplant an orchid .

If you want to read more articles similar to How to plant orchids , we recommend that you enter our category of Growing and caring for plants .