In general, you should avoid repotting an orchid until after the blooms fall. However, if you suspect root rot, you must repot the plant right away in order to keep it alive. Sometimes orchids are potted in a thin plastic container that does have drainage holes, then this container is placed inside a decorative pot without drainage. In that case, you can just remove the plastic container and leave the orchid there until you’d normally repot it. If your orchid is already in a pot with good drainage and it’s still developed root rot, you may be overwatering it. If that’s not the problem, the potting medium may be too old. In that case, do a full re-potting with new soil.
Choosing a smaller container will also allow you to retain as much of the existing soil as possible, which will help avoid shocking the plant. Clay pots are ideal for orchids because they’re porous. This helps the soil dry out faster, which can help prevent root rot. If you’re re-using a container, soak it for about 2 hours in a mixture of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. This will kill any bacteria or fungi that could contaminate your plant. Let the container dry for about 2 days before you use it so the chlorine can completely dissipate.
If the plant won’t come out of its container easily, try soaking the entire container in water for about 5 minutes to soften the roots. If you’re still having trouble removing the orchid, you may need to break the pot.
If the new pot is deeper than the old one, add packing peanuts or a specialized orchid potting medium to the bottom of the pot before you transfer your plant.
There’s a chance that transferring your orchid will cause the existing blooms to fall off. It doesn’t mean there’s necessarily anything wrong if that happens—it’s likely just the shock from being transferred. However, if the signs of root rot continue, you’ll need to completely re-pot the plant. Orchids thrive best if their potting medium is changed about every 2 years. Even if you drop pot your plant, you should still re-pot it when you normally would. [6] X Trustworthy Source Missouri Botanical Garden Oldest botanical garden in the U. S. and center for botanical research and science education Go to source
Try to save any leaves that don’t seem affected. Unfortunately, if all of the leaves have rotted or fallen off of your orchid, you may not be able to save the plant. If the majority of the roots are rotted, you may need to cut off the bloom, as well, since the plant won’t be able to support the flower. [8] X Research source
If the roots have outgrown the planter, it might be difficult to remove the plant. Try soaking the container in water for about 5 minutes to see if that helps loosen it. If it doesn’t, you may have to break the planter to get the orchid out.
You can tell a root is dead if it’s blackened, mushy, wiry, or hollow. Live roots will be firm and white. If you have to cut away all of the roots from the plant, it may not survive. However, it definitely won’t survive if you leave the rotted tissue, so this will give it the best chance of recovering. If you see any black mold on the healthy roots, wipe it away with a cotton swab. [11] X Research source
Some gardeners prefer dipping the cut roots in cinnamon to disinfect them. [13] X Trustworthy Source Missouri Botanical Garden Oldest botanical garden in the U. S. and center for botanical research and science education Go to source
Choose a potting medium designed for orchids, like a combination of bark, coconut husks, perlite, or sphagnum moss. These will allow for plenty of air flow around the roots, which will help prevent root rot in the future. [15] X Research source Opt for the smallest pot that your orchid will fit into, since orchids prefer to be somewhat constricted. It’s best to use a new pot for this—the old one might have bacteria or fungus that could recontaminate the plant. You can disinfect the old planter with a mixture of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water, but it needs to air out for about 2 days before you can use it again.
It may take a while before you see any signs of recovery in your plant. Just be patient and keep caring for it the way you normally would.
You can also insert the tip of a sharpened pencil into the pot. If the potting medium is moist, the tip of the pencil will look dark when you pull it out. [18] X Research source Over time, you may be able to tell when it’s time to water your orchid by how heavy the plant feels when you pick it up. The drier the soil, the lighter the container will be.
If you water the plant first thing in the morning, it will have all day to dry out. If you water it at night, the moisture will stay in the plant overnight, making it more susceptible to root rot. [20] X Trustworthy Source Missouri Botanical Garden Oldest botanical garden in the U. S. and center for botanical research and science education Go to source
Crown rot is basically the same thing as root rot, but it primarily affects the leaves and stem of the plant, rather than the roots. If water does get onto the leaves, gently blot them dry with a paper towel. [22] X Research source Some people mist their orchids to create a more humid environment. If you do this, mist the air around the orchid, but don’t spray water directly onto the plant. [23] X Research source
Water your plant in the sink or somewhere else the water can drain freely, like outdoors.
Your home’s regular air conditioning may be plenty, but if you need to, you can open a window or place a fan near your orchid to keep the air circulating. Good circulation will help prevent crown rot, as well. This is similar to root rot, but it primarily affects the leaves and stem of the plant. [26] X Research source
Typically, you’ll know it’s time to repot your orchid when it becomes crowded in the pot or when the potting medium starts to decompose. However, some people prefer to repot them every year after the blooms fall off. [28] X Research source Always choose a potting mix designed for orchids. These typically contain a mixture of sphagnum moss, perlite, coconut husks, or bark—the larger pieces allow plenty of air to circulate around the roots. Trim away any dead or damaged roots each time you repot your orchid.
