Can Orchids be too crowded in their pot? YES! Here's what to do about it!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

UPDATE! kzbin.infoR9aP7DbWabI

[@vanessawhitneypro]

Thanks, always. I started learning how to keep my orchids, with you, 2 years ago... I never knew how to care for them on any level until your videos... I'm pleased to say that I've now kept an orchid alive for 8 months! It's not gifted me with blossoms again, yet, but a NEW LEAF is growing... THANK YOU... I'm a plant LOVER & it means so much to keep it alive & watch it grow... Peace!

[@plips71755]

Just remember don’t go too big. Never more than 2 years growth and keep in mind phals don’t spread out like a orchid with rhizome and puesedobulb . And they seem to adapt better going from bark to sphagnum rather than sphagnum to bark. Also remember clear pots help you view the roots and when to water. I like to water phals just as the roots turn to greenish white/silver. But some phals like to go a bit drier and others like to stay moist ie darker green. You have to watch them. And after years of not knowing what was going on in the pot - I learned seeing those roots is good. I also believe they need ventilation than a solid pot. Yes solid pots prevent roots from growing out through the holes but is that really good. We are already taking a plant that likes to grow free and out into the open and we’re stuffing it into a pot that gives it no air no movement and can actually set up a anaerobic condition ie no air so it’s easy for bacteria and fungi to get started. Some people can do it especially those who don’t have time to pay attention. A nursery for example can manage like this but then they get plants in from a grower and they only keep it for a short time. We have all bought plants that the roots were in bad condition until we got them home got them re-potted and they had three or four months under their belts to develop new roots and start growing new leaves. Their expertise is in growing the plant to sale size and not having to worry about its long-term health and lifespan. But even many of them are going to inner pots that have air holes or raised bottoms with more airspace but then putting them in a pot a solid pot for decorative purposes. And much of taking care of orchids is your environment and time to care for them. I have grown phals well in bark in clay orchid pots.. but they had plenty of air holes and got watered a lot just because they were growing in with mounted cattleyas and Vandas and were exposed to more watering and humidity. Humidity is the key to orchids of any kind. In nature they can be in 70-80% but they have lots of breezes up in the trees. This is key factor, for example Vandas like fairly strong breezes but again their humidity is high especially in early evenings through early to mid mornings. As the sun comes out and up, the humidity will drop. We have all walked outside in mid summer in early morning like 5-6 am. And in minutes, you are dripping sweat. Our job in growing orchids, is to try to duplicate their native environment as much as possible. One way, is if you have a tiled bright bathroom with window over your shower or room to place a grow light in there, not usual and place a second shower rod in the middle of your shower/tub and hang plants (there are all kinds of hangers and if your pot is plastic you can use a wood burning tool to place holes in the sides so you can use that type of hanger,or the clip on types). And place a humidifier in there to raise the humidity to around 60% and put a small clip on fan to keep the air moving and close the door. Without a fan to keep the leaves or plant moving a bit, I wouldn’t go above 60-65%. If it’s a second bathroom and has bright light a phal could do well in there until it blooms. I would also close the heating vent in there. Always put orchids outside in the summer under shade cloth 50-70% if you can, depends on how long you get sun, from what direction, anything blocking the light, etc. They will appreciate the 80-85 degrees. Without enough light inside their leaves will become elongated.

[@jlp4111]

I have a grocery store white Phalaenopsis that kept growing taller and taller (long neck with leaves way up in the air) and had lots of air roots. I ended up repotting it into a pond plant pot (couldn’t find an orchid pot big enough at that time) and chopped off the bottom half to even make it fit. 😬 It still had a bunch of air roots and it has bloomed a few times since. Without much knowledge on orchids, I’ve been able to keep it alive for 10-15 yrs. Learning lots from you so I can now properly care for it and 2 others. Thanks!

[@elbeem20001]

My Phal just ended its blooming stage. The roots actually broke thru the plastic pot (5") - nuff said, I was forced to repot in a larger pot (7"). Thankfully, most of the roots were fine and healthy (only had to cut out two brown ones). It is now working on taking hold in its new home, so much so, it has sprouted a new leaf.

[@filtersplz9319]

Your vids have encouraged me to do more with orchids with more confidence. Thank you

[@robyn3349]

Thank you! I am about to repot for the first time! I have learned much from you (hopefully enough!)

[@nancyedgerton6291]

I am with you in saving the pot, for all the reasons that you expressed!

[@aliciadiazdevivar4313]

I had to repot a phal with big roots that were attached to a clay pot. I watched your videos Danni and was able to save all the roots soaking them first and patiently detach them from the pot. Of course I had to break the pot. I decided to mount the pal because it’s pretty big and I grow my orchids outside in sunny Florida ☀️ It’s growing beautiful with one new leaf and new roots. 😊

[@charleskissack2321]

How do you grow outside?

[@TALONORY]

Good info, thanks for your help, my orchids will be happy again.

[@bradleydowning4655]

I like that you repeat "in my/this environment." Every climate will tell you how to repot for its needs, and less watering. My keys: good light, quality potting mix, and consistent water.

[@MiyaJadecube]

Sooooo grateful for your channel that I just discovered! I've had my store bought white Phal for a little over 2 years now, repotted once with a lower quality mix, not really knowing how to care for orchids. While I'm happy I've kept this little one alive for so long I finally moved to a more stable environment where I can really look after my plants! She just went into her dormant state & is ready for a new repot with fresh (quality) mix...She is such a rooty bloom, I was afraid she was hating her life 😢, but your vid taught me she actually just needs a fresh mix & better pot to air her out in & she's one of those lovely gals that loves to get a little root crazy! It's so funny how attached we get to them after a while! I hope to have her blooming for many years to come! xoxo

[@scottfontaine3798]

Thank you Danny for another great video. I got my first orchids back in January of this year and now I have 8 orchids (plus I started buying ferns, pothos plants and Peperomia plants). I have learned so much from watching your videos on orchids. Thank you 🙏.

[@jessh9988]

As a beginner in the orchid hobby Danny I just can't tell you how much you helped me! I killed a few in the beginning but the longer I try the better they are doing and I've mostly used you as a go to resource to figure out what I'm doing wrong and how to fix it. Phals were hardest for me actually for whatever reason but I think I realized it was only the mini phals I had problems with. Recently I even helped one fight through fusarium and she is growing roots and leaves again. Now i have a Cattleya, an oncidium, 1 big den-phal, a Paph and a few phals!!! They are doing great!Thank you for all your helpful videos!

[@JP-ve7or]

Ooh good, I'm glad I can just cut the roots. A while back I broke down and bought some fancy plastic pots online even though I had environmental concerns. Roots have been squeezing through the slots lately and I've been dreading repotting.

[@RIM0622ricothecat]

Thank you for all this valuable information!

[@jillherbold9917]

Thank you so much for all your helpful tips. I started following your suggestions about a year ago and my orchids have been transformed. I never knew about repotting and changing the medium or the correct way to water the orchids. Thanks again!

[@miaace5070]

I’m so tempted to either purchase a huge piece of driftwood and place my Orchid within or around it and let it have at it. 😂 I am a beginner my son gave me my first orchid last Mother’s Day and I love it. I definitely have to repot it I know this, I ended up cutting the flower stem all the way down and cleaned up old rotten roots. I have yet to see anything remotely looking like a flower sprout but that’s ok, but my goodness there are all these roots growing everywhere all in all it’s seems very happy. Thank you for this video. ❤

[@davesmith5270]

Thank you for the video! I have a small Kiki that went wild with roots and is in a large pot. It is nice to know that if I have to, I can cut the roots. On another note, I bought a plant from a big box store; repotted it out of the sphagnum moss and trimmed the dead roots when I got it home. It did not like the Phalaenopsis media my other plants are in and it dropped all of the blossoms. This year I put it back in the Sphagnum moss and it is doing better. It seems as though I have a moody plant. Maybe it will blossom again next year.

[@leahnichol6665]

Thank you for your update which lead me to this video. I recently subscribed to your channel and am hoping to improve my phal’s care. I would prefer to cut the pot from the orchid, but in this case I don’t want to. I have it potted in a glazed ceramic orchid pot and the roots are growing out of the holes. I will be cutting the roots to save the pot. I feel reassured that the plant will make it all right now. ❤

[@Loveofpets]

Thank you so much. Some of my orchids are overflowing with roots and wasn't sure if it was okay or to repot them. I love your channel and have learned so much from it.

[@jenresnik5547]

Love your videos, am learning a lot from them, thanks so much 😊

[@billymacaraeg7761]

how I prefer to do over crowded orchid pot is to cut the pot 😁😁, and what I actually do with the cut transparent pot is to repair it hehe, since I use decorative pots, I can reuse transparent pots with other smaller orchids, thanks MOG 😍

[@alonsosolorzano3]

Very good video, thank you, im learning a ton from you!

[@Formula400Pontiac]

I always cuts away roots shooting of into air. I believe it preserves energy for the plant and looks more tidy. When i repot i always save my pots. Roots going trough went holes in pot will always be damaged so i feel no need to try saving them. I flush cut all roots sticking out of the pot and then massage pot to loosen the roots. Then i rather heavy handedly cut back main root stock. The oldest part of the main root stock will never produce new healthy roots so i just cat this back as i see needed for fitting the phall back into the same pot. Goal is to make the phall sit at a lower level in the pot so that new roots goes into the bark medium. Never had any cases of wilting or dying. Good practice is to do this operation during dormancy (mid winter)

[@davchow8124]

Great visual demonstration. Thank you for sharing. 👍 Have a good week. 🙏🙏🙏

[@mrsyukoncornelius1732]

Thank you so much! Your videos are very helpful! I have two orchids, I know very little about them except what I have watched from your videos which have been very helpful! I need to repot both my orchids desperately I just haven’t done it, procrastination. One orchid was given to me from a florist shop where my daughter worked, they were going to throw it away. I have had it for two years but it has not bloomed but looks good and has good roots but needs to be re-potted.

[@8machines62]

I did not know you could use moss on the bottom. Thank you.

[@milavap959]

Thank you for this video. It may answer my needs.

[@AmyLouise_Deadgirl096]

Thank u so much . This answered a question i was struggling with rn . The first orchid I bought has gotten really big and im running out of space to keep upping the pot size 🖤

[@danielsalt363]

Love your vids, orchids is my latest passion 🥰

[@mimosveta]

I once found two orchids dumped in the street. It was raining, so they were all smutty and sad. One had burned leaf, actually, it still does, and both had multiple spent bloom branches. I picked em up and brought them home, and obviously, I had to repot them right away, to see what's the damage. They both had exquisite roots but one of them had so many god damned roots, it took me forever to pull it out of it's pot. actually, that was the one with burned leaf. I had to go and buy a new pot, and it had to be one as big as a bucket. It also has a bloom stalk, but hasn't bloom yet, it's been like that for months now, not sure if I'm just watering them too rarely so they avoid blooming... I think I do it like once a month...

[@Fabdanc]

I just had a nightmare re-potting of a cattleya. I neglected it and it cemented itself into a small ceramic pot... Ended up having to smash the pot and cutting tons of roots to extricate the poor thing. I did wait until I had a new growth putting out its own roots before mutilating the old roots. Def set it back, and it was a very reliable bloomer... but the medium was rotting and the orchid will be better off in the long run!

[@juliearanha4373]

Thanks for Sharing this. I have a phal that's going crazy with ariel roots. Is over a year n a half now so I might just try repotting it using ur tips for the same.

[@kathleentucker9085]

You are my go-to source for all things orchid. Thank you!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

You are so welcome 🧡

[@Levkin]

Have quite a few phals needing repotting once they’re done with blooming. One of them has quite a few roots popping out, so looks like might need to use the pot cutting technique :)

[@pixie2488]

Hi Dany I love your videos and I am sure in last 3 years I watched allll of them from the first day you started doing videos. I start this hobby with you. And we are in exactly same climate because I am living in North Cyprus. So it’s other side of same oven 😁 I appreciate of all your videos and sharing knowledge about orchids 🙏 I started with phals and in the end I also fall in love with catasetinaes trying to collect them but it’s really difficult to get them here. Anyway I manage to get few of them from Turkey but I am still working on it. Maybe if I can manage to grow them One day I can even share with you by sending with taxi who knows 😊 Anyway long story short thanks for all your videos and I like the combination with your shirt and orchids leaf’s with dots 😊 ♥️

[@Poodlepaws44]

Hi MOG (or anyone willing to answer this question)! I have been watching your videos. They are so extremely helpful and I wanted to thank you for offering all of this educational content on KZbin. Gardening is a fairly new passion for me and Orchids are becoming a big part of that. In the last 2 months I have purchased 5 Phalenopsis orchids and one orange kiss Oncidium. Generally they all seem very healthy, but I am wondering if you would recommend reporting every new store-bought orchid? I really want to enjoy the blooms on these gorgeous flowers, but the oncidium orchid specifically cost almost $40 and I would like to protect the long term health of my plant and my investment more. But because most of them seem healthy and comfortably potted I am unsure if I should make repotting them before they are done blooming a priority. The Oncidium does seem to be a little cramped in it's pot and it seems slow to rehydrate the pseudobulbs (I just got it yesterday, watered it thoroughly and it's still quite wrinkled). I am concerned there may not be enough potting media to hold enough moisture for it to rehydrate. But it is also so profuse with flower blooms and long green leaves that besides the bulb wrinkling it seems healthy. I'm not sure what to do. But as I said, I'd like to keep my plants healthy and alive for as long as possible. Should I go ahead and repot them or is it okay to wait until the blooming is done or they start showing more overt signs of needing a new pot?

[@Anna-BoBanna]

I usually wait until after a new orchid has finished blooming before repotting, however I am concerned about the health of the orchid then I will repot it before it finishes blooming. If you are able to do it without damaging the roots much, it will likely continue blooming as if nothing has happened.

[@MavericksGoosed]

I have one that i took out of its pot to repot (after watching your videos) i have never repotted any of mine and some are nearly 10yrs old!! Well this one in particular has roots that look like a giant spring coil. It's ridiculous. i have no idea how to deal with that. I can't pull them apart. tried soaking. Nothing helps. It does have about a dozen roots above this gnarly mess. I've been tempted to just cut off the coil and start fresh with the new roots but terrified it will harm the plant. Any advice??

[@SoCalRegisteredNurse]

I have a large phal in sphagnum moss that has branched into three orchids and I’m afraid to split them up. New roots and leaves keep sprouting up, which is good, but three orchids in one pot? I’m scared

[@KAMJKJ]

Danny can u use charcoal instead of bark it is non biodegradable and it can host a colony of spring tail and not change the pH in years when we give a thorough wash

[@joanp105]

What can I do when a Phal has huge numbers of roots and is growing out of the pot, but they are growing UP. How shall I repost this one? Never had one climbing out of its pot all vertically. Cannot get them into a pot.

[@marciasilviajohnson6461]

I got spaghun moss from the nursery near my home and it is on a plastic bag and is wetter and I little green . Can I use that for repotting my orchid? 🤗

[@tajr.2650]

Too wet of a medium. Mix with majority of bark.

[@donnatynes672]

I live where it's very very hot during the summer . Is it OK to use combination moss and bark or should I just use moss.. Thank you very much love your videos. Thank you for using repotme. love their stuff.

[@elizabethmolnar4643]

Thank you... what does it mean when there are "dew srops" by flowers?

[@selenajg2676]

I have been told that is ‘happy sap’. It indicates that the orchid is in ideal conditions

[@michellepuccetti8852]

Can the aerial roots be trimmed?

[@theresetorres197]

This is about a vanda which isn't doing much of anything but trying to die. I tried potting and now it's in air. What am I doing wrong? Your vandas look fantastic. Please help!!!!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, I can't tell, but in the description I have a Vanda tutorial for beginners, check it out maybe it will help :)

[@conniecade2686]

How often do you change sphagnum moss?

[@traciejones3375]

I had read yearly but she's saying 2 years for what she's using

[@cindyhuntschaeffer8118]

I need help in potting a baby orchid that grew straight up and has 3 leaves atop an 8 inch green straight stem. It has a lot of arial roots. Thanks

[@angelicawilliams5288]

Thanks for sharing, I love love orchids but they don't last that long they start to die 😣

[@Jennifer-qo4kz]

Wondering if the roots will dry out and then die?

[@diabeticketorewind1342]

Can this be done with flowers and stems on the plant and why do leaves split down the middle?

[@heatherdbcooper]

I think the word you're looking for is "maladaptation", for why aerial roots shouldn't be potted 🙂

[@otisschroeder9790]

I have a feeling I already know the answer to this, but you cut away the roots (and not the pot) of sensitive Cattleya roots as well? I don’t want to waste the repotme pots as they are not cheap and of course I wanna reuse the plastic, but I don’t want to set-back my cattleyas. The amount of roots growing out of the slits on some of them is crazy!!

[@jadaleelee3580]

Hi… I am leaving this root question here hoping for a response. I want to know if the color (usually brownish red) on the tips of aerial roots normal or is it an indication of over watering? Thank you.

[@5877user]

Well, then, why is it that when we go to orchid shows where they sell tons of live orchids, they all seem to be in 4” pots, in full bloom with their roots hanging over and even coming through the bottom as if the orchid has been in that container a long time and yet they look healthy and in full bloom???? Perhaps as amateur orchid growers we worry about repotting too much.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Well making money through selling orhids has a funny way of making one not care much about how the amateur grower will handle the orchid and how easy it will be to maintain. All growers have their preffered ways anyway, no need for sellers to bother, not efficient to try and please all buyers anyway, it's impossible to find one single perfect way for everyone. Making money off of care tutorials has a funny way of making one not care about how sellers care for their merchandise, but rather how easy it will be for the amateur long term to care for the orchid. Seller makes money on the spot, youtuber makes money through good advice that makes people trust them. And I think there lies the answer 😊

[@florenceramirez6229]

If there is no flower stem will an orchid ever bloom again? I have an orchid that was doing very well and then the stem went yellow and dead. Will it ever bloom again??

[@Dylan-ok6ft]

Yes, most orchids bloom seasonally. If it’s a Phalaenopsis, most bloom in the Spring. You’ll need to keep it cooler and drier during the winter in order to trigger Spring blooms. Specifically, stop fertilizing at the end of Nov or beginning of Dec and water less frequently through Feb. Winter nights between 55 - 60F are necessary to induce spike buds.

[@charlomarahmed3238]

Yes, it will develop a new flower spike when temperatures drop at night. Before that happens, the orchid has to grow new leaves

[@watson4869]

Wish I could keep the roots. I’m doing things wrong

[@sogolboujaran1091]

So is it ok to just leave it in the small plastic pot? My pot has gotten so tight that it feels like it’s gonna blow up 😅.

[@freaflier1970]

sounded like you was speaking from experience about not being able to find a pot in your home town having to order and pay extra for delivery ect. ect...

[@raydodson5728]

I thought you used a bark mixture on your orchids. Also I thought spagmoss would be to wet . Help me understand please!

[@traciejones3375]

She has a video on it. She's using moss with a top layer of bark to keep algae down

[@danielb3573]

You do you.

[@ritatheviolinist]

The ID of this orchid please! Beautiful leaves!!

[@danaabadal1707]

def save

[@emilydurkee8664]

I tried to push a root back into the drainage hole, i broke the plastic pot and the root 😅😭

[@ancientorchids]

7:41 one of the many reasons why I love you 🏳️‍🌈

[@bunnyridge_6120]

And use deli containers as pots!

[@cindyhuntschaeffer8118]

I prefer to save the pot also.

[@manueldelavega2807]

Doesn’t the miss retain too much water?

[@geneauger]

What is your environment?

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@sueyous]

💖💖

[@christinezeiler]

Why did you not plant it back into bark totally?

[@txpepper]

Danny is changing all of her phals to sphagnum moss as it helps with her watering schedule. Her growing environment is very dry and she needs the extra water retention properties that sphagnum provides. Additionally, it wicks up water into the pot based on her watering technique.