Orchid transplant after purchase: is it necessary for a plant brought from the store, when and how to properly conduct at home, as well as subsequent care

Each flower is beautiful in its own way.

One of the most striking and exotic representatives of the flower world is, of course, an orchid. It attracts us with its fabulous shapes and incredible colors of petals. However, this plant, being from the tropics, requires particularly careful care.

After the purchase, many questions arise. What soil does this gentle creature prefer? How to transplant? How much to water? At what temperature is the orchid comfortable?

We will answer these and other questions in this article.

Differences in the content in the store and at home

Differences in the content in the store and at home. When buying an orchid, you should remember that in the store it is in comfortable conditions. The optimum temperature is maintained, a certain humidity of the air, the plant is in the right proximity to the sun. Orchid is a moody plant that requires special care and attention.Therefore, having acquired this flower, it is necessary to create conditions that are as similar as possible to those in which it was in the store. At the very least, you must comply with these conditions the first couple of days after purchase, so to speak, adapt the plant to your home conditions.

Do I need a transplant just purchased?

This question is asked by all beginner growers. Buying a flower, you get it in a plain pot and therefore the desire to transplant into a more aesthetic dish is quite understandable. However, is it worth risking the beauty of a flower and its longevity for the sake of aesthetics?

It should be noted that the best time to buy an orchid is spring. It is at this time of year that the flowering period ends at the flower vegetative period begins. The main reason for transplanting is the moment when the orchid becomes crowded in an old pot, or rather, it begins to grow.

Important! Do not miss the moment when your pet starts to grow, otherwise it will be very difficult to separate the overgrown roots, by the way, an incorrect and untimely transplant can lead to injury and even death of the flower.

Details about how to save the roots of an orchid during transplantation and whether it is possible to prune them, we told here.

It should also be noted that put a pot with an orchid is necessary at a decent distance from other plantsotherwise the overgrown beauty will feel uncomfortable and interfere with other flowers. Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that if the flower feels comfortable in the purchased pot, then it should not be transplanted immediately. Let her adapt to the conditions of your home.

Why is this important for a plant?

It should be noted that an orchid transplant is still necessary. Consider the direct causes of transplantation:

The first reason is the soil. Often, the soil used by flower warehouses and shops consists of peat with various additives. By this, it does not resemble the soil, which is necessary for prolonged use.
It should also be remembered that in the industrial environment of orchid cultivation, watering is automated, it is arranged and verified taking into account the size of the orchid, the pot in which the flower grows. At home, this substrate is excessively moisture-resistant and creates difficulties for care.
It should also be remembered that before getting into the home, the flower wanders from warehouse to warehouse, and then to the store. Many wholesalers and sellers, to artificially extend the life of a flower, use frequent watering and flower processing. Orchid is a very delicate flower and such excessive watering can lead to the death of the roots.
This is explained by the fact that the roots of the flower are very susceptible to excess moisture and can simply die. Inexperienced flower growers do not immediately transplant a flower, because it continues to delight the eye with its beauty, and at the time of transplantation, they may notice that there are partially dead roots. But at the same time, the orchid has a viable appearance and blooms (about whether it is possible to transplant an orchid if it blooms, read here).
We must not forget that often an orchid is grown in a small pot, which is filled with sphagnum moss, before being sold. When transplanted into a large pot, sometimes this moss is not removed. Therefore, it is important to remove the moss immediately after purchase, and fill the vacant space with a suitable substrate.

When is it better to relocate a flower?

The most productive and suitable time for an orchid transplant is spring. (Is it possible to transplant an orchid in the fall?). It is during this period that the flower enters the vegetative phase.

The main causes of orchid transplantation:

the soil has decomposed (it is easy to notice, after watering, the soil remains wet for a long time, more than a week);
the root system of the orchid is affected (blackened roots, spots on the roots or a completely dried root system will testify to this);
Orchid leaves began to turn yellow, but do not confuse yellowing with the natural process of leaf death.

Details about when it is better to transplant an orchid at home, read here.

Features of the selection of pot and soil

If the beautiful orchid feels comfortable in the pot in which you bought it, then you should not disturb her; You still have time to transplant the plant. If the orchid begins to grow and becomes cramped in the old bowl, then, naturally, it is better to transplant it into a more suitable pot. However, remember that it is advisable to transplant into the substrate in which you bought it, or similar (about how and in which soil you can transplant an orchid, read here).

If when buying an orchid was planted in sphagnum moss, then a transplant is necessary.

Step-by-step instructions on how to properly transplant

First of all, it is necessary to prepare tools for transplantation:
- new plastic pot;
- the substrate in which it is planned to grow a flower;
- sharp scissors or a professional pruner (the latter is preferred);
- activated or charcoal, cinnamon;
- fungicide (used if dark spots or signs of decay have been noticed).
The next stage is watering. Watering an orchid is necessary in order to separate the old soil from the roots.
Next, you need to remove the flower from the pot, for this it is recommended to slightly squeeze the pot on both sides.
If root sprouting through holes is observed, then carefully cut the pot so as not to damage the flower.
After extracting the flower, you need to carefully remove pieces of old soil from the roots.
Next, cut off all dry, rotten, black roots. Healthy roots should be green and hard to the touch.
If, after removing the dead roots, a large number of healthy roots are observed and they do not fit in the pot, then it is necessary to take the pot 2 cm more in diameter.
Important! In any case, the pot should be a little cramped, this is the key to the successful growth of orchids, since in a close pot the soil dries faster and does not cake.
Next, you need to cut off all the dry parts at the root of the flower’s neck (leaf flakes, parts of dried soil).
Then you need to carefully examine the stem of the orchid and if there are black spots, you need to cut this place to an intact green fabric.
After trimming, all places of the slices should be treated with powdered charcoal or cinnamon (with one thing). However, if there are a lot of sections, this indicates that there were a lot of rotten marks and roots. In this case, coal and cinnamon will not particularly help. In this case, fungicides (chemical agents to combat plant diseases) should be used.
After processing, the orchid should be left to dry for several hours.
After drying, you can start a direct transplant. To do this, take a transparent pot, make drainage holes in it.
After that, place the flower in the middle of the pot, but so that the roots are around the walls of the pot.
Next, holding the orchid by the root neck, you should fill the pot with soil.
After this, you need to knock on the walls so that the soil donkey and evenly fill the entire container with a flower.

Learn tips from experienced gardeners on how to transplant an orchid into another pot here.

Problems and struggle with them

Orchid - a very delicate flower, may even die due to improper care. It is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the plant after transplantation. For example, small cracks, cuts, and sores on the roots can occur. In this case, you can not water the orchid itself for 5-7 days. In extreme cases, you can spray the topsoil, but not the flower itself. Spraying should be done once a day in the morning.

Read more about what problems may arise after transplantation and how to deal with them, read here.

Aftercare at home

Transplanting a plant after purchase is, as they say, only half the question; it is important to know how to care for it after that.

First of all, it is necessary to observe the correct temperature regime. For orchids, this is daytime no more than 24 degrees, and nighttime - no more than 16.
Watering the plant should be carried out as the soil dries, the main thing is not to overdo it, since the orchid is not a particularly moisture-loving flower.
It is also recommended to keep the flower away from heaters and batteries.
Orchid does not really like direct sunlight, so you should provide diffused lighting for the flower, shade it with a matte film or block it with a thick curtain. This is extremely important, as a delicate flower can get leaf burns, especially in the summer.
You should also use a special dressing for orchids, but you also need to be careful with it, not to overdo it.
A pot with an orchid needs to be placed far from other plants, since the beauty can grow. And in general, she loves space. However, do not rearrange the container with the flower too often.

Orchid is certainly one of the most beautiful flowers, and will always delight the eye with its flowering. However, for this it is necessary to observe simple rules for the maintenance and care of it.