Tips on Potting Epiphytal Orchids

Containers

• Epiphytal roots must have good drainage. Accustomed to life outside of the soil, epiphytal orchids rot when left in standing water. Select pots that have one or more drainage holes in the bottom to allow water to escape. Terra cotta pots provide good airflow around the roots. Plastic, metal and wood pots also provide suitable containers for epiphytal orchids. To use a decorative pot without a drainage hole, pot the orchid in a plastic pot with drainage that is slightly smaller. Slip the plastic pot into the decorative pot. Remove it to water, and leave it to drain completely.

Potting Medium

• Plant epiphytal orchids in soil-less planting material. Plant orchids in bark, coconut fiber, sphagnum moss, lava rock or cork. These materials support the roots while holding some moisture. Home and garden centers sell "orchid bark," commonly made from redwood bark or fir bark. The material holds up well and provides a healthy growing environment for epiphytal orchids. Regular garden soil and potting soil materials hold too much water to create a healthy growing environment for these tree-dwelling flowers.

Potting and Repotting

• When repotting an orchid or potting up a new one purchased at a nursery, select a container 1 inch larger than the current pot. Bark, peat moss, coconut husks, and other orchid-potting media break down over time and need to be replaced. Repot orchids every two to three years. Remove the epiphytal orchid from the container, and discard the old potting material. Spread fresh material over the bottom of the new pot, and position the orchid over it. Fill in around the roots with more fresh potting material.

Fertilizing and Watering

• In their natural environment, tree-dwelling epiphytal orchids absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. Orchid-potting materials hold moisture but do not provide nutrients. The University of Florida recommends using a fertilizer with a 1-1-1 ratio or a 3-1-1 ratio. Home-and-garden centers sell fertilizers specifically formulated for orchids. When watering, place the pot in a sink and pour water through it. Allow the water to drain. If you keep the pots on saucers to catch excess water, be sure to empty them regularly.