What to Do When Orchid Roots Are Creeping out of the Pot

Problems with Overgrown Roots

• Orchid roots thrive when exposed to air, so creeping roots don't pose an immediate problem. However, when roots start to hang over the edges of their pots, they're probably crowding in their potting mixture, too. This crowding makes it difficult for an orchid to absorb all of the water and nutrients it needs.

Time for a New Pot

• To avoid overcrowded roots, decomposing potting materials and their subsequent problems for orchid health, repot your orchid every one to three years. Young orchids need repotting more often than mature orchids, because they grow rapidly. Though overgrown roots are an obvious indication that it's time to repot, you should also repot when the potting materials become soggy or orchid roots start to brown, which indicates that they are decomposing. Always use fresh potting mixture when you move orchids to new containers.

Repotting Your Orchid

• The safest time to repot an orchid is in late spring, just after the blooming period. Lay down newspapers, turn the orchid upside down and gently shake it free of its container and potting materials. Moisten the pot and use a kitchen knife to loosen roots if they cling to the sides of the pot. Trim away dead roots that are mushy or brown before placing the orchid in its new pot, gently packing potting material around the roots to secure it. You can use rhizome clips or twine to keep your orchid upright, if necessary. Eventually, the orchid roots will attach to the pot, at which point you can remove the securing devices.

Container Size

• Orchids prefer pots that secure them in place. In a sprawling container, they may focus on developing a larger root system instead of growing new foliage for a few months. Watch and measure your orchid's growth each year, so you can repot in a container that's just slightly bigger, or wider, than your orchid's last pot. Focus on the orchid's root mass rather than its upright growth when selecting a new pot.