How to Transplant Orchids From an Arrangement

Wait until all blooms fade and drop from the flower spike before you transplant your orchid to another container. Transplanting blooming orchids is unnecessary and might damage the lovely flowers.

Snip off the flower spike after all blooms are gone. Different orchids have different needs: for example, cut a phalaenopsis flower spike only part way to produce future flowers, but cut oncidium, dendrobium and cattleya spikes to the base of the plant.

Remove the orchid from its small plastic pot, taking care not to injure the roots. Hold it under lukewarm running tap water to wash off the old potting medium.

Moisten special orchid bark in your sink. Then place a small amount in a pot slightly larger than the current pot. Make sure it has a drainage hole. Then set your unpotted orchid plant into the pot and tuck more orchid bark around the roots, pressing down lightly with your fingertips to ensure the roots are well covered and the plant is secure.

Fill a plant saucer with small pebbles and then set your newly potted orchid on top. Water it until water runs out the drainage hole and fills the saucer. This helps to increase the humidity in the orchid's environment.

Keep your orchid in an area that has bright indirect light, a temperature in the 70s Fahrenheit and high humidity, such as a bathroom. Keep water in the saucer but allow the bark to dry slightly before you water your plant again.