A session of potting orchids was held at Key West Garden Club (KWGC) in June for the purpose of teaching the skill, as well as, completing the task of repotting the last of the garden's orchids.
There are many ways to pot orchids and growers have their own favorites, so don't be alarmed if one grower tells you one way and another tells you the opposite. If your plants are growing well, that is a sign that the plant likes the environment, so try to keep with what has worked well for you.
Orchids should be repotted when the medium has broken down or the plant has overgrown its' container. Also, if the container holds too much water and air is unable to circulate through the roots it is time to repot. It is best to repot after the plant blooms and before their summer grown starts, so that the new roots will grow into the new medium. Sympodial plants, like a cattleya, will grow right over and out the side of the pot.
Supplies were bought at MARC House Plant Store, at 812 Southard Street. Usually you can find Rochelle Eanarino or Gary Gethen working there. Both are experts in orchids and always willing to share their knowledge. In the winter months they hold classes on orchids, which Cherre' Marchak, KWGC Fort Co-chair, has attended.
The process of repotting a cattleya starting with getting the plant out of its old container. First sterilize your cutting tools with a hand held propane torch. Many already know what a good tool the torch is, as it can also be used to torch your crème brûlée! Use a flat knife to cut around the inside of the pot to free the roots. On some of the KWGC plants it was necessary to break the clay pot in order to get the plant out. If the plant has rot, it should be cut off and the wound dusted with cinnamon. Remember to torch your cutting tool after you cut out the rot and wash your hands. If there is scale, according to Florence Bousquet, President of the Key West Orchid Society, you can mix water:Formula 409:rubbing alcohol in the ratio of 4:1:1 and with a toothbrush remove the scale and push off the papery covering on the pseudobulbs.
Cherre' then demonstrated removing the old medium. Using her fingers, she removed all of the old medium, being very careful not to bump off any new growth. This was hard for the beginners, but everyone got the idea and took their time to get all the old medium removed. At this point you determine if you keep the plant whole, or divide it into two. The new pot should be big enough to allow the growth of two new bulbs. Cherre' placed the plant strategically in the pot so that the old growth was against the side of the pot, so that the new growth has room to grow. Then holding the plant with the rhizome about an inch below the rim, she placed the potting medium in the pot pushing it down around the roots until the medium was firm and holding the plant in place. Cherre's preferred medium is 40% fir bark, 40% aliflor and 20% charcoal. At this point she adds a teaspoon of Dynamite Fertilizer, which is in the red can and continuously feeds up to 9 months. She then tops the last 1/4 inch of the pot with wet sphagnum moss. Orchid pot clips were used to secure the plant. This is important so that the plant roots can take hold, otherwise the plant may wobble in the wind and weaken the roots. Many growers also secure the leaves with a stake and plastic wire that wraps around all the leaves, keeping them in place. The last step was replacing the tag which ID's the orchid.
Other sources of information on orchids:
Two books highly recommended are "Ortho's All About Orchids" by Ortho and Elvin McDonald, and "You Can Grow Orchids" by Mary Noble.
Key West Orchid Society is a great way to talk with local experts. Contact Judy McKemie at judyor@bellsouth.net
Martin Motes, a well known orchid grower in Homestead, provides month by month information for your orchid collection. Contact him at vandas@mindspring.com to get added to his mailing list.
Once our repotting session had ended the plants were hung back in the gazebo of the KWGC and all felt comforted to know they looked happy and ready to grow. We will be looking for their beautiful flowers.
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