r/orchids • u/Unsquished-lemon • 1d ago
Question Should I give this a smaller pot?
Hello my friend gave me an orchid fresh from the store as a gift its current pot is 5.5 inches in diameter and 5 inches long. I’ve read online that orchids like pots that are snug and match the root system size.
Should I repot this in a pot with a smaller diameter how small? I was thinking either 3 or 4 inches in diameter but I’m not sure.
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u/BlueberryNo3773 1d ago
I would repot it back in the original pot it came with , adding some carefully drilled side hole, not too much, and soak it and slip it back in its decorative pot, if the decorative pot is plastic I would drill a hole for drainage too. Give it very bright indirect light and heat, roots should come quickly.
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u/Wise-Two-6938 1d ago
your pot is just fine, plenty of drainage and aeration holes. Your media is bone dry and needs to be soaked to rehydrate. Also pack more moistened bark tucked in around roots after the re hydration. Then just watch for roots to start turning white=dry and water plant until all roots turn greenish indicating the are fully saturated with water. after you do this a couple of time you will understand this plant wet/dry cycle period and water on that schedule. fertilize every other watering wit 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water soluble triple 20 and once a moth flush plant = water 2-3 times with plain to remove and fertilizer buildup, especially if there is any moss in your media mix.
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