The following is a list of my golden rules.....
.....it is a list that I will add to and change as needed. I'm still learning about orchid growing and as I venture and make mistakes, I'll look to these rules to help me decide how to grow in my environment in semi-hydroponics.
Rules #1:
Repot every new orchid immediately.
This is for good reason. First off, one can never tell what the root system of a prospective plant will look like until you actually get in there and take a look during the repotting process. Many plants will have been suffering due to improper packing or watering, and there is no telling what kind of pests may be lurking underneath. Better safe than sorry. Since I am taking a plant from a nursery/flower shop to my home, which has a completely different environment, the orchid will undergo some amount of stress. I figure its easier on the orchid to repot immediately and put her in her new home so she can acclimatize herself that much faster than to prolong the process by waiting to repot. This shortens the duration in which the orchid is stressed.
Rule #2:
Only repot orchids that show signs of active root growth or will be entering its active growing stage.
Learned this the hard way. By only purchasing individuals who are in this stage of their growth can I be assured that the orchid will undergo a minimal amount of stress after repotting. They will be in the root growing stage which means that all new roots produced will be adapted to semi-hydro medium. This will help support the plant as the roots undergo stress from the new environment and the old root system dies off. Their natural cycle of growth will be preserved and the orchid will become established faster. Some old roots may adapt to the change of medium, depending of the species of orchid and genetics of the individual, but for the most part there will be some decomposition.
Rules #3:
Sanitize and Never Share
Infections can spread easily in a collection with orchids grouped together to share light and space. Its important to exercise proper sanitation procedures and to disinfect all plants, instruments, and containers. Water should never be shared and the plants should never be in situation where water go from one plant to another.
