Slip Potting

Slip potting is an easy way to move orchids to a larger pot without disturbing the roots. This is best not to do when they are blooming. This is more for orchids that have completely outgrown their pot and are soon to bloom.

Loosen the media, pull the orchid out gently from the bottom of their stems, add an inch or two of media at the bottom before the plant goes in, don’t disturb the roots or the old media and fill in the empty spots around the roots with new media.

This will allow your overgrown orchid to have more room, go on to bloom, and you can change the media after the bloom, if need be.

Slip potting has worked for me, even when they are in bloom but you have to be so careful that I would not advise it. You could lose all your blooms. I often have Cymbidiums that are growing out of the top of the pot because the roots are too crowded. So, I slip pot them and I do it quickly and gently. I try not to disturb them. They barely know it happened.

Just remember, when slip potting, you will be tempted to cut off dead roots, or pull off old media, don’t do it, unless you want to skip the blooming. Sometimes, it is necessary to use this method simply because the roots are growing out of the pot at the top and bottom. The pot barely holds media anymore because the roots have taken over. Just slip pot and put them back into their favorite spot and leave them alone.

Enjoy your orchid adventures!