BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Divide Orchids

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Orchids are popular, beautiful flowers that you can divide in the latter stages of their lives to ensure that you continue to enjoy these perennials as part of your garden. However, they can be delicate and finicky, so you should avoid re-potting or dividing orchids unless it's necessary for the plant's long-term growth and survival.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

10-20-10 fertilizer
Enriched soil
Spade or shovel
Cutting tool
Watering can

Step1

Evaluate the condition of your orchids. If they are showing signs of aging, or if they're encumbered by overgrowth on the flower tops or a tangled mass of roots, it's time to divide. Otherwise, keep the flowers in their original pots or their usual places in your garden.

Step2

Dig the orchid out of the ground, allowing ample room around the edges of the plant to ensure you don't damage the root system as you burrow. If you want to divide potted orchids, simply scoop the soil out of the pot until you're left only with the plant and its roots.

Step3

Use a sterilized cutting tool to slice away any rotted or dead roots.

Step4

Divide the healthy root clusters into several new root divisions, ensuring that several young, newly formed root shoots are part of each division you make. If you want to divide sympodial orchids (which feature what are known as "pseudobulbs" in their roots), make sure that each division has at least three pseudobulbs attached to it.

Step5

Transfer the new root divisions into new pots or new plots of ground. You should plan to plant each division several inches below the surface of the soil, and make sure you allow plenty of room on all sides of the roots if you're planting them in your garden. The last thing you want to do is crowd the roots and inhibit their future spread and growth.

Step6

Use enriched soil and some fertilizer to encourage the healthy growth of your new plants. Experts recommend about 10 grams of 10-20-10 fertilizer for every gallon of enriched soil you use.

Step7

Care for your new plants by watering them generously for the first several days after re-potting or replanting. Newly divided plants require considerably more water than healthy, established plants do.

Tips & Warnings

Expect that you'll have to divide your orchids every two to three years.
If you divide an orchid before it's mature enough, you will probably wind up with several weak plants. It's better to wait than rush, and it's better to have one strong orchid than a bunch of frail ones.