How to Care for Italian Orchid

Recognize the signs that the plant needs to be repotted. Like most potted plants, if conditions are right, the orchid will grow so large that it makes the pot it’s growing cramped. When your peace lily is too big for its pot, you may find that it requires more frequent watering, and/or leaves turn yellow for no apparent reason. You can also see the roots of the tree entwined in the ground. Generally, peace lilies need to be repotted every 1-2 years, so if that’s the time and you’re noticing the above symptoms, your peace lily may be in need of a repotting.

Use an appropriately sized pot. When repotting plants, of course you need a larger pot than the one you are using so that your plant has more space for its roots to spread and grow well. Use a pot that is about 5cm larger in diameter than the old pot – a slightly larger pot will give the plant enough room to grow for many years. In general, orchids don’t need pots larger than 25cm in diameter, so if your pot is larger than this and the plant is still showing symptoms, the problem may lie elsewhere. ^[4] [Image:Care for Peace Lilies Step 7 Version 3.jpg|center]]

• Pots made from almost any material will work – ceramic, plastic and clay are fine.
• Make sure the pot has one or more drainage holes in the bottom. It is essential that the pot be able to drain, otherwise your peace lily is at risk of root rot.

Use the right potting mix. As mentioned above, orchid is native to tropical rainforests. Their typical growth zone is under thick, multi-layered foliage and is therefore almost surrounded by decaying vegetation. When choosing a soil for growing lily of the valley, choose one with this characteristic. Use a peat-based potting soil that contains bark compost along with sand or perlite. Ideally, the soil should be light and porous (for good drainage), odorless or low in odor. ^[5] [[[Image:Care for Peace Lilies Step 8 Version 3.jpg|center]]]

Transfer your peace lily to a new pot. Prepare a new pot with soil that is just tight enough that the plant can comfortably stay in the pot. Ideally, you should only add more soil around the tree, not add more soil at the bottom or top. Gently compact the soil so that the plant is held firmly without sinking. Lift or dig up the orchid and place it on the ground in a new pot. Take soil from the old pot and cover it around the plants in the new pot. Familiar soil can make the plant’s transition to a new home easier. Water the plant and add soil when the water has compacted the soil in the pot. When finished, the ground in the new pot should be 1.5 to 2.5 cm from the top of the pot.

• If you find it difficult to get the plant out of the pot without breaking the plant or tearing the leaves, water the pot a lot and let it sit for about an hour.

Prepare a stake to support the tree. After re-potting, the roots are not firmly attached to the new soil, so your plant will have difficulty standing upright. If you find it difficult to balance the tree, use a sturdy wooden stake to keep the trunk upright. Bury the stake in the potting soil (be careful not to damage the roots) and use wire to tie the stem to the stake. Pull the stake out when the tree has taken root and can stand on its own.

To create two separate trees, plant the “top” from the old tree. If you want to grow a whole new tree, split one of the branches and plant it in a new pot instead of growing the whole tree. “Trees” are clusters of two or more separate leaves that separate from the main part of the plant.

• To separate the branch from the parent plant, first lift the entire plant out of the pot. Working from the top of the branch down to the root of the mother plant, remove the root of the branch from the root of the mother plant. This takes time and you may accidentally cut the roots. This is normal, but you should try not to cut too many roots. Once you have separated the branch from the mother plant, you plant it in a small separate pot (not larger than 15 cm in diameter) like a normal orchid.

Recognize signs of lack or excess of water. One of the most common problems when growing orchids is improper watering. Too little or too much watering can cause many nonspecific symptoms and sometimes mix with other diseases. However, improper watering is one of the easiest problems to fix, you can try the following remedies before resorting to a stronger solution.

• The lack of water can be recognized quite easily: dry soil with wilted leaves, yellowing, drooping stems are the most obvious signs. Cure by watering and spraying more often – at least once a week. Note that the plant is too big for the pot to absorb water when watering normally.
• Signs of waterlogging can be more subtle, usually indicated by a brown coloration on the leaf tips. ^[6] Note that overwatering can lead to root rot, another much more serious disease.

Repot plants with root rot. Root rot is a serious disease that affects the roots of plants that lie in the ground and can easily kill the plant. In general, root rot occurs with excessive watering or poor drainage. If left in stagnant water for a long time, the roots will have a hard time getting the air they need to function properly, and as a result, the roots will literally start to rot. Certain species of microorganisms called water molds contribute to the spread of root rot. Mold spores will cause root rot to spread to other plants if there is enough moisture. Root rot usually kills the plant, but if you want to try to cure it, quickly remove the plant from the pot and cut away any dead, slimy or rotting roots. Replant the plant in a new pot with well-drained, dry soil.

• Although root rot occurs below ground, the plant also shows signs of starting to die above. If your orchid is getting more and more wilted despite adequate lighting and watering, root rot is probably the culprit.
• As an alternative, you can choose a branch and plant it in another pot if the roots of that branch are not affected. The mother plant may die, but the offspring will have the same genes as the mother plant.

Use insecticidal soap to get rid of pests like aphids or spider mites. Peace lilies can sometimes be susceptible to aphids, spider mites, or other pests. If you notice leaves starting to wilt or die, especially with visible bugs, sticky, sticky patches or white films, the plant is probably infested with pests. Use a strong stream of water to dislodge pests from your plants, and to prevent them from returning, use a plant-safe insecticide or homemade soap according to this recipe:

• Mix 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons (16g) cayenne pepper, and 1 tablespoon natural fat soap (not dishwashing liquid) in 1 quart of warm water. Use a spray bottle to cover the entire plant. However, you need to test spray on a small part of the plant and let it sit for a day to make sure it doesn’t damage the plant. ^[7]