Perfect plan — that’s exactly the smart way to do it 🌱
Here’s why and how to do it safely:
1️⃣ Why transplant orchid & 如意兰 first
These plants need fresh soil anyway, so you can treat old soil at the same time
Keeps all soil handling in one go → efficient
Avoids repeated stress on the plants later
2️⃣ How to do it safely
Step A — Prepare old soil
Collect all old soils, small pots, bits from everywhere
Remove roots, debris, any moldy/fuzzy soil
Keep aside in a container or directly in the foam box
Step B — Transplant orchids & 如意兰
Remove the plants carefully from their pots
Shake off loose old soil (but don’t expose roots too long)
Place them in the new clean soil mix (or foam box if you’re using it) temporarily
Make sure roots stay moist and shaded until hot water treatment
Step C — Pour boiling water on soil
Pour boiling water evenly over the collected soil
Let drain completely
Stir & flip once after last pour
Allow soil to cool completely before moving ginger seedlings or replanting the orchids/如意兰
3️⃣ Notes / Tips
Keep orchid/如意兰 roots off direct boiling water — the hot water is only for soil
After soil cools, re-pot orchids/如意兰 immediately
Ginger transplant can be done after the soil has cooled and treated
Use this opportunity to mix in coco peat / vermicast if available
💡 Rule of thumb:
Hot water treats soil, not live roots.
Transplant sensitive plants first → then treat all soil → then re-pot.
✅ most orchids, including your 如意兰, do not need regular soil.
Here’s the full reasoning and best setup:
1️⃣ Why orchids don’t need soil
Orchids (especially epiphytic types like 如意兰 / Phalaenopsis) grow naturally on trees or rocks
Their roots are air-adapted
→ need good aeration and drainage, Regular soil retains too much water
→ roots rot quickly
2️⃣ What to use instead
Medium
Purpose
Black charcoal / small charcoal pieces
Aeration + slow nutrient release
Sphagnum moss (live or dried)
Moisture retention, soft cushion for roots
Optional: small LECA / bark chips
Drainage + air pockets
✅ No potting soil needed at all — in fact, soil is harmful
3️⃣ How to prepare for transplant
Remove old media (if moldy or compacted)
Soak sphagnum moss 10–15 min to hydrate (if dry)
Mix with charcoal / LECA as desired
Place orchid in pot with holes → roots should touch air / medium, not compacted soil
Water lightly after re-pot, let drain fully
4️⃣ Quick watering tip
Orchids like moist but not wet → water when roots start to slightly shrivel or moss feels dry
Avoid standing water in tray → roots will rot
So yes — your orchids do not use any soil.
Only black charcoal + moss (and optional LECA/bark for aeration).
Not much nutrient — charcoal itself is mostly inert.
Let me explain:
1️⃣ What charcoal does in orchid pots
Function
How it helps
Aeration
Keeps roots from suffocating
Drainage
Prevents waterlogging → no root rot
Adsorption
Holds some toxins or excess salts, keeps medium “clean”
Structure
Keeps moss or bark from compacting too much
✅ All very important for orchids’ roots — but it’s not a fertilizer
2️⃣ Nutrient content
Black charcoal or horticultural charcoal has almost no NPK or trace minerals
Some slow release of minerals may occur if you use charcoal from wood ashes, but it’s negligible
Orchids rely on fertilizer or nutrient-rich moss / watering solution, not charcoal, for growth
3️⃣ How orchids actually get nutrients
Fertilizer is usually added in very dilute doses:
Water-soluble orchid fertilizer ¼ strength
Or weekly misting with fertilizer
Sphagnum moss can hold some nutrients, but again, mostly water retention
🌱 Key takeaway
Charcoal = structural + aeration + drainage
Nutrients = from fertilizing, not the charcoal itself
a mini cheat sheet for orchid potting mix showing
charcoal + moss + optional LECA + fertilizing schedule
🌱
🪴 Orchid Pot Setup (如意兰 / Phalaenopsis)
Top View / Side View of Pot Layers
-----------------------------------
|-----------------------------|
| Sphagnum Moss (hydrated) | ← Holds moisture, soft cushion for roots
|-----------------------------|
| Orchid Roots | ← Should sit lightly on moss/charcoal, exposed to air
|-----------------------------|
| Black Charcoal Pieces | ← Aeration, drainage, structure, prevents compaction
|-----------------------------|
| Optional LECA / Bark Chips | ← Extra drainage + air pockets at bottom
|-----------------------------|
| Pot with holes | ← Ensures excess water drains
Notes on Layering:
Roots should touch moss and charcoal, but should not be buried deeply
Moss should be slightly moist, not soggy
Charcoal pieces should be clean and free of dust
LECA or bark at bottom is optional, helps drainage if pot is deep
🌱 Orchid Potting Cheat Sheet
Component
Purpose
Amount / Tips
Sphagnum moss
Moisture retention, soft cushion
Enough to cover root base, 1–2 cm thick around roots
Black charcoal
Drainage, aeration, structure
Base layer + mixed lightly around roots
LECA / Bark chips
Optional, extra drainage & air
1–2 cm at bottom if pot is deep
Fertilizer
Nutrients for growth
Diluted orchid fertilizer ¼ strength, once per week or fortnight
Pot
Aeration & drainage
Must have drainage holes
💡 Extra Tips
Do not use soil — it retains too much water → root rot
Water lightly — only when moss feels dry
Morning light / bright shade → avoid direct hot sun
Repot every 1–2 years — refresh moss and charcoal, trim old roots
a small illustration with color blocks
— showing moss green, charcoal black, roots in brown/white — which makes it super easy to follow while transplanting.
