Repotting guide

When & how to repot White Spider Orchid (Caladenia longicauda)

Also called Long-tailed Spider Orchid, Daddy Long Legs Orchid.

More about white spider orchid

About White Spider Orchid

Caladenia longicauda · also called Long-tailed Spider Orchid, Daddy Long Legs Orchid · tropical

White Spider Orchid is a striking terrestrial orchid from southwestern Australia, characterised by large white flowers with dramatically elongated, club-tipped petals and sepals. It grows from a small tuber, producing a single hairy leaf and one or two flowers in late winter to spring. Mycorrhizal dependency makes it difficult to cultivate. Pet-safe per Orchidaceae family profile.

Mature size: 20-50 cm tall in flower

How to tell white spider orchid needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For white spider orchid, watch for these signs:

Flowering has tailed off year on year and the clump has become congested and overcrowded.
Lots of leaf and few flowers — a classic sign that white spider orchid bulbs or tubers need lifting and dividing.
Bulbs visibly bursting the pot or pushing each other to the surface.
It is the natural dormancy window (foliage yellowed and died back) — the only safe time to lift and split.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot white spider orchid

Lift and divide every 3–4 years once clumps congest. Rather than a true repot, white spider orchid is lifted and divided once the clump congests and flowering drops off. Deciduous terrestrial orchid from a subterranean tuber.

What size pot to step white spider orchid up to

Pot size matters less than depth and spacing here. When you replant white spider orchid, set the bulbs or tubers at the correct depth (a rough guide: two to three times their own height of soil over the top) and space them so they are not touching. A wide, shallow pot suits a clump better than a tall narrow one.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot white spider orchid

The only safe window is dormancy: wait until the foliage has yellowed and died back naturally, lift and divide then, and replant before or at the start of the next growing season. Disturbing white spider orchid in full growth or flower sets it back badly.

Step-by-step: repotting white spider orchid

Wait for dormancy. Let white spider orchid foliage yellow and die back completely. Lifting while it is in growth wastes the energy it is storing for next year.
Lift carefully. Loosen the soil well away from the bulbs/tubers with a fork and ease the whole clump out without spearing them.
Separate the offsets. Gently pull the clump apart into individual bulbs or tubers. Keep only firm, healthy, blemish-free ones.
Replant at the right depth. Reset them in fresh sandy, free-draining low-fertility mix at the correct depth and spacing — not touching — so each has room to bulk up.
Water in and rest. Water once to settle them, then keep on the dry side until growth resumes. Do not feed until leaves are actively growing.

Aftercare

After replanting white spider orchid, keep the soil barely moist — not wet — until shoots appear; bulbs and tubers rot in cold, saturated soil. Once leaves are growing strongly, resume normal watering. Hold off feeding until the plant is in active growth again.

The right soil mix for white spider orchid

White Spider Orchid wants sandy, free-draining low-fertility mix. Use a blend of coarse sand and perlite with minimal organic content, replicating the lateritic sands and gravels of the kwongan heathlands. Avoid any peat, bark, or enriched potting compost. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting white spider orchid — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot white spider orchid?

Lift and divide every 3–4 years once clumps congest for white spider orchid. White Spider Orchid is lifted and divided, not "repotted". Every 3–4 years, once the foliage has died back and it is dormant, lift the clump, separate the offsets, and replant at the correct depth in sandy, free-draining low-fertility mix. Crowding, not pot size, is what reduces flowering over time.

What size pot does white spider orchid need?

When is the best time of year to repot white spider orchid?

Do you "repot" white spider orchid, or lift and divide it?

You lift and divide it. White Spider Orchid grows from bulbs or tubers, so instead of repotting you wait for dormancy, lift the congested clump, separate the healthy offsets, and replant them at the right depth and spacing. Doing this every 3–4 years restores flowering.

Should you fertilise white spider orchid after repotting?

Hold off feeding white spider orchid until it is in active growth again. Fresh soil already carries enough nutrients to get it re-established, and feeding disturbed roots too soon does more harm than good.