Repotting guide

When & how to repot Nodding Greenhood (Pterostylis nutans)

Also called Nodding Greenhood Orchid, Nodding Hood.

More about nodding greenhood

About Nodding Greenhood

Pterostylis nutans · also called Nodding Greenhood Orchid, Nodding Hood · tropical

Pterostylis nutans is an elegant small terrestrial orchid from southeastern Australia, named for its distinctive nodding, hooded green and white flower. It grows from underground tubers in shaded, moist woodland environments and becomes dormant in summer. Easy to cultivate with cool temperatures, good drainage, and a dry summer rest. Pet-safe as an orchid.

Mature size: 15-25 cm tall when in flower

How to tell nodding greenhood needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For nodding greenhood, 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 nodding greenhood 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 nodding greenhood

Lift and divide every 3–4 years once clumps congest. Rather than a true repot, nodding greenhood is lifted and divided once the clump congests and flowering drops off. Small deciduous terrestrial orchid with a basal rosette during growth; tuber dormant in summer.

What size pot to step nodding greenhood up to

Pot size matters less than depth and spacing here. When you replant nodding greenhood, 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 nodding greenhood

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 nodding greenhood in full growth or flower sets it back badly.

Step-by-step: repotting nodding greenhood

Wait for dormancy. Let nodding greenhood 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 gritty woodland mix: coarse sand, leaf mould, and perlite 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 nodding greenhood, 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 nodding greenhood

Nodding Greenhood wants gritty woodland mix: coarse sand, leaf mould, and perlite. A well-draining, slightly acidic mix is best. Combine coarse propagating sand with leaf mould or coco coir and perlite. Avoid heavy potting composts. Shallow pots with generous drainage holes suit the shallow root system. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting nodding greenhood — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot nodding greenhood?

Lift and divide every 3–4 years once clumps congest for nodding greenhood. Nodding Greenhood 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 gritty woodland mix: coarse sand, leaf mould, and perlite. Crowding, not pot size, is what reduces flowering over time.

What size pot does nodding greenhood need?

When is the best time of year to repot nodding greenhood?

Do you "repot" nodding greenhood, or lift and divide it?

You lift and divide it. Nodding Greenhood 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 nodding greenhood after repotting?

Hold off feeding nodding greenhood 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.