How do I move this orchid without killing it?

[WhenYouSayNothingAtAll]

I’ll start by saying I’m a serial plant killer. I just can’t keep stuff alive, so when I got this orchid a few years ago I popped on the window sill and waited for its demise. By some kind of miracle it’s still alive and well, but has massively outgrown the pot it came in and the extra container I added. It did look dead/dying a few times so I thought no point in moving it, but then came back to life and after a while I was actually too afraid to do anything to it or change anything.

The issue is now the overgrown (I assume that’s what the grey long things are) roots and the fact that when in full bloom, it’s too heavy for the pot. Combined with an arsehole cat , it has already taken a few tumbles.

So what is the best , and safest way to move into a bigger pot(hopefully without killing it because I interfered)?

It’s already taken a few tumbles. It’ll be fine. Get some orchid potting material and a bigger pot. You can get specific orchid pots but any pot will do.

It is a phalaenopsis orchid. You need to keep it in a clear pot. Those are aerial roots and actually need to be exposed to light. In the wild they grow up trees and the roots dangle down. Orchid compost is actually just lumps of bark which let the light between the gaps, and help to hold the plant steady in the pot.

The roots do not need to be in soil like other plants.

So could I just leave it in the little pot and just pop it into another, bigger transparent pot? For more room and stability..

To add to the other comments, its clearly happy if its flowering!

That window looks very sunny though-hence the shadows. Generally, they prefer indirect light and bright sunlight will burn the leaves. They aren't like other plants which need larger and larger pots, so don't suddenly put it into a huge one. The next size up by say 1-2cm wider would be fine. Also, those grey things are aerial roots and are meant to be outside the pot- not buried in soil.

OP - maybe get a slightly bigger pot, insert the smaller one and fill in around the edges with bark, leaving the aerial roots sticking up or out, whichever they want to do. The extra width of pot should help with stability. You can always turn it so either the leaves or the flower spike are resting on something.

I have one of those orchids on a west-facing upstairs windowsill, in full sun. It has been there for two years and doesn't seem to mind at all. It is currently flowering like crazy. It doesn't get all that much water either- only when I remember. On the whole, they seem to prefer being less damp rather than too soggy.