Orchid Pots outline
The orchid pots that you choose to re-pot your orchids in is important to their longevity. Unfortunately, your orchid’s roots could actually rot, then die, if the wrong pot is used. Today, custom-designed orchid pots in a variety of styles have been created for the orchid lover.
There are orchid pots that have been designed to allow air to flow easily through them while other pots are created to be semi-transparent which enables photosynthesis to occur more easily within the plant. However, the size and type of pot to use need to be carefully considered depending on the orchid type and the growing conditions.
The three basic types of orchid pots available; terracotta or clay pots, plastic pots and basket style orchid pots. Here is a brief description of each type of pot, including their advantages and disadvantages, to help you select the right pot for your orchid
Orchid Pots of Plastic
Plastic orchid pots are an excellent choice for planting certain types of orchids that are in danger of drying out within the growing medium itself. This type of orchid pots are very lightweight and have excellent drainage with holes at the bottom of the pot to keep plants moist without allowing them to become water-logged. If there isn’t enough drainage you can always puncture the bottom of the plastic pot accordingly to fit your orchid’s needs.
Plastic plant containers are often used in the home, but the disadvantage is that the potting mix tends to retain water for longer periods than clay containers.
Orchid Pots of Clay or Terracotta
Clay or terracotta orchid pots are excellent for epiphytic orchids that are drought-tolerant, such as Cymbidiums, which are also much healthier in larger-sized orchid pots. Terracotta or Clay pots come with a drainage hole at the bottom and the porous clay material allows water to evaporate making them perfect for growing these varieties of orchids that are highly susceptible to being adversely affected by a water-clogged environment.
And if you want to grow your orchids outside, then terracotta pots are perfect because they are heavier than plastic pots and thus provide a much more stable growing environment for your orchids.
Orchid Baskets
Orchids like Gongora and Acineta Stanhopea which have pendant flowers and are sprawling with heavy roots do well in basket pots made out of wood, mesh, or wire. These types of orchids need a lot of sunlight to penetrate their root systems, as well as good air circulation, both of which are important for producing the beautiful blooms these orchids are known for. Basket orchid pots are excellent providers of air circulation and sunlight..
But when you are watering these baskets, take care as they have a tendency to dry out easily. You can find basket pots in a lot of different sizes, materials and shapes. You will almost always find basket pots for orchids that are meant to be hung from some type of support structure.
You can feel confident planting your orchids into any of the above orchid pots. However, before choosing a pot, it is recommended to research your particular type of orchid for what their growing container preferences are. And it is especially important to remember that the type of growing condition and pot you choose should be determined by the type of orchid plant which you are dealing with. If you research your plant ahead of time you will be able to select the best type of orchid pots for your plants.
Find more articles from Nancy Molins: Orchid Pots on Ezine Articles and Orchid Pots on Article Base
