How to Choose your Orchid Pots

How to Choose your Orchid Pots

How to Choose your Orchid Pots

The orchid pots that you choose to re-pot your orchids in is important to their longevity. Orchid roots have rotted and plants have perished because they were placed in the wrong kind of pot. Many types of orchid pots have actually been custom designed these days.

However there are differences as some orchid pots have been designed to allow for a free flow of air, while others are designed to be translucent, giving the pot the ability to allow the process of photosynthesis to spontaneously occur within the orchid. It is critical, however, to pay attention to the type of orchid you have, as well as the growing conditions it requires, in order to select the right size and type of pot.

Basket orchid pots, clay or terracotta pots, and plastic pots are the most commonly used types of orchid pots. To help you decide which pot is best for you here is a brief overview and some of the pros and cons of each type of container.

Orchid Pots of Plastic

For plants that require a constantly damp growing medium, pots made out of plastic are the perfect orchid pots to purchase. Because orchid plants need the compost they are in to be moist but not waterlogged, plastic orchid pots are

perfect because they have multiple drainage holes. If there isn't enough drainage you can always puncture the bottom of the plastic pot accordingly to fit your orchid's needs.

The major disadvantage to using plastic orchid containers is that the potting mix retains water longer in plastic than in clay pots.

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.

Terracotta orchid pots have the advantage of being heavier than plastic pots thus providing a more stable pot when growing orchids in an outdoor environment.

Basket For Orchids

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..

However, baskets tend to dry out more easily so proper care should be taken in respect to watering them. Basket pots come in a variety of shapes and sizes and materials. You will almost always find basket pots for orchids that are meant to be hung from some type of support structure.

Each of the orchid pots mentioned above are suitable choices for re-potting your orchids. It is simply a good idea to find out before purchasing what the ideal growing container is for a particular type of orchid. Each variety of orchid plant requires a uniquely different type of growing condition and pot. Doing the research first will help you choose the right kind of orchid pots to buy.

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