subject: The Orchid Pot: The Essential Container For Your Plant [print this page] An orchid pot truly is the essential container for your beautiful plant. It has special characteristics that allow your orchid to ventilate and drain properly to help you get the most life time out of your plant. On top of that, you can choose an orchid pot that will also proudly display your orchidan especially important thing to do when it is in full bloom.
So, what makes orchid pots so unique? Orchid pots, unlike many traditional pots, have extra holes in them to allow for water to move through the root system instead of pooling up in it. These extra holes also allow the roots to breathe better and allow air to move through the roots as well. These requirements are especially important for epiphytic orchids whose life is suspended above groundon rocks, trees, or other plants. Their natural habitat allows for water and air movement so it's really important to replicate that at home.
There are many different brands of orchid pots available, but lets take a moment to look at the most common types of pots and see which ones will work best for you. The three most common types of orchid pots are basket pots, plastic pots, and terracotta pots.
Basket pots are the original orchid pot way back when people began cultivating orchids in their homes. These pots provide a timeless charm and are great because of their versatility in displaying your orchids. You can place them on the ground, on a table, or, most impressive, hang a collection of them and allow the orchids to cascade out of the basket. I like doing this with Cymbidium orchids.
Basket pots are a great choice for orchids because of their natural ventilation and drainage qualities. They are literally filled with holes! Depending on the type and size of basket you buy and your display orientation, you might need to use a small plastic pot to contain the root system and then place that inside of the basket pot. This will, of course, be determined by your orchid species.
Plastic pots are inexpensive, easy to replace, and durable. There are tons of different plastic molds available so you can pretty much find a plastic pot for whatever orchid you have. They even make some plastic orchid pots up to a meter deep!
Plastic pots also come in different colors and styles depending on your needs. Black is the most common color, but you can also find clay colored pots that imitate terracotta pots, and clear, transparent pots are also popular. Clear pots are really great because in addition to providing good drainage and ventilation, they also allow sunlight to reach the orchid roots. Many epiphytes enjoy that.
Terracotta pots are also quite common and are great for terrestrial orchids displayed inside or outside. Because they are made of clay they are heavier, but are also very stable. You can buy terracotta pots that have 1 to 5 drainage holes depending on your needs.
Choosing the right pot for your orchid really does matter. If you don't adequately drain and ventilate your orchid, you can have some bad cases of root rot and mold, which are detrimental to your orchids health. Find a pot that works for the species, presentation, and atmosphere that you'd like to provide your orchid with. Think of it as dressing up your orchid and have some fun with it!
The Orchid Pot: The Essential Container For Your Plant
