When it comes to orchids, the butterfly-like flowers are supported by a number of important elements. A good pot is at the top of the orchid supporter's list. The best orchid pots encourage growth and clear the way for long-lasting blooms to develop. Here we reveal what the right orchid pot looks like!
The right orchid pot – follow these tips
Pots for growing orchids must have drainage holes or slits to prevent the plant from getting its feet wet.
Do not throw away the clear plastic container
An orchid should ideally live and grow in a plastic or terracotta pot. The pot must also be clean and sterilized to prevent the entry of fungi,To prevent viruses or insects, and it must be the right size for the plant.
Choose the right pot size
When repotting, the new pot should be only slightly larger than the previous one, otherwise there will be too much growing soil and water may collect in the root zone. When choosing a new container, you should only increase the size by 2 – 3 cm.
The right orchid pot you should buy
- Clear plastic pots
Surprisingly, the clear plastic pots with drainage holes are the first choice for nursery pots. The advantage of transparent pots is that you can examine the planting medium and watch it dry out. You can also keep a close eye on the roots and check for pests, rot or overcrowding. Plastic pots are easy to repot into different, decorative containers if you want some variety, and they allow the orchid roots to absorb sunlight, just as they would in their natural habitat. This vessel can also be placed in another, nicer pot.
Keep this in mind: If the roots are bright green, that means they are wet. So the plant does not need to be watered. If the roots are silvery, they are dry and the plant needs to be watered.
- Terracotta-Töpfe
Another popular choice is porous terracotta pots as they are permeable to air and water (this is the choice of traditional orchid lovers). The main thing you should pay attention to with special plant pots is that they have several drainage holes, slats or recesses on the sides and bottom to allow drainage and air flow.
Orchids in terracotta pots should be watched closely as their roots cannot be seen as well as in clear plastic pots.
- Clear glass pot
Clear glass pots can be beneficial for your plants, as can clear plastic containers. You can clearly see the roots and easily decide whether the plant needs to be watered or not.
Usually the glass pots don't have drainage holes, so you have to be very carefulwhat kind of orchidPlanting them in it and how to water them. The potting substrate is also crucial. To avoid root rot, plant your orchids about an inch from the bottom of the pot so the roots aren't submerged in water. So when you water your orchid, just add some water to the bottom of the glass pot.
- Hanging basket
You can hang your orchid plants in a hanging basket. This is not only space-saving, but also unique and original. Many people think that orchids in hanging baskets are more difficult to care for, but there isn't much of a difference. There are just a few things you should keep in mind.
First, you should choose the right type of orchid. When you consider humidity, light, air circulation, and watering, you will find that all of these factors will change. You should also consider where you want to hang the basket: indoors or outdoors. If you pot your orchids in a basket, you should repot it with its nursery pot. This allows the plant to quickly adapt to its new environment. In addition, it is easier to remove a diseased orchid if there are several plants in one basket. After placing the plant in the basket with its own pot, you can hide it with some bark or moss to make it look much nicer. Then you can simply enjoy your beautiful plants as decoration.
- Net pot
These basket-like containers hold the orchid rootsand the potting soilheld loosely so that air and water can flow through easily. Mesh pots are best suited to humid environments to keep plants from drying out too quickly.
The right orchid pot and repotting explained in steps
Orchids should be repotted approximately every 1 to 3 years. Potting soil breaks down over time, meaning it is no longer able to physically support and provide nutrients to the plant. Additionally, healthy, actively growing orchids form fleshy, new roots and outgrow their pots over time.
Repotting an orchid is easy and only takes a few minutes. Think of repotting as taking the plant apart and putting it back together in a new pot rather than traditional repotting. Here are the quick steps.
- Using pruning shears, cut off the flower stalk at the base of the plant.
- Remove the plant from the pot and gently pull the roots apart to release the plant from the container.
- If the roots are close together, gently loosen and spread them out.
- Remove any dead or damaged roots. Healthy roots are firm and gray or green in color. Brush off any potting soil stuck to the roots.
- Fill the new plant pot with potting soil suitable for orchids.
- Place the orchid in the pot and gently press the potting soil around the roots. Water the plant well.
