Orchid Pot - How To Choose The Right One
The choice of orchid pot
you use, the potting medium, watering, fertilizing and
location will all have an impact on the success of your
orchids. Let us have a look at different containers that
you can choose from. The choice can be bewildering if
you are a beginner to orchid growing. These are most
commonly made from either plastic or terracotta clay.
Plastic Orchid Pot
• A lightweight plastic
pot, which may have several drainage holes is more
suitable for indoors, where it is far less likely to be
blown over.
• The growing medium tends
to dry out more slowly than in a clay pot.
• The best plastic pot has
a thick wall that does not break easily, it is light in
color, and does not heat up too much in strong sunlight.
Clear polythene pots are becoming popular as they allow
more light to reach the roots.
Terracotta Orchid Pot
• It is heavier and
therefore more stable.
 • It has one drainage hole
in the bottom, although some specialist orchid pots also
have drainage holes on the sides.
• A succulent
drought-tolerant epiphytic orchid fares better in a clay
pot, as there is less chance of the growing medium
becoming waterlogged.
Pots or large planters made
from terracotta, wood, ceramic or plastic make ideal
containers for large spreading orchids such as "Cymbidia".
A terrestrial like the
"Chinese Cymbidium" requires a tall orchid pot which can
accommodate the very long roots (up to a meter!) that it
can produce. Unrestricted root growth allows the orchid
to store nutrients and water that can then sustain the
development of superior flowers.
"Jewel" orchids such as "Ludisia"
and "Anoectochilus" should ideally be grown in a
shallow, broad pot as they spread over the surface. A
glass terranium would be ideal, where the orchids can
wander in whatever way they like.
- In tropical countries the
easy way is to take a coconut slice it into half and use
the half as the pot for the orchid flower. A wide
variety of wooden container is available. If for some
reason you don't like this kind of container use
some
bark and fix it to a tree, orchids are
flexible. just give them a good spray every day and once
a week mixed with fertilizer and everyone will be happy,
that means the orchid because the orchid flower feel
good and you because you see some nice colors -.
There are also varieties of
orchid that are best grown and displayed in baskets at
eye level.
Basket Orchid Pot
• A basket is very suitable
for orchids with pendant flowers, or heavy- rooted,
sprawling orchids.
• A basket container is
made of wire, plastic, mesh, wood or pottery.
• It allows air to
circulate around the compost and roots.
• A mesh orchid pot is
essential for the successful blooming of Draculas
because the inflorescences find it easy to grow through
the underside of the container.
• Orchids like "Stanhopea",
"Gongora" and "Acineta" should be grown in open baskets
so that their pendant flowers can be enjoyed to the
full.
• You will need to take
care that the orchids do not dry out in a basket.
As an orchid pot, the
basket will need support blocks for your orchid. The
most suitable materials are cork, or the bark of pine or
oak. To do this, place the plant compost in front and
behind the roots. Tie the plant to the piece of bark in
such a way that no water is able to run into the centre
of the plant. You can tie up the plant with strips of
ladies tights!
One tip is to be aware that
the fine roots of some orchids may penetrate the support
block and make it difficult to re-pot your orchid.
When a plant becomes
overgrown or begins to fall apart, just tie a new piece
of bark to the old one so that the orchid grows onto
this. Some orchids like Oncidiums have slender roots
that rapidly travel over the surface of the bark.
"Lady-of-the-Night" is the
popular name for "Brassavola nodosa", a night-fragrant
white flowering orchid that grows well in a hanging
basket. Position it where its night fragrance can be
appreciated. It is drought-tolerant, but prefers
additional water during dry spells.
The orchid "Cattleya
skinneri - Hettie Jacobs" can grow to enormous size in a
basket and needs strong support. But it does produce
clusters of lovely purple flowers between March and May.
The popular "Bee" orchid,
produces a wealth of golden yellow flowers even from a
modest plant. A 20inch (50cm) wire basket with
substantial pieces of bark will support a large plant of
this kind.
You might like to plant a
selection of moth orchids in a large basket for a superb
show of long-lasting blooms, but these do not like
strong sunlight. Or maybe vanda orchids, that provide
flowers in all colours of the rainbow with huge blooms,
some of which can be the size of a saucer. Vanda will
produce a mass of lengthy roots hanging below the orchid
pot, which you will need to spray with water daily. Do
not be tempted to cut back these roots.
Be aware also that many
orchids thrive on being pot-bound. It may look as if the
roots are smothering the pot, but it is their thick root
system that nourishes spectacular blooms. So do not be
in a hurry to re-pot too soon!
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Whatever type of orchid pot
you want, there is a wide range from which to choose. If
you love growing orchids, there is great pleasure in
matching an orchid with an appropriate orchid pot,
choosing the right compost, light and temperature, water
and fertilizer. The careful balance of these will lead
to your ultimate success. |
About The Author
Helen Wall is the owner of
http://www.plantergardening.com, an informative website
especially created to help you get the most out of
growing container plants, choosing the right pots,
bulbs, seeds, plants, shrubs, bonsai trees, gardening
tools and accessories. For your success there are tips
and techniques for both indoor and outdoor container
gardening.
helenwall@mac.com |
When re-potting put the old root
spread out near the outside edge of the pot. Simple use a medium
fir bark as the medium. Place it in the pot to fill in the areas
and place the other roots near the center of the pot. You will
find that some of them don't want to go where you want them and
that's fine.
