Does the type of orchid pot influence the quality of the root system?

[peeweelovesbooks]

Hi there.


I've been wondering this for a while. Does the type of orchid pot influence the quality of the root system?

Am I crazy for thinking this? Everything being equal, will, say, a cattleya grow long thin roots in plastic pots versus fatter roots in clay?

I notice that my catts and laelias develop very long, thinner roots, and grow straight into the medium (hydroton), yet I have seen pictures online where catts grow thicker, fatter roots which crawl all over the place when potted in clay?

Is clay inherently better?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I think the thickness of the roots has something to do with the available moisture.

[Robe]

I'm quite sure that the type of the pot influences the quality of the roots, some pots may be more adapt for some species, it depends on their necessities.
For example I know that clay pots allow the water to evaporate through the pot's walls and this may be good for the species that need to get dry quickly (and that don't need light).
For the thickness of the roots I also think that it is a matter of moisture, so it depends on the kind of the pot but also on how much do you water them.

[natasha]

i thought so! my dens fare much better when potted in perforated clay pots rather than plastic pots. the roots come out much faster. but my vandas, paphs, phals and catts are all in plastic pots. however, phals seems to do much better in hanging pot than just sitting on the shelves.

however, as king said, maybe watering too have something to do with the roots. some of the chid come with thin roots and become thick under my care. we have lots of rains (the weather kind of crazy here) and i too like to water a lot since somedays i get lazy and didn't water. one of my vanda have such a thick and long roots (3 ft???) but no flowers!

another thing, i think chids in plastic pots don't need have more roots since the moisture is more constant. clay pots tends to lose moisture faster so they need more bigger roots...