Orchid Pots

[HiOrcDen]

Hi all... just a basic question:

Is it very advantageous to use orchid pots, with the side slits, vs regular flower pots? I do like to be able to see the roots, for practical and aesthetic reasons. Though again, does using Orchid pots justify the extra cost, as far as, does it improve the plants' conditions? And then, how do pots compare to the pond baskets?

And how do Orchid pots compare to clay pots? On that note, I know that cheap clay pots break easier, but other than that, are they as effective as higher quality pots, for moisture and air circulation?

[Ray]

I guess I’m being a little professorial this morning (based upon my response to your S/H question), but you’ll become a better orchid grower more quickly if you get off the “what is best” line of thinking and focus on understanding the things that are important to the particular plant in question. (Each orchid is its own version of “Goldilocks” in terms of what it needs, so there is no one “what” answer that applies universally.)

Once you have a decent grasp on the concepts of cultural needs, you will soon learn that there are many ways to “skin that cat”. You may find, for example, that a fine mix in a clay pot works as well as a plastic pot with a coarse mix. Or not….

[realoldbeachbum]

Hello HOD - Two reasons I don't use clay pots: (1) I am a 'root junkie', so I must see the roots, and (2) clay pots dry out too quickly in my environment. I buy plastic orchid pots from Amazon in bulk and they are fairly cheap. Happy growing, ROBB

[Dimples]

Asking what pot to use is like asking what clothes you should wear today, without telling us the weather forecast or if you usually run hot or cold. Lots of options could work, and there’s no one correct answer.

I prefer clear plastic and make my own pots out of deli containers. I add holes depending on the plant and what it wants/needs, and what I want/need.

What wants and needs are you attempting to satisfy?

[Roberta]

Just to jump in and add my ... what are you trying to accomplish? Clay pots have a place in my collection when I need what they can provide... One is weight. When I have a large, top-heavy plant, a clay pot can help keep it from tipping over. Another is evaporative cooling - I have had some success with Masdevallias and other Pleurothallids that hate warm weather - with clay pot and sphagnum, I can cool the roots to get them through the summer. When I use a clay pot, the roots tend to stick to it (especially for larger plants) and so when i repot, I usually have to break the pot to preserve the roots.

Another pot type I use, for plants that tend to ramble and also for the top-heavy ones, is the low-form "bulb pan". These give more surface area for the volume, since they are shallow.

There are so many variations on the theme... there is not one "best" pot, you need to match the type of pot to the medium and the type of orchid to meet its needs.

[Leafmite]

It really depends on your conditions, your medium, and what orchids you are growing that determines what types of pots are good options. I live in Ohio so the weather is unpredictable. I put the orchids outside for the summer and we can have hot/dry, hot/wet, cold/dry or cold/wet summers. Winters, when the orchids are indoors, can be overcast and very dark or sunny...one never knows. My favorite medium is red lava rock. Most are small Cattleyas but I do have a variety (many of the other orchids are mounted so no worries about pots or mediums).

Last year, I started using clear plastic pots that have many holes. I was worried about the Cattleyas (aclandiae and schilleriana, especially) but they all seem to be happy. I think, for my climate, they give the right mix of humidity and good air flow.

I have used plastic basket pots but now that I grow smaller orchids, I am using smaller lava rock and it does not stay in the basket pots. The problem with clay pots is when one has to pot up an orchid...Cattleya roots really cling to those pots. Also, you cannot enjoy seeing the roots. Solid plastic pots did not work in my conditions...there was not enough air getting to the roots and they would mold, then rot.