Potting Orchids Together
 

I have some orchids that would look nice together in one pot. Does anyone do this? Is it ok for the plants?

it's generally not recommended, because it's easier for diseases to be transmitted between plants that way. but if you're willing to take the risk, and the plants have the exact same cultural requirements, go ahead

I have no idea if it is isomething you should do or not. I would not do it, since I prefer for my orchids to have all the space they need for their growth. Aside from having identical cultural requirements, speed of growth would be an issue. They need to grow at the same speed, or else if you have a fast and slow grower, the faster one will take over and smother the slow one.
Which orchids are you thinking about?

I did this, not knowing different and wouldn't do it now. These were all the same kind of orchids however, which may not be what you are considering.

My first orchid I went and bought a vanda container some sp moss and 3 small catts in netting to see if I could keep them alive.., it was my experiment and also a cheap way to go -they were only $6 each at the time. I planted them all together.

Once the three stayed alive for more than 3 months I did this again, twice more. The 4rd time I only put two in a pot.

Its been about two years now and the 1st container of orchids has just abundently happy and just over growing itself. Unknown to me, they were all babies and I was frustrated as to why they had not bloomed until last December. (2 blooms) But today, they are all doing fine. Bunched up together and appear happy. I am hoping I get more blooms from 1st set, and of course the rest I hope go too.

My problem is going to be repotting them. One has been repotted, coz I accidently nearly had fried orchid a few months ago. After I was certain it was on its way back to healing itself, the vanda pot started disentigrading. I never did know if it was just rotting itself or if termites got to it and kept hiding from me. So the wood on that one was easy to remove and the plants were not anywhere are large as the other two. So when the time comes we'll see. For now I"m leaving sleeping dogs lay.

I have done it with Paph NOIDs (Maudiae type) which I bought for 3 - 5€ at the local supermarkets. It was an experiments, and they look great together (starting now to bloom). However, it would be the only plants I would do it (cheap and easy, and look nice as a wole bunch growing together). For the rest of my plants, I prefer leaving them in their own pots/mounts...

Ah! there is another one: Doritaenopsis Purple Martin. These were two seedling that came together in one pot and I liked the way they looked, so I kept them together when moved to S/H. both are growing well (first bloom yesterday :)). If in the future they become quite large, maybe I will consider separating them...

At the end, it all depends on what you want with your plants, and whether you are ready to take the risk of loosing them all if infected... in the case of my Paph NOIDs, I would not care....

One of my friends makes orchid displays where he puts several small individually potted plants into a large decorative container and covers the plant bases with moss so it looks like they are all planted in the same container. This way, plants with different cultural requirements could be displayed together and then easily separated when they are done blooming. I suppose there would still be a risk of bugs traveling from one plant to another.

Potting Orchids Together
 

For years I have placed different orchids in a lined basket, added a couple of small ferns (pots in plastic bags), covered all the plants with moss and enjoyed. :photo:

Plants can be moved in and out of the basket as you desire for watering and for a different look. I have not had a problem with traveling bugs :evil: but I do place ant powder and snail/slug bait in the bottom of the basket, just in case.

Along with other replies on this thread, I would not actually plant different clones together in the same pot for all the reasons given.

I purchased two Phalaenopsis recently - same variety - though both are NOIDS and because they were inexpensive I decided to try them out in one pot as an experiment to see how they would do. One is thriving, and the other is obviously not getting enough nutrients. I took them both out of the pot this morning and transferred them to separate pots. Their roots look ok - one better than the other, but there was no rot. The weaker plant looked like it's roots were bone dry. The leaves were wilted as were the flowers. They both were in excellent shape when I potted them in the first place. The stronger Phal of the two looks great.. .and it's roots weren't dry at all. . .go figure.

I don't think I'll do this again.

I haven't planted orchids together, but I do have a combined planter including an orchid. It's an old record warped and folded into this cool, crazy pot. I planted 3 mini cryptanthus and a salvaged Hwra. Lavaburst 'Puanani' together in a mix of CHC and a little sphag. I also stuck some branches with tillandsias mounted on them in the middle of the pot. All the plants are doing well. The Hwra. isn't thriving, but I've never allowed it to have more than 5 or 6 pbulbs at a time due to space constraints and it did start out as a very sick rescue plant. Despite that, it has never failed to bloom except for the first year after I bought it (when it was just starting to recover).

Other than that, I would agree with the above postings. They're your orchids. It's up to what you want to do and whether you deem the risk of diseases being transmitted worth it.

So can we conclude that potting orchids in the same container is mainly something done for aesthetics and that the plants would be much happier in their own pots?

I have three Keikis from the same Phal. and wanted to put them in one pot because I thought it would look nice. All other notions aside, I simply want them to thrive and if there is any chance of competition amongst them or stunted growth I will gladly put them in seperate pots. I'm learning as I go, but would appreciate anyones input who has already learned the typical outcome of this situation. Thanks!