Types Of Pots For Orchids - Are There Special Containers For Orchid Plants

Plastic pots are very lightweight and can tip over easily with tall, top heavy plants. Clay or Terra Cotta Pots – Clay pots are heavier, leading to less tipping. They also can help keep orchid roots cooler in warm climates.

Do orchids need special potting mix?

Orchids need fresh potting mix every year or so. This continues to provide plants with the best nutrients and encourages proper air circulation. Soil that is not replaced can retain more water, leading to root rot and leaving your orchid vulnerable to fungal diseases. Your orchid's roots are soft and brown.

What is the best potting material for orchids?

Fir and Monterey bark is the most commonly used potting media for orchids. It is long-lasting, porous, and free-draining. Clay pellets are commonly added to mixes to prevent compaction and add drainage.

Do orchids need transparent pots?

The orchids we've seen grow the best are often growing in what appears to be ridiculously small pots so resist the urge to 'pot up' any more than is absolutely necessary to hold the roots. Clear plastic pots make it easy to see the roots and to see when to water.

Why do orchids need transparent pots?

The main reason clear plastic is the number one choice for orchids is because sunlight can penetrate the pot, and orchid roots can aid in photosynthesis along with the leaves. Clear plastic not only helps the orchid, it aids the grower, too. In most household plants, you can judge the orchid by the leaves.

Should orchid roots be exposed?

If the orchid air roots are firm and white, they are healthy and you don't need to do anything at all. Just accept that this is normal behavior. According to orchid experts, you should definitely not remove the roots. ... Either way, don't cover the roots because they may rot.

How do I get my orchid to bloom?

Here are three easy steps to make your orchid rebloom:

Move your orchid to a cooler area where the temperatures are between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your orchid in indirect sunlight at all times. Do this until a new flower spike emerges.

Do orchids like big or small pots?

Most orchids require a 4, 5 or 6 inch pot. There are seedlings and miniatures that require smaller pots, older specimen plants and some genera (Cymbidium, Phaius, large Cattleya...) that often require 8 inch pots or bigger but the majority of orchids sold in groceries, box stores, florists and the like are not these.

What is better for orchids moss or bark?

Sphagnum moss is a fine substrate, and it can hold water better than bark. Its water retention ability makes it an excellent potting material for young orchids. ... Bark, on the other hand, provides good aeration for the roots and helps produce larger cavities, but it has poor water holding ability.

Do orchids like to be misted?

Misting gives the orchid more humidity but does not create a soggy root environment. It is best to put your orchid where it will receive medium indirect sunlight. ... To ensure bright blooms and a healthy plant, use a potting mixture and a fertilizer that is specifically designed for orchids.

Do orchids outgrow their pots?

Orchid roots like air and will rot if kept soggy and wet. ... Moth orchids can outgrow their pots in about a year's time as their wandering roots reach outside and above the edge of the containers. Mature plants usually flower from late winter into spring and their blossoms can last for several months.

What is the best way to repot an orchid?

Gently pull the pot away from the plant and wash off the roots. Use sharp scissors to cut off any brown or rotting roots. Fill the new planter with the soaked potting medium and place the plant so that the base is right at the top of the medium. Use a chopstick to help push bits of planting medium in between the roots.

What do you do with an orchid after the blooms fall off?

After the flowers drop from the orchid you have three choices: leave the flower spike (or stem) intact, cut it back to a node, or remove it entirely. Remove the flower spike entirely by clipping it off at the base of the plant. This is definitely the route to take if the existing stem starts to turn brown or yellow.

How long do orchids live for?

With good care and regular maintenance, an orchid plant may live for a lifetime — 100 years, or more.

Where should I plant my orchid outside?

Dig a hole large enough for the orchid, plant it, then fill the empty space with the gravel mixture. Terrestrial orchids of the Pleione, Sobralia, Calanthe, Phaius and Bletia genuses can be grown in a well-drained area with a lot of shade. Alternatively, you can make a raised bed to plant your orchids into.

What do you do with air roots when repotting orchids?

When repotting an orchid, just let the aerial roots be as they are. There's no need to stick them inside the pot with the other roots. If you tried to do that they would probably break anyway, as they can't handle much bending.

What to feed orchids to bloom?

Choose a fertilizer that contains equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (look for 20-20-20 on the label). Fertilizer should be used at half-strength, mixing it with an equal amount of water before applying it to your orchid.

How long does it take for an orchid to rebloom?

Phalaenopsis are among the few orchids that will rebloom in home conditions. The spike should be cut between the scar that's left by the first flower and the last node (that little lump) on the stem. One of the lower nodes will then initiate and produce flowers within eight to 12 weeks.

What time of year do orchids bloom?

Most orchids grow during the summer and bloom in the fall, winter or spring. Knowing the season that an orchid blooms helps alleviate the frustration of feeling like "It's July, why isn't my Phalaenopsis in bloom again now?".

Do orchids like to be crowded?

Like Goldilocks, orchids like things “just right.” While orchids love being a little crowded in their pots, every year or two it's time to re-pot. Just as an orchid won't perform at their best if their pot is over-crowded, a too-large pot will also inhibit flowering.

What does an overwatered orchid look like?

If roots are overwatered they will look like mush and have very little substance. Orchid roots are generally only bright green right after they have been watered and will turn silvery-green after a few days. If they are still bright green and you haven't watered recently, they may be getting too much water.

How do orchids like to be potted?

Most orchids do prefer shallower squat pots, as their roots don't like all the moisture retained in deep pots and they just don't need the depth anyway as their roots spread out, not down.