Everything You Need to Know About Orchid Pots

Reviewed by David McKinney

Finding the right pot for your orchid is key to keeping the plant healthy and producing blooms for years to come. 

Of course, you want a pot that complements your orchid and your living space—and provides the right growing conditions. Here’s our guide on what to do.

Related: 15 Easy-to-Grow Orchids that Add a Tropical Touch to Your Home

How Orchids Grow in Nature

Take cues from how orchids grow in the wild when selecting an orchid pot for your favorite bloomer. Most orchids are epiphytes in their native jungle-like environments. These tenacious growers cling to the trunk or limb of a tree and gather moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, and debris that accumulates around their root zones.

In the jungle, you'll find a Phalaenopsis orchid growing on a tree branch with its roots exposed to air movement, rain, and humidity. The best orchid pots mimic these moist yet well-drained conditions while encouraging oxygen to flow easily in and out of the pot.

Orchid Pot Design

Orchid pots are primarily designed for excellent drainage. When plants are watered, excess moisture should be able to flow freely out of the orchid potting mix.

Good Water Drainage

It may seem like the water is flowing out of the container too quickly, faster than the roots can absorb. This is normal activity for a great orchid container. Look for an orchid pot with many small drainage holes in the bottom. Orchids and houseplants are most often killed by overwatering.

Plenty of Air Flow

A great orchid pot may have holes on the sides of the container. These sidewall holes promote water drainage and encourage air movement around the plant's root system. This air movement mimics the wind and breezes that constantly flow around an orchid's root system in nature. Drainage holes on the side of the container are not essential, but they're a helpful addition to an orchid pot.

Related: Here's How Often to Water Orchids for Beautiful, Healthy Plants

Orchid Pot Materials

Orchid pots are made from all kinds of materials, from plastic to mesh to ceramic and terra-cotta. Don't be overwhelmed by the selection. As long as the pot has many drainage holes, it is likely a good pot for growing orchids. Different types of material have some advantages. Here's a rundown of some of the most popular.

Terra-Cotta Orchid Pots

Porous terra-cotta allows air and water to pass through the walls of these stone-like pots freely. Their porous nature means orchid media will dry out faster, so you'll likely need to water more often. Terra-cotta pots are especially popular with orchid enthusiasts.

Plastic Orchid Pots

Lightweight, nearly indestructible, and inexpensive, plastic orchid pots are available in all shapes, sizes, and colors. When choosing a plastic orchid pot, select one with a large number of drainage holes for the size of the container.

Clear plastic pots are popular with some orchid growers. In nature, orchid roots are often exposed to light, and clear plastic pots mimic these conditions. These types of pots are beneficial if you are prone to overwatering your orchid. A clear plastic pot makes it easy to see if the potting media is moist before watering.

Ceramic Orchid Pots

Ceramic pots decorated with colorful glaze or artwork make lovely additions to any room. If the ceramic container lacks drainage, plant the orchid in a simple plastic pot and set the planted container inside the pot. When watering, remove the orchid from the ceramic pot to allow excess water to drain.

Mesh Orchid Pots

Woven plastic or fiber pots resemble how many orchids grow in nature more than other orchid pots. These basket-like containers loosely hold orchid roots and potting media, allowing air and water to pass through easily. Mesh pots are best in humid environments to ensure plants don't dry out too quickly.

Related: The 17 Best Outdoor Planters

Best Size for Orchid Pots

Orchids grow best in tight living quarters. When choosing a new orchid pot, look for a container slightly larger than the previous pot. Ultimately, the pot should be about the same size as the tangled mass of roots. Pots that are too large will be filled with excess planting media, which tends to hold water and keep the orchid root zone too moist.

Tip

As a general rule of thumb, the top of the pot should be a third to half the height of the orchid (except for Dendrobium, which does well in a smaller pot).

Orchid Repotting

Orchids benefit from repotting every one to three years or so. The potting mix will break down over time, preventing it from physically supporting the plant and providing nutrients. Also, healthy, actively growing orchids will produce fleshy new roots and outgrow their pots.

Tip

If you notice that the orchid’s roots are pushing the plant up or are extending into the air, those are signs it’s time to repot.

How to Repot an Orchid

Repotting an orchid is simple and takes just a few minutes. Think of it more as disassembling and reassembling the plant in a new pot rather than a traditional potting process. Avoid repotting your orchid when the plant is in bloom or budding so you don't stress the plant.

Try to repot your orchid as new roots are beginning to form so they can get established in the new medium—just be careful that you don’t damage the new roots.

Here are the quick steps.

1. Use pruners to clip away the flower stem at the base of the plant.

2. Remove the plant from the pot, pulling the roots apart gently to free the plant from the pot.

3. If the roots are tightly packed together, gently loosen them and spread them out.

4. Remove any dead or damaged roots. Healthy roots are firm and gray or green. Brush away any potting mix that is clinging to the roots.

5. Fill the new pot with a potting mix designed for orchids.

6. Place the orchid in the pot and gently pack the potting mix around the roots. Water the plant well.

Tip

Keep your orchid close to a window (not to the side of a window). Most orchids do well in bright, indirect light, but check with a local orchid society to learn which orchids do well in your area.

Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens