Overview of pots for phalaenopsis: glass, ceramic and other types. Selection recommendations

When choosing an ordinary flower pot, we focus solely on the desired size and our ideas about beauty. But with the container for orchids, this principle will not work: its prosperity depends on a properly selected flowerpot.

Before choosing a pot for an orchid, you should learn about its advantages and disadvantages. We offer you to get acquainted with the main tips about choosing a pot for phalaenopsis, based on the experience of growing these exotic plants and understanding the physiology of epiphytes.

What capacity does a plant need?

At home, it is difficult to create conditions similar to those in which phalaenopsis grows in nature. The phalaenopsis pot should:

1. To be a prop.
2. Keep moisture at the roots.
3. Protect roots from overheating, but do not impede photosynthesis.

If the pot does not fulfill the functions assigned to it, phalaenopsis will not be able to grow normally.

Primary requirements

Epiphytes and lithophytes, which are orchids, do not tolerate excessive moisture at the roots. This should be considered when choosing a pot in which you are going to plant phalaenopsis.

Capacity should provide:

• good outflow of moisture;
• active aeration of the substrate and root system;
• acceptable temperature conditions;
• light access for photosynthesis of roots;
• in the future, when transplanting - the ability to safely extract large, fragile and easily growing roots.

How to choose wisely?

Choosing the perfect pot for phalaenopsis, look at:

1. The required number of drainage holes: at the bottom and on the walls.

   If you like a plastic pot in which there are no holes, it does not matter. You will make them yourself.

2. Material transparency. In a transparent pot you can see when phalaenopsis needs watering, control the condition of the roots (how to water the flower correctly, read here).
3. Pot size. Many orchids like to live in a slightly tight container, but phalaenopsis does not apply to them. Cookware suitable for the size of the root system is suitable for him. The height and diameter of the pot should be equal to the diameter of its neck.

Together with the pot you need to purchase a cache-pot - a decorative pot without holes for draining water. Inside it is placed the main pot with phalaenopsis. This gives stability, increases humidity.

The cache-pot needs a recess at the bottom for draining water. The main pot of moisture should not touch. If there is no such recess, put expanded clay on the bottom of the pot, otherwise you will get a problem with rotting roots.

What is absolutely not suitable?

There are a number of containers that are categorically not suitable for phalaenopsis: So, in which pot you can not transplant an orchid:

1. Unburnt ceramic pot. Roots easily sprout into its porous surface, which subsequently during transplantation will lead to their inevitable injury.
2. For growth. Orchids grow very slowly, and a large amount of substrate is harmful to them (for details on what should be in the composition of the soil for phalaenopsis, read here). When transplanting, you need to choose a capacity that is larger than the previous one by a couple of centimeters (how to transplant a Phalaenopsis orchid at home, read here).
3. Oblong. This capacity is not suitable for phalaenopsis, it is better to take round, square and multifaceted (for ease of placement on the windowsill).

Description and photos of various types

We will tell you more about the varieties of pots and show them in the photo so that you can choose which one your plant needs.

Clay

Clay pots for orchids are not used as often as plastic ones, but their use is quite possible. Clay pots have several advantages.:

• Clay is an environmentally friendly, porous material. It allows the substrate to "breathe", does not allow stagnation of moisture.
• Clay perfectly retains moisture, spreads it evenly throughout the entire volume of the substrate, gives it gradually.
• The dishes are stable. She will not tip over under the weight of the plants.
• Ceramic pots are aesthetic.

Clay has its drawbacks. So that your phalaenopsis does not suffer, pay attention to:

1. Color. Clay is easily heated - in the sun or on a hot battery. Moisture begins to evaporate actively, the orchid dries up. Protect yourself from this by taking a pot of white or light shade - they heat less.
2. Wall finish. The roughness of the walls leads to the fact that the roots tightly stick to them. Choose a sleek, smooth ceramic.
3. The presence of holes in the walls, and not just in the bottom.

After you have chosen a clay container, do not rush to transplant phalaenopsis there. To begin with, hold it for several hours in water. Clay is “saturated” with moisture. In the future, it will be better to retain moisture, and less accumulate salt.

Plastic

Pots made of plastic are a classic. Advantages of Plastic Pots:

• the entire root system is visible;
• the possibility of root growth is excluded;
• good heat transfer;
• the ease with which additional drainage holes are made.

To choose the right pot, pay attention to:

1. Pot stability. If the plastic is very light, it is better to refuse the purchase: the orchid will turn over at the first flowering. Pick up a container of such a size that claydite or stones fit on the bottom for stability.
2. Drainage holes. If they are not there, and you plan to do them yourself, look at the quality of the plastic. Sometimes when drilling holes, the plastic just cracks.
3. Pot transparency. For phalaenopsis, this is very important.
4. The beauty of the flowerpot. If desired, you can find a very elegant plastic phalaenopsis pot.

Glass

Can Phalaenopsis be planted in glass? It's a difficult question. Typically closed glass containers are produced without drainage. In them, the roots will rot, algae will begin to grow.

There are two cases to choose a glass pot:

1. The apartment has very low humidity. In this case, an unventilated glass pot will be even better. And you can avoid overmoistening of the roots by applying a thick (half the capacity) layer of drainage.
2. The glass bowl is used as a pot, and not as the main pot.

In all other cases, refuse to purchase a glass vessel without drainage holes: the risk of ruining the plant is disproportionately high.

DIY making

Pros of a homemade pot:

• Homemade pots can be made, taking into account all the features of a particular plant and your apartment, to eliminate insufficient moisture, lack of light, etc.
• The ability to make a pot of the size you need. This is valuable for orchids with damaged roots, which need to be transplanted into a tiny pot.
• You can not waste time choosing the “right” pots, which are far from all stores.

Minuses:

• To make a pot with your own hands it will take a lot of time.
• The first crafts are guaranteed to be not very beautiful. But gradually you will “beat your hand”.

If you decide to make a phalaenopsis vessel yourself, use one of these options:

1. Coconut pot. Take a large coconut, scrub the contents and dry. Make the drainage holes a drill. This option is ideal for mini orchids: due to the naturalness of the material, it will create real tropical conditions, regulate the amount of moisture and air circulation.
2. Wooden or bamboo hanging basket. Harvest wooden planks or bamboo sticks as large as the finished product will be. Connect the strips at an angle of 90 degrees, using copper wire or a thick fishing line for fastening. At the bottom of the product, it is twisted into a strong knot, and at the top it is tied in rings so that the basket can be suspended. In order to prevent the substrate from spilling out, the openings in the finished basket are closed with large pieces of bark or moss-sphagnum.
3. Plastic Craft. Take any plastic container from the supermarket, for example, an ice cream bucket. Drill a sufficient number of holes in the bottom and side walls. It will be possible to do this with a drill or something hot: a nail, a knife. There should be more holes than in a store pot, because there are no legs in a homemade pot, because of this it will be worse to “breathe”.To prevent the roots of the phalaenopsis from being pressed into the bottom, place a champagne cork in the middle of the bottom. It will improve air exchange in the vessel.

What if the capacity of the plant did not fit?

Phalaenopsis do not like to be touched at all, so an unplanned transplant, especially during flowering, will affect them negatively. Focus on how bad the plant is in the tank:

• Moisture stagnates in the pot, greens grow - urgently transplant. Otherwise, the root system will rot.
• Insufficient air exchange, but the phalaenopsis leaves are green and strong, the roots do not have rotten spots. Leave the plant alone until the planned transplant, but for now, water less often (we talked about how often to water the plant and why it is important to observe the humidity regime).
• The pot is too small, phalaenopsis "falls" under the peduncle. Set it in a glass pot, tie it up and wait until the end of flowering.
• Capacity is great. Transplant - rather, the orchid will not grow up, but the roots will rot.

Now you know which pot is needed for phalaenopsis. Consider all the needs of the plant - and in your chosen flowerpot it will flourish lushly!