Types Of Pots For Orchids – Are There Special Containers For Orchid Plants.
In the wild, most orchids grow in slightly hot, humid wooded areas, such as tropical rain forests. They are often found growing extremely in the top part of living trees trunk, on the sides of downed, rotted trees or on not smooth shaded slopes. The reasons they grow well in these natural areas are because they can take in water from the natural humidity without very strong sunlight making too much transpiration happen, and also because of draining away heavy tropical rains from their roots quickly when they grow on trees or slopes.
While the orchids we buy from nurseries have never gotten growing extremely in rain forests, restricting their roots to a pot goes against their original nature. Because of this, as orchid growers, we must do our best to select pots that allow them to develop to their full potential. About Orchid Containers When you purchase an orchid from a greenhouse or nursery, they are normally sold in transparent plastic pots with numerous drainage holes. These transparent plastic pots may be placed inside attractive glazed pots and sold altogether or the attractive pots may be sold separately as an extra item. The attractive pots are purely esthetical, generally lack suitable drainage and are actually not necessary at all.
Actually, attractive pots without suitable drainage holes can often lead to overwatering and root diseases in orchids. Additional, the chemicals in glazes used for ceramic pots can be very hazardous to the roots of sensitive orchids. The transparent plastic pot has some advantages for orchids and orchid growers, though. Transparent plastic pots can allow us to easily change attractive containers to match to different holidays or room decoration. Nevertheless, if you do place these transparent plastic pots in attractive pots, it is a good idea to take out them during watering to allow for appropriate drainage. Transparent plastic pots also let us easily examine carefully the roots of our orchids for pests, disease or overpopulation. When left out of attractive pots, the transparent plastic pots permit the orchid roots to take in sunlight, as they would in nature growing on the side of a tree.
This means the roots can photosynthesize and give energy to the plant too. Are there particular Containers for Orchids? Do orchids require particular pots? Many greenhouses or nurseries that sell orchids will sell particular pots for orchids too. The specific container for orchid ordinarily have slats or pattern shapes on the sides to permit for good drainage and air flow to the roots. Slatted boxes made of wood are also sold as orchid containers. Nevertheless, you don’t need to spend a large of money on specialized containers for orchid plants. Any pot with good drainage can keep an orchid. When growing orchids in containers, ensure to choose pots with 4-12 drainage holes. Most orchids prefer shallower short pots, because their roots don’t like all the moisture kept in deep pots and anyway, they just don’t want the depth as their roots spread out, not down.
While using a deep pot, put lava rock or packing peanuts at the bottom of the pot to save some money on avoidable potting medium which the orchid roots will never use, but also to improve drainage. When repotting an orchid every 1-2 years, only select a pot that is about an inch wider than the pot before; it does not require to be any deeper, simply wider. Kinds of Orchid Pots Below are the pros and cons of different pots for orchids: Plastic Pots – Plastic pots hold more moisture in the pot mix. They can help keep the roots warmer in cooler climates too. Plastic pots are very lightweight and can turn over easily with tall, top heavy plants. Clay or Terra Cotta Pots – Clay pots are weightier, needing less tipping. They can keep orchid roots cooler in warm weathers too.
A number of clay or terra cotta pot have one drainage hole, but the clay take breaths and let water to disappear quicker; therefore, you may have to pour water more often. Slatted wooden Containers or Baskets – counting on what potting media you use, it can pour out of slats in wooden slatted pots or baskets, thus you might want to form a layer over them with pieces of moss. Wooden slatted containers or baskets permit for lots of drainage and air flow to the roots, so you may have to water them often. Another way orchid growers display their prized orchids is by placing them on driftwood or actual trees.
Orchid Water Requirements: How Much Water
Do Orchids Need? Orchids have a reputation for being fiddly. Many people don’t grow them because orchids are thought to be too hard. While they’re not the easiest plants to grow, but they’re not too difficult. One important aspect is knowing how and when to water an orchid appropriately. It’s not as puzzling as you might think, and when you know what you’re doing, it’s surprisingly easy. Continue reading to know more about how to water orchids and orchid water needs. How much water does orchid require? Maybe the biggest error people make while growing orchids is watering them too much. Even though they’re tropical and like humidity, orchid water needs are actually fairly low. Actually, orchids like their growing medium to dry out before watering.
For testing this, put a finger in the growing medium. If it’s dry around an inch down, it’s time to water. For indoor orchids, this will probably interpret to around once a week. It will be a bit more often for outdoor orchids. Knowing how to water orchids is also imperative. When it’s time to water, don’t only dampen the top of the potting medium. If your orchid is growing in a pot, put it in the sink and pour warm water over it in a gentle way till it moves freely from the drainage holes. Never use cold water – anything below 50 F. (10 C.) can be seriously harmful to the roots.
How to water orchid, there’s more to knowing when to water an orchid than only the frequency. Time of day is very vital too. Always water your orchid in the morning so that the moistness has time to evaporate.Watering orchids at night permits water to settle down into niches and small holes and boosts fungal development. While they don’t do well for sitting in water, orchids like humidity. You can make a humid condition by filling a tray with a layer of gravel and adding just sufficient water that the gravel isn’t very submerged. Put the orchid’s pot in this tray – the evaporating water from the gravel tray will surround your orchid in moisture without flooding its roots.
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