Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:31 pm
No question – orchids are among the most beautiful and aesthetic houseplants. They not only give a very special ambience, but also have that certain class. But this comes at a price: orchids are among the houseplants that require some attention when caring for them. Many people are therefore uncertain and ask themselves, for example: Do orchid pots need to be transparent?
In fact, orchid pots should be transparent. Because the roots of orchids need a lot of light. This they get in nature from the fact that they grow on the branches of other plants. If the pots are not transparent, orchids would not get enough light.
In this article we will explain why orchid roots need so much light, what the pot should be like and give you tips and info on flower pots for orchids.
Contents
Why orchid pots should be transparent
What at first sounds like an absurd question, has its justification. Because orchids are not like other plants. It is not for nothing that they are called the “queens of houseplants”. And queens have demands.
This starts with their growth. In nature, many orchid species grow on the branches and twigs of other trees. This exposes them to particularly high levels of light. And orchids have become accustomed to this. Or, to put it another way, orchids can’t grow without a lot of light at their roots.
Of course, at home you can not plant a tree on which orchids could settle. But in ordinary flower pots, the roots do not get light and the orchid can not grow. So you need flower pots that let through a lot of light – such as glass.
Material
In any case, an orchid pot should be translucent. The material is actually relatively unimportant: it can be made of glass as well as matte or colored plastic. Here you should go entirely according to your visual taste and make sure that it fits the overall ambience of your home.
Size
You can put smaller and medium-sized orchids in a pot with a diameter of about 8 cm. If the orchids are fully grown and the root growth is healthy, we recommend a pot with a diameter of about 12-13 cm.
Rule of thumb: choose pots should rather be too narrow than too wide, because orchids like it rather cozy.
What is an orchid planter?
Such a transparent pot, which allows the roots of orchids to pass a lot of light, may have a special aesthetic: You can see the interaction of roots and substrate very well. However, there are also people who find transparent or translucent pots unattractive. This is because the sight of roots and soil is a stark contrast to the delicate flowers.
Here, special orchid planters offer a solution: they provide high aesthetics and still provide the plants with enough light. These different varieties are available:
Special orchid pots.
This is a vessel made of ceramic, which perfectly imitates the humid tropical climate. The planter contains holes on the sides so that the roots get enough light. In addition, they contain a bottom tray, through which high humidity is ensured. It is also suitable for the windowsill
Orchitop pots
Orchitop is a patented orchid planter design. It can be used to keep orchids on the windowsill. Here, rods rather than a continuous surface provide the necessary support for the soil and roots. These can grow outward through the gaps in the rods and have enough light and air.
Round ceramic pots
From the outside, this flower pot looks like any other – but the difference is hidden inside: Here, a so-called culture pot rests in the middle on a pedestal about 4 cm high. Consequently, there is no waterlogging, which the orchid does not tolerate so well.
Glass pots
Free view for free growth: Pots made of glass let a lot of light through, which the roots of the orchids are happy about. They thank you with good growth. The prerequisite, of course, is that you water the orchids sufficiently, fertilize them and put them in the right place. The color of the glass does not matter, but you should make sure that not too much UV rays are filtered from the light
Plastic pots
In addition to glass, of course, plastic is also used for ceramic pots. The advantage over glass pots: they are more resistant to breakage, which is a great advantage in households with animals or small children. Plastic pots are also lower in price than glass pots.
Windowsill bowls
You can also showcase your orchids as a group on the windowsill. Elongated bowls that are between 60 and 100 cm long help here. The sides are raised, so that the culture pots that are inside are hardly noticeable. Neither do the roots. The special feature: inside the side walls is a grid that prevents waterlogging.
Climate vase
The climate vase is also a patented orchid pot. With this pot, you do not need a substrate, i.e. no soil – the rotting or waterlogging problem takes care of itself. The nutrients are supplied by a piece of charcoal. Due to the special design of the vase, the water that you pour on the charcoal evaporates and drips down the inwardly bent rim – so you only need to water your orchids about every 8-10 weeks.
How to care for orchids without soil?
Orchids can be cultivated without soil. If you wish to do so, simply fill a glass jar with lukewarm water every two to three days (in summer). Make sure that neither the leaf axils nor the heart of the plant get wet. Wait about half an hour and then pour the water out again. Alternatively, you can take your orchid out of the glass vase and immerse it briefly in water. The advantage of this is that the water can drip off better. You can also use mineral water – but never salt water. This would dry out your orchids.
What types of orchids are there?
Orchids can be divided into three main categories. These are:
epiphytic
This means that the orchids grow on other plants – but not as parasites, meaning that the orchids live in symbiosis with the other plants.
terrestrial
The orchid, like many other plants, grows directly on the ground.
lithophytic
These orchid species grow on stones or rocks.
There are currently more than 30,000 different species. Among them are also different hybrids and subspecies as well as various cultivated forms. More than half of all species are epiphytic orchids. Whatever orchid species you have: We wish you a lot of fun with your flowers and good luck with their care.