The Perfect Pot And Soil For Your Orchid Plant

So... you've hung out at the local greenhouses, envying them their plants. Their orchids are lovely - colorful and robust with a lingering fragrance. Then you come home, and reality hits you - your own orchid plants look too small, and not colorful enough. How can you help them?

If you want to become successful at orchid gardening, you must choose the correct pot, as well as the proper potting mix, to plant in. It sounds complicated, but it isn't, not really. You know what works for your other house-plants, so you can apply some of that experience in your orchid care.

There are what seems like acres of different pots to check out. There are different materials and sizes... you wonder which to pick, as you check out the local garden center or price pots online. Just do some reading up on the orchid plant, and you will learn which pots will work best.

So you visit the garden center. First you see plastic pots. They're very lightweight, and they allow plants to drain, which makes for a good indoor pot. Of course, if you'll be using them outdoors at all, you realize that you'll be picking them up every time the wind blows them over. The clear pots are still tempting, though, since your orchid plant can get light to its roots.

Next to the plastic pots are terracotta pots. These are heavier, and have the drainage hole in the bottom as well. These will allow any extra water to escape, and will prevent some cases of rot that can be caused by over-watering. A terracotta pot is a great choice for the epiphytic orchid plant, which can survive drought but which succumbs to root rot if over-watered. Terracotta pots make orchid care easier by preventing this common problem.

Next, you see the basket pots. These work well for orchids with pendant flowers and those who like to sprawl. These pots come in several different materials, too - pottery, plastic, mesh wood and wire. These are worthwhile pot choices, as they will make orchid gardening less of a chore. They allow plenty of air circulation around the roots.

If you happen to see that your orchids are looking pot-bound, or like they need more room, you may think they need to be transplanted. But swallow that instinct, since many varieties of the orchid plant grow well in a smaller pot. Underpotting is actually common in orchid care, because orchids' root systems do well that way. Only transplant if you need to, and some varieties do better if they are never transplanted.

After you select a pot type to use, it's time to pick a potting mix.

You can't fill your pot with yard dirt and grow an orchid plant in it. They prefer soil with some organic and some inorganic materials in it. And there are different grades of potting mix - some are more coarse and some are more fine. Which type does your orchid plant need?

Fir bark is easily available, and is inexpensive to buy. It doesn't rot easily, although when first planted, it has difficulty in holding water.

Redwood bark can hold water more efficiently, and it also decays only at a very slow rate.

Coconut husks are one of the most popular choices for those engaged in orchid gardening. They are not expensive, and they do well at holding onto water. They do decay faster, though. That is their main drawback.

You needn't select just one soil for your orchids. If you have experience, you know what your orchid plants prefer. You can combine the ingredients and make your own potting mix.

Pot and soil selection are important parts of orchid care. Give them the best and they will give you a beautiful indoor garden.

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