Small talk about orchids pots.
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| Vandas superpots of the different size from white clay. |
All methods are good, they all have the same goal - the creation of conditions better as possible for the life of the plant.
Amateur collections usually consist of many different orchids species.
Even if you own orchidarium or a greenhouse, it is difficult under one roof to create conditions suitable for so different species.
How to create on 12 sq. m. climate of the high mountains of the Himalayas and rainwater forests of Brazil without fantastic sum of money ?
The answer is simple - do something average.
Average humidity , the average temperature, average light . What will survive - it will survive. From exotics you have to give up. From orchis, requiring the creation of the climate, obviously not relevant to your potential - too.
Do not be sad, there are enough species!
Naturally, that should give utmost attention to detail a simple and affordable to your chosen method of cultivation. One of performing such details, of course, is the pot.
Not so much detail, you might say. You are right. Let's tallk in this article about the pots.
Pot and his role.
When we talk about pot, we mean not only pots, but also
baskets
and blocks .
Everything that is used for planting orchids.
Without going into supermethods, consider the role of a planting pots in the three classic methods to planting orchids: in pots, blocks
and baskets.
The obvious pots requirements are:
- Pot should contain a substrate and serve as a support for the roots.
- Pots capacity should be slightly larger than the volume of roots. Should be a place for growth of roots, but should not be a lot of the substrate, not covered by the roots, because of rot problem.
- Pot should gladden the eye and emphasize the features of orchids.
- Pot should be stable and not topple, even with the taller plants.
- Pot must be air- and moisture permeable. Most orchids are epiphytes!
- Pot may be porous, which helps the plant and the substrate to breathe, but, on the other hand, contributes to the accumulation of salts and require washings.
- Pot may be made of a material to which the roots of plants with pleasure adhere, but you do create difficulties for the transplant plants.
- Pot may have a different number of holes for aeration and remove excess moisture, different kinds of orchids need it in varying degrees.
- Pot should be chemically neutral. What a strange discharge from the walls of the pot under the influence acid solution fertilizer will not be useful to your orchids.
- Pot may vary considerably in form and proportions. There are species, which like high and narrow tank (Cimbidium), for others, flat and wide (coelogyine).
- capacity may be transparent. For species in which photosynthesize and roots (as phalaenopsis, in particular), transparent containers is essential.
In other words, buy at a store orchids pots unlikely to be correct without examining the needs of your species.
Material.
Pots made of very different materials. Plastic, ceramic, wood, coconut, palm fiber, etc.
You can divide the material into two categories: organic and inorganic. And you can, for example, by the time of service: the eternal and short
life. Also on moisture, and air permeability. Weight. Form. Their beauty, finally.
There is what to choose the specific requirements of a specific orchid.
So for phalaenopsis choose a transparent plastic pot, slightly higher than necessary (lightweight plastic, have to put a couple of stones of
granite or basalt at the bottom, that would not be overturned).
But for Cattleyas take
unglazed pottery. She breathes and as Cattleyas should dry out between watering, then the porosity of clay play a positive role. In addition,
the slowly evaporating moisture from surface, pot cools a substrate, which is very useful.
You can put in wooden basket .
Classic way. Works great. Ventilated. Very well kept substrate, excellent drainage, is beautiful.
But there are specific disadvantages. Wood like not only people but also to insects. Wood rots. Impregnation may damage the roots.
OK, make the basket of plastic.
It is possible, but ugly.
What if the string any pot with a basket? Make a ceramic basket, made of porous clay.
After extensive experimentation, study the experience of other people, thought and advice from experts, we came, we think, to the best
models of pots for tree different orchid species.
vanda,
jewel orchids and
neofinetia.
Let us consider each separately. Article gives a very long, so we split it into three.
About vanda.
About neofinetia.
About jewel orchids.