Orchid pots with holes or without holes

[manisha]

Hi

I recently purchased moth phals from local vendor and i asked him that can we use decorative pots for phals as attached in pics (See pot1 and pot2 image ).

He said since orchids needs to have much ventilation hence you cannot use. Need to use pots like attached image pot3.

But i have seen on webpage and orchid flower shows they use decorative pots.

Also pots like image -pot3 are not available in India.

So using decorative or ceramic pots for orchids good or not ?



Thanks,
Manisha

[james mickelso]

Your orchids need as much air to the roots as possible. You can pot in clay or plastic and put these pots in decorative pots as long as you put some kind of spacer under the inner pot so air can circulate around the inner pot. Take it out to water it and let it drain for awhile before putting it back into the decorative pot.

[dounoharm]

ditto james, in addition, I only use the decorative pots when I put a plant on display....when it is not blooming, I put it back in the grow area without any decorative pot, so that it may breathe and grow to its capacity....always keep them well ventilated! good luck!

[tucker85]

I agree. Most of my phals are in plastic pots with lots of holes. When they're in bloom I place the plastic pot inside a decorative pot to display the plant, but even then I try to use a decorative pot that's big enough to allow air movement around the plastic pot.

[Cym Ladye]

The decorative outer pot everyone is referring to is commonly called a "cachepot", a French term and pronounced "cashpo". As everyone has said, use only for decorative purposes and do not plant directly into one unless it has excellent drainage. Orchids are epiphytes for the most part (living on trees), and not terrestrials, (roots in the ground). Provide accordingly for happy roots which equals happy plants!

[RandomGemini]

I do what James says with mine. I have some pots with holes in them and some without. I plant in plastic pots that have had holes cut into the sides, or are pre-slotted for me. I use another cut up pot to make a sort of stand in the bottom of the glazed pot and then I place these orchids in plastic pots, inside the decorative pot to keep the plant stable.

I have three big dogs in the house. If I didn't do this, my orchids would constantly be in the floor.

[Bud]

Majority of my orchids are in a net pot or plastic pots with slit holes on the sides and under.
I use cachepots if I have a tall top heavy plant and it needs anchor not to topple down.....or for presentation when I photograph the flowers....
But ideally you want to choose pots with holes ....it is inconvenient to keep on removing the inner pot when watering. Stagnant water will cause root rot.