The orchids are a family of plants with over 25,000 species . These are flowers with a very characteristic shape, which can have a variety of colors and which are becoming more and more popular as a gift flower.
Currently, they are spread practically all over the world , but they are especially important in India, Madagascar, China and the Himalayas.
Orchid Pots
The vast majority of orchids are epiphytic plants . This means that they are species that live in their natural habitat, anchoring themselves to trees or rocks instead of being buried.
So if you bury your orchid in a pot with soil, as is common with other plants, it is very likely that you will end up killing the plant by rotting its roots, which are better if they are ventilated.
Therefore, the choice of pots for orchids is very important , since in addition to conventional clay pots , there are also other types of containers that are particularly recommended for these plants. The orchids usually use small vessels, although there are exceptions, such as orchids that require larger pots in which fits its large root system.
These are the most recommended pots for orchids :
Transparent plastic pots : They are the most suitable for those whose roots warn us when the plant needs to be watered, since they allow us to see its root system without having to manipulate the plant.
Metal mesh pots : They allow better breathing of the roots and their design allows easy hanging in high places, both for aesthetic reasons, and to place the plant in places where it receives more sunlight.
Wooden pots : Made from a special type of rot resistant wood. Its design also leaves small holes that improve both the respiration of the root system and the drainage of the container. It is advisable to cover your interior walls with a layer of moss before adding the substrate.
Of course, we can also resort to ceramic pots or special pots for orchids that are sold in specialized stores.
Substrate for Orchids
There are 3 main types of orchid substrates that can be produced depending on the particular orchid species. All coincide in their absence of soil, which does not benefit the roots of these plants .
We have chosen blends consisting of one part perlite, one part medium quality charcoal and four parts of fine, medium or coarse grained coconut shell or fiber or fir bark.
Coarse Mix : This substrate is especially recommended for Cymbidium and other large species.
Medium mix : recommended for Cattleya and Phalaenopsis species, among others.
Fine mixture : one of the most used for Oncidium, Paphiopedilum, Oncidiinae and basically all those that need more humidity due to its small roots.