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Those new to gardening or new to orchids might find it surprising that pots exist made specifically for growing orchids. The best pots for orchids provide the ideal home for your orchid whether you want to grow it indoors or outdoors.
First, we’ll cover what makes a planter ideal for an orchid or African violet. The types of pots you use for these two plants also work well for other tropical plants. That goes beyond just airflow and drainage. Read on to learn what goes into making the best orchid pots and our list of the top pots to choose for your orchids.
This includes a ballpark price for the pot when available. We also note if prices vary between stores.
We’ll go through the benefits and drawbacks of each style of orchid container in this post. As a result, you’ll be able to make an informed selection depending on your type of orchid plants and growth conditions.
Orchid Care at a Glance
Common name: Orchid, Moth Orchid
Scientific name: Phalaenopsis
Soil: Aerated, well-draining orchid soil mix
Light: Partial or Dappled Shade
Water: Enough to keep the soil lightly moist
Soil pH: Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Temperature and humidity: Standard household to high humidity
Propagation: By division
Safety: Toxic if consumed by pets or people
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots. Suitable for hanging baskets, Needs repotting every 2 to 3 years
Miscellaneous: Epiphytic
Related: Orchid Care For Beginners – 2022 Growers Guide
The orchid pot, potting mix, and air humidity all have a big influence on how often your orchid has to be watered.
The Best Pots for Orchids
Best Overall:
This handmade alabaster pebble pot works for florals, orchids, and succulents. Its artisan pottery isn’t just for show although you should appreciate its aggregates and pebbles worked into the surface.
Handmade artisan pottery molded from pebbles and aggregates. Pebble Pots will drain and breath through the porous aggregates making the pottery ideal for orchids, succulents and florals.
They do have built-in drainage that seeps through the porous aggregates. You do need a saucer underneath it if you use it inside.
It measures four inches in height and six inches in circumference.
Choose from four available colors. Pick this pot up for less than $20.
Best Budget:
This set of six seven-inch clear plastic orchid flower planters provides you with dandy drainage plus terrific air circulation.
And not only do the orchid’s roots obtain all the needed nutrients, but its clear nature lets you watch your plant grow.
The clear orchid pot allows the orchid's roots to receive the nutrients they need to grow from the light and air.
It makes it simple to check on the roots and monitor the dryness or moisture of the substratum.
You can slip these into decorative flowerpots without repotting or hurting your plants. These orchid pots measure five inches in height, 6.7 inches in diameter at the top, and 4.53 inches at the bottom. They cost less than $19.
Best Runner Up:
These white decorative porcelain orchid containers feature drainage holes and a saucer. You can use a slotted liner in these.
Air circulation and the right amount of water are critical to growing your orchid. Our Ceramic Orchid Pot with holes keeps roots from suffocating or being water-logged. As much a home decor as a plant pot, its' artfully placed ventilation and drainage holes allow air and water to flow freely through the potting medium and roots.
They’re big enough and you will be able to use the pots indoors or outside. You won’t have to re-pot if you use the clear pots inside these porcelain pots. The pots measure 5.75 inches in height, 6.5 inches in diameter at the top, and 5.5 inches at the bottom. The handcrafted porcelain complements any décor. You’ll spend less than $40 on this pot.
Best under:
Choose the Allen+Roth Orchid Pot if you have a large orchid to pot. Its 6.8-inch height provides a lot of plant space.
The cut-out planter is designed to provide air to roots to promote plant health
Its 8.2-inch width provides a massive amount of room for your plant to grow. This decorative orchid pot looks lovely on the patio or your coffee table.
It provides crosscut drainage in a design that suits a Victorian or gothic look. The drainage design helps the plant get added airflow.
Its creamy color complements any décor. You won’t need a saucer for this pot since it comes with a drip tray. The cost of this varies by store.
What kind Of Pot should you choose For Orchids
There are a variety of orchid pot designs sold in garden centers and online, some of which are listed below:
Decorative Pots With Net Pots Or Baskets
There are so many lovely pots to choose from that it’s difficult to resist utilizing them to house our orchids. A piece of hand-thrown pottery has a particular quality about it. It’s a work of art. Pottery, unlike terracotta or plastic pots, may be costly.
Clear plastic may be used to house the orchid in decorative orchid pots, making it simple to check the roots and moisture levels. I like the pottery’s base to be thinner than the plastic pot’s, so that the plastic pot rests above the pottery’s base. This keeps the orchid’s roots out of the water by allowing excess water to flow out of the plastic pot and catch in the secondary pot.
For increased ventilation, these containers are generally composed of black PVC plastic with a bigger diameter mesh hole. They’re more of a mesh pot than a net pot.
Basket Inset Pots are similar to mesh pots, except they are meant to sit within another container, such as a more beautiful pot. They’re also useful in ponds and hydroponics, but they’re also great for growing orchids.
If you wish to use them in a more ornamental post, they should have a tapered bottom (V-shape), which allows them to sit neatly within the decorative container.
Clear Plastic Pots
To allow light to reach the roots, clear orchid pot are sometimes utilized. You can keep an eye on your plant and ensure it’s developing appropriately, as well as keep on top of any root rot concerns before they occur, thanks to its see-through materials.
Clay Or Ceramic Pots
Orchids may be presented in both clay pots and ceramic glazed pots for a more beautiful and sophisticated presentation. However, your pot must have two essential characteristics.
Look for air holes in the bottom of the pot to see if there are any. Alternatively, you may use a plastic inner pot or mesh airflow pot insert, but make sure there is enough air gap between the sides of the pot and the plastic air pot to allow for proper ventilation.
Drainage Orchids despise sitting in damp soil, so adequate drainage is essential. You can use a ceramic container with a tray or saucer to capture water run-off, or you can use an air pot slightly elevated inside the container.
Your orchid container, whether plastic, clay, or ceramic, must be large enough to comfortably accommodate the plant while also allowing ventilation and water run-off, which takes us to the next point… size of the pot
Choosing The Right Size Orchid Pot
It’s essential to have the appropriate size container for your orchids if you want them to develop well. Always choose a pot large enough to accommodate the roots. The roots will appear constricted and twisted if it is too tiny. If the roots become too big, they may rot.
Repot your orchids every 6 months to 3 years as a general guideline. Orchids should be placed in containers that are 4 inches in diameter and up to 6 inches in diameter.
Keep in mind the size of a plastic air pot insert in relation to your ornamental pot to ensure proper ventilation and drainage.
Frequently Asked Questions
First-time orchid pot shopping can seem complex. There are many variables to finding the right pot or planter. We address the major questions here.
Do these items come only as single pots or can you find sets?
The lovely orchid plant needs room to grow. If you purchase a few small seedlings, you will need more than one pot. You can purchase potting sets, so if you like a particular design, look for it in a set.
Do orchids require slotted pots?
Since orchids easily develop root rot, they require a slotted pot to encourage drainage. The slots can also help the roots from overcrowding as well as letting sunlight reach the roots and encouraging airflow.
From what materials do they make these pots?
You can choose plastic or ceramic pots. Plastic pots can either be heavy-duty or light. Ceramic pots should be heavy-duty to lessen their chance of breaking if knocked over.
In what sizes do these planters come?
The pot or planter you choose needs to provide enough depth to grow healthy roots. Some orchids require a special pot, shaped for their needs and root depth. This means a lot of variety exists in orchid pots since they have more than 200 identified species as well as cultivated hybrids.
In what colors and patterns are these orchid pots made?
You can bring added color to the life of your garden by buying orchid pots in colors to match your interior décor or your outdoor garden. You can buy them to match your lawn furniture or awnings.
What is an under-pot saucer?
While you need a pot with terrific drainage, when used indoors, you also need a saucer to go beneath it. That’s because as the water drains, it leeks on your windowsills, tables, countertops, etc. It can ruin the surface of many pieces of furniture by creating water rings and rotting the wood.