Given that orchids are a beauty to look at, it’s only natural that their growing container should be equally aesthetically pleasing. The pot-creating community has excelled with some amazing designs of late.
So, it’s no surprise that orchid pots are fast becoming a game changer for orchids and many other plants.
But, can you use orchid pots for other plants?
Yes, you surely can use these pots for other plants. It won’t make any difference at all.
The most attractive aspects of these growing containers are their affordable price tag and sheer convenience. They are made from cheap plastic or woven fiber and offer exceptional drainage.
They also have strategically cut holes or slits to allow air and light to reach the root areas.
These holes help with aeration and prevent conditions such as root rot from forming. This is the exact reason they can suit a range of other plants.
The biggest issue surrounding pot choice is adequate drainage, so these containers are perfect. Let’s look at how to use them with other plants in more detail, shall we?
Table of Contents
What are Orchid pots? Why are orchid pots different?
When planting, nurturing and growing an orchid, we must look at how they grow in their natural environment.
Their growth patterns and methods are quite unique as they are mainly found in jungle areas.
You often spot them growing on tree branches with their root system almost completely exposed to air, rain and humidity.
Orchid pots or containers are designed in a way that they should emulate these conditions.
The soil needs to stay moist without being overly soggy via proper drainage points. Additionally, airflow must pass through unhindered, allowing complete oxygen access to the root system.
Orchid pots differ from traditional growing pots by being manufactured in such a way that they are light and airy. They generally have pre-cut slits or are fabricated using breathable fibers to allow adequate aeration.
Can You Use Orchid Pots for Other Plants?
Yes, you can use orchid pots for other plants. It won’t cause any hassle for doing that. It will suits most of the plants (if not all), and that will also make your room/garden more beautiful and elegant.
The different features of Orchid Pots
There are a few significant features that make orchid pots differ from your more traditional style pots. These include the materials used to create them, their prominent drainage holes and the fact that some can come transparent. Let’s have a look at those features in a little more detail.
Orchid Pot Materials
In general, there are 3 materials or styles that orchid pots use to separate them from the more traditional construction of growing containers. These include terracotta, plastic and baskets.
The first 2 are more construction materials, and the latter is the style, but several materials can also be used to create them.
Baskets can be made from just about any material that holds soil and/or growing material whilst promoting aeration. Orchids like growing in clay because it is porous, which makes them breathable and offers exceptional drainage.
Plastic is another great choice because it can be formed, shaped, sliced and altered further. To top it off, the containers can be purchased at a very reasonable price to suit the needs of an orchid plant.
Should orchid pots have drainage holes?
Orchids are a special kind of plant. The way they grow up in the treetops with their roots exposed to the elements makes them require similar growing conditions when having them potted around the home.
Having sufficient drainage holes allows their root systems to stay alive. The simple fact is that they will die if the roots are left sitting in stagnant water.
Unlike other plant species, the orchid must have this requirement met at all times to ensure that it continues to flaunt its beauty.
Why are orchid pots clear?
Clear pots are widely known to be the number one choice for orchid growers. The reason being is that the transparent plastic allows the root system to absorb essential sunlight.
This method mimics their natural growing conditions. The plant can grow stronger and faster via photosynthesis if the roots are allowed prime access to the sun.
Are orchid pots good for plants?
Orchid pots are advantageous to plants that have similar growing condition requirements. For example, orchids need adequate drainage and aeration, and the roots need access to an abundant amount of sunlight. These 3 requirements alone are needed just to keep an orchid alive.
So with that in mind, any plant with similar requirements will benefit from using a similar pot style and composition. Plants such as cacti, palms and citrus require adequate drainage and aerated soil and would thrive in these types of pots.
There are, however, certain plant species that they wouldn’t be suited to, such as roses, Japanese maple and Tartarian Dogweed.
These plants need tight water retention and prefer heavy clay-type soils that can clog the terracotta pores.
How Can you use orchid pots for other plants?
If you want to use an orchid pot to home another type of plant species, the process is much similar to that of planting an orchid, except with a few minor tweaks. Let’s look at how to pot a plant that isn’t an orchid in an orchid pot.
Prepare the Potting Medium
The potting medium you choose needs to be able to be added to the pot with the slots and drainage holes in mind. This means that it’s not ideal to use a medium that can easily crumble and filter out through them. It is more of a problem with plastic pots.
Add enough medium into the pot, leaving space for the plant to be placed. Once the medium is added, it’s a good idea to give it a decent amount of water without flooding the whole pot.
This will allow the plant to receive moisture from underneath the second it is added to the pot.
Prepare the Container
Depending on where the container came from, it may need to be sanitized to ensure that any disease or pests cannot be transferred to the new plant and cause damage. Allow the pot to air dry once satisfied with the cleanout.
Remove Plant from Existing Pot
Tip the plant upside down with the plant base resting in your hand and free away any excess soil. Inspect the root system to ensure no damage should be tended to before rehoming it.
You may need to trim away any dead or decaying roots, stems and/or leaves.
Repot Plant
Once you are satisfied that the plant is ready, simply nestle the root system into the new, fresh-growing medium. Add some more of the soil mix and any necessary nutrients around the sides and top. Carefully pack around the plant to secure it upright and in place.
Water Properly
After the plant sits in its new home, giving it a light amount of water is always a good idea to help the soil fit uniformly with the plant. This process is standard procedure; the most important part is choosing the right growing medium and composition for the chosen plant.
What other plants can go in orchid pots?
Many types and combinations of plants can be grown in orchid pots. You can even grow more than one in bigger or longer-style pots. The list can be almost never-ending.
As long as the chosen plant has similar growth requirements, they are well suited for these pots.
This includes not only drainage, aeration and light exposure but also temperature, humidity and watering needs. Some of the most common plants that an orchid pot is used to plant include:
Succulents:
- Jade Plant.
- Aloe Vera.
- Snake Plant.
- Panda Plant.
- Christmas Cactus.
Palms:
- Chinese Fan Palm.
- Majesty Palm.
- Cascade Palm.
- Ponytail Palm.
- Sago Palm.
Rubber trees and philodendrons are also great additions to an orchid pot.
What is in the orchid potting mix?
The greatest needs to fill for an orchid are adequate drainage, aeration and light to the roots. Regarding soil choice, choosing the right mix is crucial to their survival. Because the root system can be quite fragile, it’s important to add long-lasting materials.
This saves from continual uprooting and disturbing the plant when doing so if required. Potting mix alone is far too dense and will suffocate the root system.
Materials such as Fir, Monterey bark, perlite, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, and shredded bark are beneficial additives because they are extremely phorus and offer great drainage.
They can be mixed in with the organic soil base. Clay pellets are another addable option for extra drainage and aeration.
Can Orchid Potting Mix Be Used For Other Plants?
The potting mix used to grow an orchid can be used on other plants if the chosen plant has similar soil requirements.
Some plants require densely packed soils that retain water, and others prefer well-draining soil that allows the roots to grow freely without becoming suffocated and drowning.
Many, many plant species prefer the same soil requirements as an orchid. It’s just a matter of finding the right one to suit your needs. These soil compositions can benefit from plants such as African violets, tree ferns, or tropical plants.
Avoid planting succulents in a mix created for orchids, as they don’t like to have any moisture retention underneath the roots.
What do you do with old orchid pots?
You can use old orchid pots for plants with the same pot requirements. Aside from planting, we’re heading into some craft and upcycling territory here. Old orchid pots can be sterilized, reused, or repurposed as household storage containers.
Home items include napkins, kids crafting materials, linens, tool accessories (screws, nails, drill bits), chip clips or other countertop kitchen utensils. Your imagination is your only limit. We’ve seen birdbaths, peg holders, watering system accessory holders, etc. Pinterest has a ton of amazing ideas which you wouldn’t have even thought of!
Conclusion:
Orchid pots are not only visually appealing but also pretty reasonably priced. They aren’t only used for orchids either. As long as the plant you wish to rehome has similar pot requirements, these bad boys are fair game. We hope that this article has been helpful. As always, happy growing!
