potting
for growing specimen plants
the
potting
for growing specimen plants
what you'll need:
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| You should have a clean orchid ready for potting. If not, go back a page or consult the menu. We usually use a nine or ten inch pot (or larger) for specimen size cattleyas and other sympodial orchids. Choose plastic or clay depending on your culture. You may also use a basket or mount for specimen plants but the presentation is not as neat. |
Although this is an orchid pot, it will be beneficial if you enlarge the center drainage hole. Use any heavy pliers or other metal tool to slowly chip away at the drainage hole of a clay pot. You can use shears or a soldering iron to enlarge the drainage hole of a plastic pot. |
The most important concern with any large orchid plant is to provide air to the center of the pot. Without aeration, the media will stay too wet causing it to decay rapidly. The roots of the orchid will eventually die under these conditions. The obvious solution, is to replace the interior of the pot with a space. Use an inverted clay or plastic net pot over the center drainage hole for this purpose. |
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Using large, coarse drainage material will also help provide aeration to the interior of the pot. Here we are using landscape lava rock, but styrofoam peanuts, pieces of broken clay pots (crock), large pieces of charcoal (not briquettes!) all serve the same purpose. The material should not contain any noxious chemicals and be relatively inert so that it does not decompose rapidly. |
Place the orchid in the pot so that the oldest part of the plant is against the rim of the pot and the new growths face the center. Notice that this orchid has enough space for about two years growth. If the orchid sits high on the small inverted pot you may need to use sterile shears to remove more of the root mass or try another pot. A plastic net pot can easily be cut down to size. |
Begin adding potting media around the orchid - do not cover the rhizome. Choose your potting media based upon your cultural practices. Whatever media you choose, use the coarse grade for potting large specimen plants. Here we are using an inorganic aggregate because it will not break down and suffocate the roots. |
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 Even if the orchid itself is a miniature, specimen plants command attention - every orchid collection deserves a few. Click here to see what the Cattleya skinneri looked like when it bloomed a year later.
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anchor the orchid using a few rhizome clips. If the orchid is top-heavy or unruly, use a straight stake and wire or ring stake to support and contain the plant. The plant must be stable in the pot in order for it to get established. |
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