When you purchase an orchid, it comes in a plastic pot. Many people assume that this pot is unnecessary, so they discard it and place the orchid in a decorative plant pot. While this may seem reasonable, it’s not quite the intended practice. The plastic pot of an orchid actually serves a purpose! It helps your orchid thrive and stay healthy. Read on to find out how.

The importance of the plastic pot of an orchid

When you remove an orchid from its plastic pot and place it in a pot without drainage holes together with potting soil, the roots no longer receive oxygen. Since orchids have aerial roots, they require oxygen to survive. Additionally, overwatering can cause the roots to rot. Excess water has nowhere to go, leading to water pooling at the bottom of the pot. This results in the roots remaining wet, leading to rot. By using a plastic pot with drainage holes, excess water can easily escape.

Another advantage of a plastic pot is its transparency. This allows you to see the roots of the orchid at the bottom of the pot, so you can check if your orchid needs watering. Are the roots green? Then it has sufficient water. Are the roots grey or white? Then it’s time to water.

Also read: 3 ways to water your orchid

Repotting an orchid

For these reasons, you don’t need to repot an orchid too frequently. Repotting only is a good idea when the roots are growing out of the plastic pot, causing it to break. Use airy soil, preferably special orchid potting soil, because regular potting soil is too dense and doesn’t drain thoroughly enough.

Also read: How to care for an orchid