Cymbidium orchids, also known as boat orchids, are prized for their elegant sprays of long-lasting flowers. With proper care, these beauties can bloom for months on end, making them a favorite for corsages, cut flower arrangements, and of course, displaying in your home or garden
One key to keeping cymbidiums happy and flowering their best is choosing the right pot. Here’s what you need to know about selecting the ideal containers for these spectacular orchids.
Why Cymbidiums Need Specialized Pots
While you can grow cymbidium orchids in regular round pots, they really thrive when grown in specialized cymbidium pots. Here’s why:
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More Room for Roots: Cymbidiums have large root systems that need plenty of space to grow. Traditional orchid pots are often too small and restrictive. Cymbidium pots are wider and deeper to accommodate their robust roots.
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Better Drainage Cymbidiums hate soggy roots and are prone to rot if they stay too wet Their pots have extra drainage holes and vertical ridges to promote drainage and air circulation.
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Room to Grow: Repotting orchids too frequently can shock them. The extra space in cymbidium pots allows 2-3 years of growth before repotting is needed.
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Heavier Pots These orchids are top-heavy when in bloom Wide-based cymbidium pots are less likely to tip over compared to narrower standard orchid pots
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for the best cymbidium orchid pots, keep these features in mind:
- Deep profile: At least 6 inches deep to accommodate roots
- Wide base: 5-6 inches wide for stability
- Vertical ridges: Improves drainage and airflow
- Multiple drainage holes: At least 4-6 holes for adequate drainage
- Breathable material: Clay, plastic, or wood allow air circulation
Terracotta and plastic pots are common choices that both offer breathability. Terracotta looks classic but dries out faster while plastic retains moisture better. Glazed ceramic and decorative pots often lack needed air circulation.
For indoor use, 6 to 8-inch pots are ideal. Outdoors, larger 10 to 12-inch pots can be used to allow a few years of uninterrupted growth. Just avoid going too big too fast when repotting, as cymbidiums prefer being slightly root-bound.
Types of Cymbidium Pots
Here are some cymbidium pot styles to consider:
Traditional Cymbidium Pots
- Round or square shapes
- 6-8 inches wide x 5-7 inches deep
- Rounded bottom with drainage holes
- terra cotta or plastic
This classic style has been used for decades with proven results. The wide, squat shape provides ample room for root growth. Terra cotta versions allow maximum breathability while plastic retains a bit more moisture.
Slotted Orchid Pots
- Round pots with vertical indented ridges
- Enhanced drainage and air circulation
- Plastic or terra cotta materials
The slotted sides of these pots let air reach roots while also providing space for new root growth. The vertical ridges remind me of a cog wheel. This style is an excellent choice for cymbidiums and other orchids that demand excellent drainage.
Wood Slat Baskets
- Breathable wood construction
- Rectangular or oval shape
- Lined with sphagnum moss
- Excellent drainage and aeration
These open slat wood baskets make it easy to provide cymbidium roots with the airflow they crave. Lining them with moist sphagnum moss gives roots moisture while still allowing drainage and air circulation all around. The wood also naturally breaks down over time, providing nutrients.
Mesh Orchid Baskets
- Made of plastic or metal mesh
- Holes throughout for maximum drainage
- Rectangular or oval shape
- Lined with moss or bark
Similar to wood baskets, mesh baskets allow you to surround roots with an ultra airy and free-draining mix. These are great for cymbidiums and other orchids like Phalaenopsis that thrive in damp but not soggy conditions. The mesh construction provides the perfect balance of moisture retention and airflow.
Potting Mixes
Use a chunky, airy potting mix in your cymbidium pots. Good options include:
- Fir bark pieces
- Coconut coir
- Sphagnum moss
- Horticultural charcoal
- Perlite
Avoid potting mixes with peat or fine particles that can get soggy and suffocate roots.
Aim for a mix that retains some moisture but still feels airy when you squeeze it. Soak the mix well before potting your cymbidiums.
Time for Repotting
Repot cymbidiums every 2-3 years or when roots start growing over the edges of the pot. Avoid going more than one pot size up when repotting, as cymbidiums bloom best when slightly root bound.
Repot right after flowering finishes, ideally in early spring before new root growth begins. Carefully remove from the old pot, trim dead roots and leaves, then repot in fresh mix in clean pots.
Pick the Perfect Pots for Your Cymbidiums
With their beautiful sprays of graceful blooms, it’s no wonder cymbidium orchids are so popular. Give your plants the roomy, well-draining pots they love, and you’ll be rewarded with years of spectacular flowers. Cymbidium pots designed for their special needs allow the extensive root systems these orchids are known for.
Match the pot size to the plant, use an airy potting mix, and repot every few years for thriving, happy cymbidiums. With the right pots, you can enjoy an abundance of gorgeous cymbidium blooms in your home or garden.
SERIES 32 | Episode 28
Millie has a huge overgrown cymbidium orchid growing in a pot. To get it looking as good as new again, it needs to come out! Millie takes a hammer to the pot to liberate her pot-bound orchid.
Cymbidiums needs to be re-potted or divided every 3-4 years. The best time to do it is after they finish flowering. Before splitting, Millie removes any dead or damaged growth, and any opportunistic weeds.
Millie looks for shoots of new growth to break off. She then divides the orchid into clumps using a pruning saw.
Over time, the orchid bark has disintegrated into fine soil, meaning the roots have perished and can be removed.
Use a good quality orchid mix, optimised for its coarse particles. Millie also adds coir peat for extra water retention. As she re-pots, she positions the new growing tips facing the outside edge of the pot.
To finish the job, she gives the newly potted orchids a good drink and places them in sheltered position with bright, but indirect, light. In 3-4 weeks, you can start liquid feeding, ideally every fortnight.
Featured Plant |
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| CYMBIDIUM ORCHID | Cymbidium cv. |
What do I pot my orchid in!? Bark? Moss? Perlite? Out of the bag orchid mix?
FAQ
Do orchids prefer tall or wide pots?
But for many orchids, choose a pot whose top diameter is about a third to a half of the height of the orchid plant. So, if you have a 10-inch tall orchid, a 4- or 5-inch pot would work well. An exception is Dendrobium; it can be 24 inches tall, but grows best in a 4-5- inch pot.
When should cymbidium orchids be repotted?
Recently, I decided it was time to divide and repot my cymbidiums – a process that’s usually done every two to three years, when the plant is very pot bound …Oct 15, 2018
What is the best medium for cymbidiums?
The word to remember about proper soil is “loose.” A combination of fir bark, perlite, peat moss and other loose organic material will ensure good drainage. Commercial orchid mix works well too. I am not the best gardener when it comes to fertilizing my plants, which is a testament to my cymbidiums’ hardiness.
Are plastic or terracotta pots better for orchids?
Many people prefer plastic over clay pots because they offer better water retention. Also, mineral salts and orchid roots will not stick to their smooth sides.Aug 13, 2012