Why do orchids need deep pots? Actually, shallow pots work too

Whenever I see photos of fellow growers' orchids, I notice that most of them are in deep pots. Some growers wonder why orchids need deep pots. In fact, the main advantage of deep pots is that they look attractive, showing off the orchid's graceful leaf posture, complementing the elegance and grandeur of the flowers, and they don't constrict the orchid roots.

But this doesn't mean shallow pots can't be used for growing orchids. Simply put, if we're only talking about whether it's feasible for care, both deep pots and shallow pots can be used to grow orchids, and shallow pots are in no way inferior to deep pots. However, orchids grown in shallow pots have messier roots and are harder to divide.

For example, I once grew orchids in a discarded washbasin, and they still grew well. Moreover, in nature, orchid roots mostly grow horizontally rather than deep underground, which is better for root respiration. Nowadays deep pots are mostly used for growing orchids, one reason being to save space, and another being aesthetics (especially for certain varieties, where only deep pots can bring out their character).

When the same orchid is grown in a shallow pot and a deep pot, the difference in character is obvious. The two photos accompanying this article show one deep pot and one regular pot. Actually, as long as we can control watering, it's completely fine!