Should orchids be planted in deep pots or shallow pots? Starting from the growth habits of wild orchids

Recently, a topic of debate has come up among orchid growers during discussions: what kind of pot is actually best for growing orchids? Setting aside material, some say orchids grown in deep pots develop well-developed root systems, which benefits the orchids; others say that in nature orchids have roots that grow horizontally, so only shallow pots conform to the way of nature. So which claim is actually reliable?

Let us first talk about how orchids grow in natural mountain forests. Because Good Shot Farmer often goes up into the mountains, he has seen quite a lot of wild orchids and knows a thing or two about their root systems. The vast majority of wild orchid roots grow horizontally, with their direction of growth parallel to the ground. But this does not mean orchids like this way of root growth. Why?

First we need to understand the characteristics of plants, and orchids are no exception. A characteristic common to all plants is that roots are hydrotropic and nutrient-seeking; this is a natural survival choice. If you have ever dug deep into mountain soil, you know it has many layers. The first layer is the leaf litter layer, which is basically without soil; the second layer is the humus layer, a soil layer with high fertility and loose texture, and it is the layer plants like most

The third soil layer is the clay layer, which rural people generally call dead mud ground. This layer of soil retains water and has no fertilizer effect. No plant likes this layer of soil, and they will not extend their roots into it, except for some tall trees that grow deep roots for balance. Because there are no nutrients they need here, and it cannot breathe. So the reason wild orchid roots grow parallel is not because they like it that way, but because of a natural hydrotropic and nutrient-seeking choice by the roots

Once orchids are grown at home, we all use a prepared growing medium in pots, so the properties of the upper and lower layers of soil in the pot are completely the same. At this time the orchid roots will grow along the pot, because the water and nutrients they need are everywhere. Good Shot Farmer thinks that if you used a snake-shaped pot, the orchid roots would certainly grow into that shape too.

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Good Shot Farmer believes that both shallow pots and deep pots can be used to grow orchids. The fact that wild orchid roots grow horizontally does not mean you must use a shallow, wide pot. As long as you use the right growing medium, any pot will do, though of course the pot needs ventilation holes.