While most of us are used to seeing orchids in standard flower pots, these exotic beauties actually look stunning when planted in glass containers or shallow decorative bowls. In fact, a stylish bowl can often highlight their unique elegance much better than a traditional pot ever could.
Choosing the Right Bowl for Your Orchids
When it comes to picking out a bowl, the sky is pretty much the limit! The main thing to keep in mind is size: you want a vessel that is long and deep enough to comfortably house the entire root system along with plenty of substrate. I personally love using boat-shaped bowls—they look modern and ensure the plant gets plenty of light from all sides.
Don’t Forget the Drainage
Since decorative bowls (much like glass jars) don’t have drainage holes at the bottom, you have to be extra careful about “wet feet.” Orchids hate sitting in stagnant water! To prevent root rot, always create a drainage layer at the bottom. A layer of expanded clay pebbles (LECA) or broken terracotta shards works perfectly. Place this down before you add any potting mix.
Which Orchids Work Best in Bowls?
Not every orchid is a perfect fit for a shallow dish. Generally, you’ll want to look for varieties that are naturally compact or have a flatter growth habit. While Dendrobiums and Cambria orchids are great choices, the classic Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) also does surprisingly well in a bowl arrangement.
Potting Your Arrangement
When you’re ready to get planting, you have two main routes:
- Using standard commercial orchid bark/substrate.
- Using more decorative elements.
Even if you’re going for a specific look, I usually recommend including at least some orchid substrate to keep the plant healthy. That said, some varieties are pretty hardy and can thrive with glass gems, gel beads, or sphagnum moss. Just a quick tip: avoid using *only* moss, as it holds onto moisture for a long time and can lead to mold issues.
Adding Those Finishing Touches
To really make your arrangement pop, try adding pieces of pine bark or clumps of lush green moss. Small glass marbles or decorative stones can also give it a polished, professional look.
The “Cheat Code”: Planting with the Nursery Pot
If you have a larger bowl and want to keep things simple, you don’t actually have to take the orchid out of its clear plastic nursery pot. Just set the whole pot inside the bowl and “camouflage” it with decorative materials. Tucking in some interesting twigs, branches, or moss around the base will hide the plastic and make it look like a natural, high-end centerpiece.
