Caring for the orchid in the jar properly

Choosing the right container for orchids

The orchid family of plants includes many species. It depends on what kind of flowers you want to keep in the jar. Species that form green roots surrounded by a velamen radicum are suitable for tall narrow glasses.

The velamen radicum is a silvery tissue that surrounds the roots and absorbs water and nutrients like a sponge. Vanda hybrids and the Phalaenopsis form these special aerial roots on the leaf axils. They belong to the epiphytic orchids whose roots should not be in a substrate because they need air and light.

It is ideal if you choose a glass that tapers slightly conically towards the bottom and is 60 to 100 centimeters high. The plants should slide completely into the glass and "hang" with the leaves in it. The roots float above the bottom of the jar and don't touch it.

All other orchids need substrate. The roots must grow in it. It is best to choose a wide glass for these varieties. The leaves shouldn't touch the glass walls.

Glass selection checklist:

• For Vanda hybrids and the Phalaenopsis, choose a narrow glass that tapers downwards.
• The top diameter of the glass should correspond to the diameter of the plant.
• The height of the glass should be between 60 and 100 centimeters.
• For other orchids, choose a wide, flat glass.

Maintain epiphytes in the glass

Vanda and Phalaenopsis need surprisingly little maintenance in the jar for real flowers. They bloom in it magnificently and for a long time. The high humidity that forms in the glasses is a great advantage.

An immersion bath is necessary every four to five days. In summer, when it is very hot, the plants have to be immersed in the water every day.

• Completely free the roots from the substrate.
• Rinse with water.
• Place the orchids loosely in the glass and slide in a little (roots should not touch the ground).
• Remove from the jar when the roots thin and lose color.
• Immerse the plant completely in the water for an hour.
• Put back in the glass.
• From May to August every 14 days to the water fertilizer add.

Store other varieties in the vessels

Orchids that normally grow in the ground also need a medium in the glass in which to dig their roots. Fill the glass with a layer of gravel and spread orchid soil over it. Dig the roots in it. Instead, you can also place the plant in the pot on the gravel and camouflage it with moss or stones.

Spray lime-free water on the leaves daily. This also automatically reaches the roots. Pour just a little water into the glass. The substrate or the pot must not stand in the water.

An overview of the necessary measures:

• Spread a layer of ten centimeters of gravel in the glass as drainage.
• Fill in twenty centimeters of substrate.
• Bury roots in it.
• Spray daily with water.
• Pour water just below the substrate.
• Pour little, soil must not stand in the water for more than 24 hours.
• Fertilize every 14 days.

Problem with cultivation

Epiphytic orchids thrive in jars. The roots are clearly visible because they are not in the ground. This makes it easier for you to decide when the plants need water. All you have to do is watch the roots.

All other orchids require substrate, so you won't see when the roots are in the water. It takes a lot of tact to properly care for non-epiphytic plants in jars.

All plants in the jar need a bright, but not sunny place. The sun can scorch your orchids. A Vanda or a Phalaenopsis thrives better in one jar than in another. Even badly damaged plants usually recover quickly.