Question
Wow, great site and great infor. I have a phalaenopsis orchid, currently in clay pot. It has lots of great root system, root circling within the pot. I would like to put it in a decoratice glass pot. Is this advisable. Would the light hurt the roots?

Answer
Actually Lee, the roots on an orchid are photosynthetic and many pots for orchids are specifically designed to let light into the mix and roots. The main problem I envision with putting your plant into a decorative glass pot is the ability of water to drain out of the mix and for air to circulate through the mix. If there are no drainage holes in the bottom of the decorative pot, the only way to do this is to place your plant in its pot into the glass decorative pot.  That way you can water and feed the plant by taking the plant's container out of the decorative pot and let it drain after watering it and before placing it bacl into the decorative pot (there are clear plastic pots for phalaenopsis on the market if you wanted to repot the plant in a clear pot.  Don't forget to report your plant in fresh orchid potting mix annually, at which time, you can also check the root system for any signs of rot. If the clear plastic pot is not available locally, one source for them is Charley's Greenhouse (web site is www.charleysgreenhouse.com). Their translucent Orchid Pots range in diameter from 3 1/2 - 7 1/2 inches. A minimum quantity is 10 and the 10 range in price from $4.50 to $22.30 plus shipping.