Growli

Container guide

Growing rex spider orchid in a pot

Verdict
Ideal in pots
Pot size
15-20 cm (6-8 in) across
Mature size
40–60 cm (16–24 in) tall; flower spikes 45–60 cm (18–24 in) bearing 5–12 flowers with sepals reaching 15–20 cm (6–8 in)

Compost and drainage

Rex Spider Orchid needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.

Watering rex spider orchid in a pot

Containers dry far faster than open ground, so rex spider orchid in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "2–3 times per week during active growth; weekly or less in cooler rest period" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.

Potting on

Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.

More rex spider orchid care

Growing rex spider orchid in containers — FAQ

Can you grow rex spider orchid in a pot?

Rex Spider Orchid is well suited to container growing — at about 60 cm mature it is comfortably pot-sized. A container around 15-20 cm (6-8 in) across gives it room without leaving the compost sitting wet, which is the usual mistake when people over-pot a small plant.

What size pot does rex spider orchid need?

Aim for a container 15-20 cm (6-8 in) across. Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.

What compost and drainage does rex spider orchid need in a container?

Rex Spider Orchid needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.

How often should I water rex spider orchid in a pot?

Containers dry far faster than open ground, so rex spider orchid in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "2–3 times per week during active growth; weekly or less in cooler rest period" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.