Orchids love company and do not usually object to crowding; it does affect their growth as leaves and spikes can become entangled; it is difficult to tend each plant properly; mealy bug, scale and red spider flourish. OR74-99
More
The Orchid Doctor
Articles under the Heading
Overcrowding
Overcrowding
Comments
OVERCROWDING: Defined
If pots are closer together than the diameter of one of the pots, they are overcrowded and deprived of light, air circulation which constitute the mos t common form of cultural "suicide". AU79-37