Unpopular Opinion: Orchid Pots with Holes Suck

[Clawhammer]

After years of using orchid pots with holes/slits/openings/aeration on the sides I've settled on the opinion that they are not necessary and they create a mess for plants in trays. The holes mostly serve as an emergency exit for roots, where they can escape and enter other pots through side holes. This makes repotting quite a battle, necessitating a harsh removal from the tray and other neighbor pots. It increases the likelihood of cross contamination. It reduces the amount of roots contained in the pot, and therefore the health of the plant.

Instead of pots with holes just use quicker drying media and increase airflow.

This does not really apply for hanging baskets.

[WaterWitchin]

I'll join that opinion, they ain't for me. Then again, mine are all mostly semi-hydro. I do use one occasionally as a cache pot because I have some pretty cool ones that I collected back when I first started growing. Rabbit's foot fern is nice in them, because the ferns also grow out the holes and cover the whole pot... but a real pain to water when inside.

[alecStewart1]

I'm totally new here and have no experience with slotted/hole-y pots but I'm just going to agree for the sake of stirring the pot (no pun intended) and being a contrarian.

[Leafmite]

I have been using the orchid pots with holes for the Zygopetalum, the Cyncnodes, the lone Paph and Oncidiums. These really appreciate more moisture/humidity while having a little extra air to the roots.
They also hold the 1/4 inch lava rock quite well. For these orchids, they are absolutely a perfect choice for me. I even have a couple of Cattleya in them and they are doing very well.

[Clawhammer]

Do side holes really add more air to the roots though? Air is pulled into the rootzone when media dries weather there are holes in the sides of the pot or not. They do dry quicker when hung, but this benefit is not as pronounced when they are sitting next to each other in a tray.

[estación seca]

They definitely dry faster. They might be useful in very high humidity, high rainfall areas.

[katsucats]

Edit: Actually, you're just talking about side holes. Nevermind

I don't like orchids being permanently fixed to something so I would agree on that front. I have avoided using net pots in many cases for that reason. But without holes, it would take careful attention to water a plant to the perfect level, or turn it upside down to dump excess water and risk dislodging the medium. When there are many plants, especially indoors, it's a pain in the ass. If roots growing out is the problem, then I think the balance is to make a few smaller holes that reduce the likelihood of roots growing out while allowing water to easily escape. You could even use drainage mesh to reduce opening sizes. Some roots would still grow past it, but not as much.

[Dalachin]

I totally agree, especially for phals… side holes suck. It seems like a good idea, and I was drawn in at first, but the ones in solid pots do just as well or better, and much less fuss and root damage when repotting.

[Leafmite]

It might depend on growing conditions, the choice of medium and the orchids. The solid plastic pots always resulted in rotten roots and mold for me, even with the red lava rock. I am not having any issues with the new plastic pots even though the holes are quite small.

I do not grow all my orchids in these pots. I have many orchids mounted and a few still in basket pots (the Dracula papillosa, fortunately). Basket pots work well for orchids that need plenty of air around their roots (Angraecums), orchids that tend to form a ball (like some Bulbophyllums), and those that send spikes downward (like some Draculas).

I used the basket pots for over ten years but now that I am growing smaller orchids, I am using 1 inch rock and the gaps in the basket pots are too large.... With the Zygopetalum, Paph and Oncidiums, I am using 1/4 inch lava rock instead of NZ Sphagnum moss....

[Ray]

I’ll add that not only do I not use pots with extra sidewall perforations, I don’t want a medium that dries faster - stays airier, absolutely, but I don’t want rapid drying.