What's Your Largest Pot Size?

[DebsC]

I used to think I would never divide my cattleya's. I wanted large...no, great big plants with loads of flowers.

I still want loads of flowers but I'm finding the 12 inch pots are a bit much. They take up too much shelf space and are too heavy to handle.

So I have a few that need to be 'downsized.' But I want to have a nice specimen plant.

Any suggestions?

Debs

[Shadow]

Only to increase the shelf space, I think.

[Ross]

I am currently using waterlily backets because of their proportions. They are a system of fine plastic mesh and largest ones are 9" square by 5" tall.

[Frdemetr]

What kind of 'Cattleya' you grow? The genus Cattleya includes some 'compact' species (e.g. C. loddigesii, C. walkeriana) and another giant species and hybrids (C. granulosa, C. Portia). If you includes 'catteya-alliance' plants, more size variations are found (I've a Laelia purpurata in a 50cm diameter clay pot, growing outside the borders!). For practical reasons, the maximum clay pot I often use is 20cm diameter.
Frederico

[Mahon]

...what about putting hangers on the pots?

-Pat

[Gin]

My largest is 12 inch but did have one in a fake witches kettle, it was larger . Gin

[Rhonda_in_FL]

I have a C. bowringiana in a 20" slat basket...it's so big I have to get my husband to move it around when necessary. It's a bit of a space pig.

I have slowed down buying plants...the pots of the existing plants get bigger. I grow mostly catts, so the older they get, the more space they take up.

My problem is finding the big pots...can find the 9" pots fairly easily. The 12" ones are tough (and tougher) to come by.

[Ross]

Rhonda, there's a small landscape firm along Route 997 just north of Homestead on west side of road. They had lots of exotic and regular large clay pots of Columbian origin. It's called Isaac Farms. Address is 18800 SW 177th Ave, but they actually are along 997. Hope this helps.

[Tindomul]

My largest is 12" for a big Phal I have. My Lc.'s are in little 4" pots and my Slc.'s are mounted.

[DebsC]

I've used the water lily baskets. The only thing I don't like about them is the holes are little and the roots go through them and it's a real pain to get them out to repot. Even cutting the pot does a lot of damage to the roots.

I grow mostly the large cattleya. I do have some compacts though. Just depends on the flowers.

I do have 6-8 inch pots hanging but the larger ones in inert materials are very heavy. Sometimes too heavy for the hangers to hold them for long.

I also have a c bowringiana that's busting out of a 16 in. pot. I've caught myself eyeballing plants in nurseries that are in large pots, not because I want the plant but because they are in a large size pot I need and can't find!

I like growing in clay pots but they really add to the weight when you get into the giant sizes!