Question about net pots...and seedlings - Orchid Board

Austinerd · #1 03-29-2009, 09:15 AM

Hello,
I recently received some seedlings from Oak Hill Gardens. I wan to mount one of the phal schillerianas on a cork board, and repot the others into small plastic slotted pots with the imperial bark/sphag blend from repotme. But I would also like to try potting one of them into the mesh pot (in the picture...it's 3 or 3 1/2"). I'm wondering if anybody has used these as orchid pots; it seems like they would be great for keeping the media aerated. Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions!
Going to the show in San Antonio in a few hours so getting excited.....
Regards,
Dan

rogerman · #2 03-29-2009, 09:24 AM

Those net pots are all I use except for Phals.
I have about 3000 seedling Cattleyas and about 2000 seedling Dens. in those pots. The plants stay in those pots for a few years until they get too big......By that time they'll all be sold I hope.
They are great for drainage. I suppose they could be ok for Phals. as they don't like having wet feet. You'd also have a mass of roots hanging down which wouldn't hurt.

Grandma M · #3 03-29-2009, 10:14 AM

I use those some times. I also use a very light layer of cocoa fiber to line the basket if I think my media will fall out. The cheapest way to get the fiber is to go to a big box store and buy a basket liner. Just pull what you need from it. I like to have it wet so I just put a little physan in the soak water to play safe.

Marilyn

camille1585 · #4 03-29-2009, 10:55 AM

I used some for a while for some large phal seedlings, as an experiment. The problem I found is that the medium(bark with a bit of sphag) was drying out way too fast in my conditions, and I would have to water every day to keep the phals from getting floopy wrinkled leaves. Maybe if I had used bigger plants (so bigger pots and more medium) and had higher humidity it would have worked out better.

quiltergal · #5 03-29-2009, 01:08 PM

I agree with Camille, I think for Phals you'd have to water every day and still run the risk of them getting dry to fast. Those pots are perfect for Tolumnias and plants that need to dry out FAST!

Can't wait to see what you bring home from the show!

Austinerd · #6 03-29-2009, 07:52 PM

Thanks everybody for the advice....I think I will use my net pots upside down over the drainage holes on the clay pots when I repot my phals tomorrow. I actually didn't come away with a whole lot from the San Antonio show, just some supplies (including 2 small cork pieces for mounting) and 2 plants. A green/white paph and another something....will post pics soon. Right now I am getting an insurance estimate for damage to my car from a frightful hail storm. The hail stones were the size of tennis balls! Yikes. But I digress.
Thanks again,
Dan

learning2letgo · #7 03-29-2009, 08:35 PM

Sorry to hear about your damage, but with your small haul from the show perhaps that'll keep up your spirits

Let me know how it goes with your cork board venture... I've yet to see anyone do this and I'm curious to see how it goes...

Austinerd · #8 03-29-2009, 08:38 PM

I'll keep you posted!

rogerman · #9 03-30-2009, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

you'd have to water every day and still run the risk of them getting dry to fast.

I'm sorry, I forgot all about other proples problems with watering...... My plants get watered three times a day. I now have my sprinkler system going....And it goes well on Auto!!