Decorative/clay pots or just in plastic?

[solo1979]

Hi all,

I'm wondering how many people have their orchids in clay or decorative ceramic pots or if most just stick with the plastic pots? In the 3.5 years I've had orchids, I've been sticking the plastic pots inside of more decorative ones, but now that my collection has pretty much doubled in the past month, that seems to be getting expensive and also taking up unnecessary space. I'm curious as to how most people who keep their orchids indoors keep their orchids.

Thanks,
Solana

[Lagoon]

I'm not one to care about the decor of the pots, It's the orchid and health I'm most interested in, and ok yeah the blooms help
Most of mine are in simple clay. I think they look fine.

[gmdiaz]

I like clay pots too and little clear saucers but I've got a batch of decorative ceramic pots that I got at Home Depot. . .really cheap. $4 each. They're the kind that have slits. I like to use a net pot for my phals and to put those in a decorative pot with slits.

I am understanding that orchids really have to have good air circulation. . .so that's my #1 priority!

[Dorothy]

Majority of the pots I use are plastic especially clear and slitted so I can see and monitor the root condition. I only have my Aerangis in clay because it came that way

[gmdiaz]

Those clear plastic pots with slits are a really great idea. Super nice to be able to look "under the hood". lol

I'll work my way toward using those.

[shakkai]

The ones that I have in pots are in the clear plastic - except for two that are in clay. I really like to be able to see the state of the roots (and the medium) without disturbing the plant.

The ones that are on my kitchen windowsill are in the clear plastic slipped inside of the decorative pots.

[quiltergal]

4 of my plants are in the clear plastic pots with the slits in the sides. All 4 are different types of chids and all 4 are thriving. The two species plants really seem to like them. I really like to be able to see what the roots are doing and how moist the medium may or may not be. They do dry out a little quicker than the regular plastic pots and some plants need to be watered twice a week when the weather is warm. They only go up to a 5" pot size. I would guess that has something to do with the slits compromising the strength of the pot so they can only be so big to prevent breakage. There I go pretending to be an engineer again.

I only put them in decorative pots when in bloom. I move them from the growing area to an area of the house where everyone can enjoy them. I just slip them inside a pretty pot, and it's instant House Beautiful......well maybe not quite.

[solo1979]

You know, I bought 2 or 3 minis in those pots with the slits and I really didn't like them at all. I repotted as soon as I got them home. The roots were pushing out of the slits and it was nearly impossible to save some of those roots during repotting. The plastic pots I have are just the basic hole in the bottom type. I've never done humidity trays but now that my collection has grown I'm deciding it's time to put a little more care into these guys. I bought a couple of short storage containers at Wal-Mart today, along with some pebbles and have put everybody except a few of the big guys who are in bloom on those trays/containers. I've taken them out of the decorative pots, as those would take up even more space in the "trays" and just have them in the basic plastic for now. Next challenge will be if the fruitflies come back. I had a nasty outbreak of them a few weeks ago, but a couple ribbons of fly paper seem to have done the trick for now. I know they like standing water though and although these trays aren't really full of water, they are damp. Would a bit of Physan 20 sprays on the pebbles do the trick and keep the water toxic to the flies or no?

Solana

[gmdiaz]

Solana, maybe you could get a couple of carnivourous plants? That's how I got rid of my gnat issues. lol

[solo1979]

Oh yeah, cuz that's what I need right? More plants! LOL! Hmmm, that doesn't sound like a bad idea though.