Ceramic Pots Question - Orchid Board

LuvPhals · #1 08-19-2012, 10:37 AM

Hello I have a question on pots for phals. I know that the clear plastic oxygen pots would be the best but can you repot directly into the ceramic pots with the air holes - such as what's shown on the repotme website? If these ceramic pots already have the air cutouts and built in drip trays wouldn't that be sucessful as well when using \the fir bark medium? Some of the pots are very airy and they are partly unglazed on the inside.

Paul Mc · #2 08-19-2012, 10:39 AM

The issue is that the roots will attach to the pot, so when you go to repot it's either the expensive pot or the roots. We use those decorative pots as weight holders and decoration more than actual pots to pot in. Just my 2 cents...

LuvPhals · #3 08-19-2012, 10:46 AM

okay now I understand more of this. I have one directly in the fancy pot and I'm seeing new root tips growing (which I was delighted to see!) but that means trying to get it out of the pot sucessfully. It seems very happy in this fancy pot!

Paul Mc · #4 08-19-2012, 10:50 AM

Yeah, the pots just help air to get in and around whatever interior pot you use.

LuvPhals · #5 08-19-2012, 11:02 AM

Looks like I will have to put an order in for the oxygen plastic pots with repotme. No one else around here has those. Glad I posted this question! Thank you.

tucker85 · #6 08-19-2012, 12:31 PM

Orchids will grow well in those ceramic orchid pots and I love the way they look. But like Paul pointed out they're just too expensive to use as regular pots. My favorite way to grow phals is in slotted clear plastic pots. When the phals are in bloom I place the plastic pot inside one of those ceramic orchid pots. They look nicer and the extra weight of the ceramic pot holds up the plant with a long flower spike.

Bill U. · #7 08-20-2012, 09:24 PM

I have potted directly into an unglazed 2.5" ceramic pot with drainage holes around the bottom and in the very bottom. The mini phal that I potted in there has been very happy with a mix of sphagnum moss and spanish moss. I haven't had any issues with roots sticking to the sides or with drainage. I think it can be a matter of preference, but I do know that for larger phals the clear pots for the roots inside of a decorative ceramic pot can make things so much easier for watering (due to weight, etc.)