best orchid pots

[silken]

Originally Posted by ivymastiff

I've actually been shopping for clear pots today. Why does every place charge $10 something so small? Crazy!

I order supplies for our society and get decent prices and shipping from Quarter Acre Orchids. I can't even find stuff in Canada so have to order from the U.S. for some things we want.

[Katsols]

I have a phal with large long roots that is in a ceramic pot with holes with moss, it dries out perfectly i water once a week or once every 10 days. Mind you that those pots have holes on the sides so you have to be careful when some roots start poking out.
I rescued a keiki recently which im keeping in a plastic container and it's doing fine there. Either one would be good i think. Also repotme.com have carousel containers for phals! they look pretty convenient i might try one.

[WhiteRabbit]

I use plastic or clay depending on the plant, the size, etc (some orchids like to dry out more quickly; large pots dry more slowly than small ones) - I can't pay shipping costs anymore for any orchid pots (clear or otherwise), so I use regular plastic nursery pots a lot, or for clay, azalea pots (shallower than standard clay pots)

I love being able to see the roots, but, oh well ... And the clear pots usually end up coated with algae inside anyway, and then you can't see the roots anymore. I use skewers in the media to judge when to water, even if potted in a clear pot - I have learned that in low humidity, the pot (media) can look dry when it isn't.

I do have orchids potted in plastic pots that are prone to blowing, or getting knocked, over - they get set into clay or ceramic pots.

[NYCorchidman]

I also use either clay or plastic. The difference is mostly just the how fast water dries out. Other than that, you can use whatever as long as you water your plants accordingly.

I tend to use clay pot for dendrobiums because many of them grow tall and get top heavy and clay pots are heavy and do not easily tip over.

One most important thing about choosing pots for orchids is drainage!
The more or larger the holes at the bottom of the pot, the better!

If you have pots with only one hole but you like the pots, then I recommend using some rocks or styrofoam peanuts at the bottom inch or two for excellent drainage.

With one hole, the drainage seems really good and it really is, BUT some water will almost always sit around the hole for a while and keep the mix too wet. You keep watering your plant thinking you have the perfect drainage when in reality you are losing your plant's roots.

I do not like plastic pots with slits on the side mainly because some of my orchids push their roots throught those tiny slits and it is such a pain when repotting. I hate to cut and hurt the plants.

[RosieC]

I use clear plastic pots inside of outer glass heavy pots.

If you get proper plastic pots (rather than the flimsy ones phals are sometimes sold in) then they are strong enough, but you are right they can topple over with a big phal in. That's why I put them in an outer pot.

So why use the plastic at all?...
Well in a clear pot I can quickly see the roots. Growing on windowsills I need something under the pot to catch drips anyway and I prefer the look of the glass outer pots I use to a saucer. So if I'm going to put them in an outer pot anyway I might as well have the advantage of a clear pot I can see the roots (and moisture level) through.

In the greenhouse I also use plastic pots (mostly), out there they are fairly close together and only occasionally does one tumble over. Again it's the advantage of being able to see the roots.

However I do find clay better for a couple of genera, my masdies are in clay as is a Cattleya I was having trouble with in plastic.