best orchid pots

[lovesflowers]

Hello. I am confused about which pots are best for orchids. It seems that most recommendations are for "clear plastic pots with slits". From what I can tell by the pictures of such pots they are very thin and lightweight so that any orchid in them would simply topple over. What is the point if you have to put the clear plastic pots inside another heavy clay or ceramic pot? And almost every picture I have ever seen of orchids plants shows them in ceramic pots or terracotta pots.

[SlipperGirl]

It depends on your orchid, some orchids like plastic others like clay and some dont want pots at all they want to be mounted on some bark or in a basket. So i dont think there is one pot that is better then the rest its more on what your orchid needs, plastic is a very common one.

[lovesflowers]

Thanks for the lightning fast answer!

[Leafmite]

I combine plastic basket/net pots with either red lava rock or I hang them. No worries they will topple over.

[silken]

Most clear plastic pots are as solid and stable as dark ones. You are likely thinking of the ones that Phals come in at the box stores. They are very flimsy and meant to be thrown away. And the square air cone pots are even heavier than other green and black plastic pots. I have switched almost all of my orchids (many different ones) over to clear pots as they seem to love it. Any orchid that is an epiphyte would in nature have its roots exposed to day light and they do photosynthesize. So that is why I think they like the clear pots. Why I like them is because I can see how the roots are doing and how wet or dry the media is.

You can order different clear pots from places like repotme.com or quarteracreorchids.com or Tindara.

[Tim C.]

Another factor to take into account is what your particular growing conditions are. Plastic retains moisture better than terracotta does, and pots with side slits will dry out faster than those with holes just in the bottom.

If you find your potting mix is drying too quickly, then try using a plastic pot. If the mix is drying too slowly, use terracotta. The main reason I would put a plastic pot inside a clay one would be for stability; secondary would be for show.

-Tim

[ivymastiff]

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

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by ivymastiff

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

try firstrays.com

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by ivymastiff

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

You can find clear plastic pots at RePotMe.com for around $1. You can also make your own by cutting holes in any clear plastic container or cup.

---------- Post added at 08:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 PM ----------

I use clear plastic pots for my phals and paphs. I use them for the same reasons that Silken mentioned. I can see how wet the media is and I can see the condition of the roots. Under my conditions plastic pots retain just the right amount of moisture for phals. I use the smallest pot I can comfortably fit the roots into. If it requires a pot 4" or larger, I use the ones with slits in the side. For smaller pots the slits don't seem to be necessary.

[Judi]

Almost all my chids are in clear slotted plastic pots; they work for me. Some of the top heavy ones are in ceramic pots as well to keep them from falling over--then I have some ceramic pots I keep to display my blooming chids. I like being able to see what is going on in the pots and watch the progress of the roots. I also have 2 chids in web pots I got from a local hydrophonic store. I save a little by buying a larger supply of all sizes at on time; I save on shipping and I always have the pots I need even when I have to do an unexpected repot, like when a chid just follows me home. I get my clear pots from RePotme Slotted Clear Orchid Pots