What is the one thing.....you can't do without?

[Marco]

Bamboo skewers!!!!! Cheap reliable and best, cheapest weapon against over watering.

I have most of my plants in s/h media but I also take care of my moms phals (They ended up just buying them and I ended up adopting them cause I know my mom would just kill em. )and I have a few paph multis still in a bark mix. For all my plants still in a bark mix I stick the bamboo skewers as close to the middle of the plant as possible and use it to measure moisture in the middle of the pot. I started out using clay pots so it really help a lot.

Can't take credit for this one though. I read it somewhere.

Originally Posted by cb977

now wondering what I'm going to do with the 58 clay pots and saucers I have now, if I decide to switch!

I have a lot of clay pots that I don't use to. What I was thinking was using the smaller ones and turning them upside down in my humidity tray and put the grid on top of the pots. I'm guessing it might increase the humidity a little. I just too lazy right now to do it. I'm going to when I clean my trays.

[justatypn]

Susanne, it is a slow process from dark plastic/clay to clear. It takes the guessing out of over-watering. When I see the mix moist around the sides, hold on the watering and when I see no moisture around the sides but tiny bit in the middle of the mix, perfect time to water. Not only have I noticed that my watering habits have changed, the roots seem to move on down thru the pot better. With the added light to the root system, you are bound to grow some algae, some say it benefits the plant. To me it means a healthy microenvironment and I can see that the roots are plump. You can't forget the photosynthesis going on...the process in which green plants and certain other organisms, the carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as a source of energy. During the transformation I use "chop-sticks" to determine moisture. It's a personal preference as I raise my 'chids' in-doors.

[amateurorchid]

My Credit Cards. Can buy them all with it. HA HA

My light stand that has most of my plants. don't know what I'll do without it.

[cb977]

Thanks for all the info. I've got to say that I do see the benefits to the pots being clear. Now, I'll have to break the news to my husband that all the clay saucers I've got are useless once I decide to do this! I may use Marco's idea about turning the pots over (though that still leaves a large number of large clay pots that are useless)

[Tindomul]

Susanne,
You could always use all those clay pots to grow other tropical plants, and then sell them. More money for orchids!

[cb977]

[Oscarman]

There are so many......Clear pots (#1), my springy-coiling water hose and 7-in-1 spray nozzle.

Cheryl hit the mark about clear pots. Orchid roots were not meant to grow in the dark. It they have to be in a pot, let them see the light! My Phals are much happier in them.

Susanne, you could always sell those pots in the Marketplace!! How about clay pcs for the bottom of your pots for increased drainage.

[cb977]

Thanks Dave. It seems I have been convinced of the benefits
Now I just have to figure out a way to break it to my husband. I just got him past the point of groaning whenever I mention greenhouses, now I have to start talking about clear pots and expanded clay pellets!
He's gonna kill me! Good thing he loves me so much

[justatypn]

I have your back Susanne ... I'm working on Primeagra myself...batting the eyes always helps. Home Depot usually has 1/2 price or less sale on there plants that I think would go absolutely perfect in the clay pots.

[cb977]

Thanks Cheryl. I'm thinking of putting words like "Greenhouse", "PrimeAgra" and "Clear pots" on an audio tape and letting it play very low while hubby's asleep! I hear subliminal messages can do wonders...he'll wake up one day thinking he thought of it himself!