Pots suitable for Catts.

[bil]

Originally Posted by CA2FLxplant

I'm relatively new to the orchid world...so I'm no expert...but I love the idea of making wooden slatted bed frames for the chids, and it sounds like your construction plan has a good "out" for when the time comes. And, power tools are fun!
If I had the wherewithal to bring your plan to fruition, I would!! But I don't. So a strainer just sounded easy...LOL.

Well, I like the teak baskets, but you would rip half the roots off, repotting or have to put the old basket into a new. The sloping 'bed' has the advantage that it offers a good surface for the roots to meld to, and no holes for roots. The drainage slot would be wide, and because the old pseudobulbs would be at the bottom, the plant would grow uphill and away from the drainage slot. Plus, if the medium is washable out, there is no need to repot, just wash 'n go. Ahaha.

I can't as yet see any down points, but that may be because I am so new to orchid growing. So, if any of the more experienced techie growers read this, I would really appreciate feedback, good or bad.

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by bil

Well, I like the teak baskets, but you would rip half the roots off, repotting or have to put the old basket into a new. The sloping 'bed' has the advantage that it offers a good surface for the roots to meld to, and no holes for roots. The drainage slot would be wide, and because the old pseudobulbs would be at the bottom, the plant would grow uphill and away from the drainage slot. Plus, if the medium is washable out, there is no need to repot, just wash 'n go. Ahaha.

I can't as yet see any down points, but that may be because I am so new to orchid growing. So, if any of the more experienced techie growers read this, I would really appreciate feedback, good or bad.

I grow most of my cattleyas in wood baskets with large chunks of cork as the only media. It works for me because I grow outdoors in South Florida. You do not need to worry about overpotting with baskets. You can put a small orchid in a basket with room for many years of new growth. You also don't need to worry about overwatering if you use large media like I do. Because you leave an orchid in a basket for many years, you don't need to disturb the roots and the orchid can get very large. Even when the plant grows out over the side it will just start growing on the outside of the basket. The only down side to baskets are that the orchids require more frequent watering, it's more difficult to stake the flowers in baskets but it is possible and the baskets will sometimes rot. it is difficult to remove a plant from a basket but it can be done by removing the wires that hold the basket together and removing each slat separately, cutting only the roots that are necessary to cut. The goal is to leave the plant alone for many years.

[bil]

Originally Posted by tucker85

I grow most of my cattleyas in wood baskets with large chunks of cork as the only media. It works for me because I grow outdoors in South Florida. You do not need to worry about overpotting with baskets. You can put a small orchid in a basket with room for many years of new growth. You also don't need to worry about overwatering if you use large media like I do. Because you leave an orchid in a basket for many years, you don't need to disturb the roots and the orchid can get very large. Even when the plant grows out over the side it will just start growing on the outside of the basket. The only down side to baskets are that the orchids require more frequent watering, it's more difficult to stake the flowers in baskets but it is possible and the baskets will sometimes rot. it is difficult to remove a plant from a basket but it can be done by removing the wires that hold the basket together and removing each slat separately, cutting only the roots that are necessary to cut. The goal is to leave the plant alone for many years.

I tell you straight, that is one damn fine Cattleya.

If I manage to grow one like that I shall be very, very pleased.

[CA2FLxplant]

Originally Posted by bil

I tell you straight, that is one damn fine Cattleya.

If I manage to grow one like that I shall be very, very pleased.

DITTO!!