best type of orchid pots

[ccrow]

Re top-heavy plants- I've been putting marbles in the bottom of the pots For the really small pots, like for mini phals, I used some aquarium gravel. It really helps!
Re net pots/roots- I should think that if it needs a larger pot, it wouldn't hurt anything to just leave the old net pot inside the roots, if you can't get at it; or cut as much as you can without worrying about damaging roots and just leave the rest. I haven't used these myself but it's inert material so it should be ok.

[bil]

I just prefer to use wide shallow pots so that they can't tip over. Plus, the medium needs to be able to breathe easily and not retain water in the gaps between media particles. So with the thick root epiphytes, I use 2" bark, and with the thin ones a finer bark.
If there is a real risk of it drying out, my suggestion is NOT to mix sphagnum in with the bark, but to place a couple of balls of moss in amongst the bark.
That way there is a reserve of moisture that doesn't risk clogging the interstitial gaps.

[Cove Lady]

Thanks, Silken, they are in a bark,sphagnum moss[ not too much] charcoal, perlite and a few clay beads. The bark was the last bag I was able to get and I think fir bark is not as good as it used to be, it is rotting very quickly.

It is not usually dry in my greenhouse, right now everything except the Phals.are outside, so not much watering in there and it just gets dry and not very humid. Usually we have abundant rainfall here, 40" to 50" a year but the whole region is short about 6". I have had only 2" since the first of June so I don't have the usual humidity. This is why I am considering the mist and fogger and want to get the plants into pots that will be good in that environment. I have looked at the clear pots but somehow they seem odd, I don't know if they just look odd because we usually see plants in green pots, or not. rePotme has some like them that are green but they want ridiculous prices for them. I have to buy pots, I should get some of the clear and see how it goes. I have always been able to grow my plants well but between the root rot and the spider mites or what ever they are I am frustrated. I have never been a overzellous waterer, I usually error on the dry side.

I have been reading the threads and culture info where ever i find it and the board has convinced me that I need to do the clear pots with the slits and the cone so air to get to the lower medium in the pots.
I also think I am going to use more of the clay in my mix this time as well. Thank you for helping me resolve this in my mind.

I really appreciate your input, Thanks

[bil]

Originally Posted by Cove Lady

Thanks, Silken, they are in a bark,sphagnum moss[ not too much] charcoal, perlite and a few clay beads. The bark was the last bag I was able to get and I think fir bark is not as good as it used to be, it is rotting very quickly.

It is not usually dry in my greenhouse, right now everything except the Phals.are outside, so not much watering in there and it just gets dry and not very humid. Usually we have abundant rainfall here, 40" to 50" a year but the whole region is short about 6". I have had only 2" since the first of June so I don't have the usual humidity. This is why I am considering the mist and fogger and want to get the plants into pots that will be good in that environment. I have looked at the clear pots but somehow they seem odd, I don't know if they just look odd because we usually see plants in green pots, or not. rePotme has some like them that are green but they want ridiculous prices for them. I have to buy pots, I should get some of the clear and see how it goes. I have always been able to grow my plants well but between the root rot and the spider mites or what ever they are I am frustrated. I have never been a overzellous waterer, I usually error on the dry side.

I have been reading the threads and culture info where ever i find it and the board has convinced me that I need to do the clear pots with the slits and the cone so air to get to the lower medium in the pots.
I also think I am going to use more of the clay in my mix this time as well. Thank you for helping me resolve this in my mind.

I really appreciate your input, Thanks

I'm asssuming the perlite is in small beads/powder? That will just choke the interstitial holes. The whole point is to keep airflow at a maximum.