Cases for and against double potting?

[Kelo]

Can anyone help me with this question, please? Are there benefits to double potting, are there drawbacks? Which types - catts, phals etc - can be double potted? Why would I want to double pot?

Thank you!

[Ray]

What do you mean by "double potting"? Two plants to a pot, or pot within a pot?

[Kelo]

A pot within a pot, Ray.

[RJSquirrel]

A reason you might double pot is for stability of a tall plant with small roots planted properly. I occasionally double pot some of the catts that have gone aerial and overgrown the edge of the pot. I just put them inside a larger pot with no media. Some double pot plants for insulation in a hot window to protect the roots from overheating.

I dont see any problems with double potting. you Have to have a reason for it though IMO

Good luck!!

[silken]

As RJSquirrel mentioned, I like my phals in clear plastic, but when their have bloom spikes they get top heavy. I then set them in a clay or ceramic pot to hold the up. I do the same for top heavy catts. I have one that has huge leaves, but is potted in a rather small pot. It won't stand up unless its in a larger clay pot.

And then masdies and milts and likely other cool growing orchids do well when set inside a clay pot to keep roots cool. Some people wet them down on hot days without wetting the potting media.

[WhiteRabbit]

A good deal of my orchids are in plastic pots set into a clay or ceramic cache pot - a lot of orchids, especially when potted small, are quite top heavy, and prone to either getting knocked over by me, or the wind.
I even have a couple growing in clay pots, that are set into a slightly larger clay pot to stabilize them (one, L anceps, is growing over the side of the pot, and always toppling over - the other, a Tolu, has been quite prone to be knocked over for some time already, lots of growth in a very small pot - now it has a huge spike on it, and just wouldn't remain upright at all otherwise)
I haven't heard of any reason to NOT 'double pot' (other than in the case of the cache pot not draining perhaps)

[abigaillevans]

I double-pot some of mine, too, if they get too top-heavy. I often put a handful of gravel in the larger pot so the plant doesn't sit in any water that may collect at the bottom.

[got ants]

I just un=potted, my double potted Cat luddenmaniania...

The reason it was double potted (2 clay pots) was as noted above, because it was top heavy at the time I brought it into a local orchid society meeting for show and tell. Out of laziness, I just huing it on a double wire hanger like I usually do. BUT, I just this morning went and pulled it out, and in the process, ripped off a bunch of new roots.

It seems the catt needed more room, and now I have to repot it into a bigger pot, of which I don't have right now. AND, I have to go to the Redlands Orchid Festival tomorrow. Looks like sunday will be a potting/repotting day.

[keithrs]

I double pot alot of different orchids. Basically anything I have potted in rock, hydroton, and/or higromite.

I do recommend that you don't use any media after about 4 1/2", many be 6" pots on bigger plants like Den. speciosum. Just add a bigger pot about 1/2" to 1" bigger and as the plant grows over the roots will go around the bigger pot. If you do use media you may run into problems where the center never dry's out than you run into disease problems

[Kaykay]

I double pot anything that grows outside for reasons of stability (not always successful with my cym, think I'd have to put that in a tank to stop it blowing over sometimes...) and to make sure that the roots don't get cooked in strong sun.
Kay
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