Slotted clear plastic pots for phals....

[tucker85]

Yesterday I repotted a phalaenopsis that I had potted a year ago in a 5" slotted clear plastic pot. It was in a mixture of medium coconut husk chips with a little charcoal. The pot was completely full of good healthy roots. There wasn't a single dead root on the plant. I was pretty amazed. I've been using these pots for over a year now and they work really well for phals. I always use the smallest pot the roots will comfortably fit in. Here's a picture of 5", 4" and 3" pots that I use. For drier climates the pot without slots, like the 4" pot shown, might be more appropriate.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1043303...59276643226786

[camille1585]

I can't find those slitted pots here, but I get the same great results with the normal clear plastic ones. Amazing root systems, and there's never anything to cut off. I'm afraid that the slitted ones might dry out to fast for me.

[silken]

I'm a big fan of those various styles of clear pots too. All my Phals now go into clear pots. I also like square clear pots which don't tip over quite as easy so I use them when I have the correct size also.

I use the 5" ones for my larger noId phals with sphagnum and they like it. Side slits allow the moss to dry out faster which is usually hard to achieve with moss in large plastic pots. I get mine from Lee Valley tools store.

[camille1585]

I didn't think that they could be perfect for sphag! Now I have to find some large ones! For now, with the sphag potted plants I improvise an air cone with a smaller pot upside down in the bottom.

I have clear slitted potted for tiny little orchids (seedlings, keikis). They come from french 'fromage blanc' a type of yougurty cheese in a slitted pot, that sits in another pot of buttermilk. So that you can drain the liquid easily.

Camille, another good solution for large phals in straight sphagnum are large net pots. They are sold in hydroponic stores here.
The downside of the plastic pots with slits that I am using - they are too light especially when moss is approaching drying and when large phal is top-heavy it needs additional support.

[camille1585]

How about a few heavy rocks in the bottom?

[Mervin]

Originally Posted by camille1585

How about a few heavy rocks in the bottom?

That's exactly what I do.

A few pebbles from a friend garden does the trick.

[TexasBebe]

I was searching for a comment just like yours. I'm in Houston and our humid, hot summers require lots of protection from the sun and good air circulation. I'm sticking with the slotted pots.

[dounoharm]

i just tried the net hydroponic pots myself and i am hooked, they are cheap, come in all the sizes, and breathe easily for my cats and such....the little ones are great to use upside down in large pots for increased ventilation, and for plug babies....love em!