Weight in pots?

[ccrow]

I know I've read that people sometimes put gravel or small stones in the bottom of dendrobium pots; is there any reason not to do the same with phals? I have a couple who have apparently become suicidal after blooming Obviously when they are not in bloom they behave themselves better, but I'm getting tired of the ones that insist on jumping off the windowsill...

[Ray]

Why not? I've put bricks in very large pots.

[bil]

Makes them heavy. I prefer to use wider but shallow
pots.

[Paphluvr]

Good idea, especially with tall growing or single sided growing plants (like Phals). I just had my biggest Phal. do this very thing last evening, breaking the tips off two blooming spikes. Fortunately no harm to the plant. I used to put granite slugs in some of my pots that were a manufacturing byproduct of the company I worked for.

[Optimist]

I use a larger pot when weighing down with rocks or so on. The rocks take up "living space" so a 6 inch pot with 1/2 rocks becomes a 3 inch pot, etc. I think it is a great idea and I do it often especially for top heavy plants like dendrobiums.

[ccrow]

Thanks for the replies... I have some of those little decorative glass buttons/blobs for crafts, I think I'll put a few in the bottom of the pots when I repot. I don't currently have any plants that are big enough for weight to matter much, I just need a counterbalance;-)

[Subrosa]

I put a layer of pebbles on the bottom of Catasetum pots to keep them from blowing over while they're outside.

[rbarata]

I also had a stability issue with my den when I bought it...I simply bought a larger pot, a little bit shallower that the usual. I know den like to be pot bound but in my case the plant took care of that by itself. One year later the pot was invaded by new roots. Not really pot bound but on its way to it.

[Fairorchids]

If plants are not ready for repotting, whether in plastic or clay pot, place the top heavy plant inside a slightly larger clay pot.

I feel very strongly about this. When I repot new arrivals, if I find packing peanuts in the old pot, I make it a point to NEVER buy from that supplier again.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

I feel very strongly about this. When I repot new arrivals, if I find packing peanuts in the old pot, I make it a point to NEVER buy from that supplier again.

Care to explain why? I always put packing peanuts or Styrofoam chunks in the bottom of larger pots, usually mixed in with organic medium. I find the inert styro materials help to keep drainage open in the bottom of the pot, without breaking down. Repurposing peanuts/styro also saves me from having to use more bark to pot a plant.