Making my own ventilated pots!

[estación seca]

I use a Dreml tool with a pointed burr to drill holes for my S/H containers. There is no way I would ever take a risk of inhaling burning plastic. The smoke is loaded with potent carcinogens. I would not melt plastic out in the open, either.

[greenpassion]

I guess I got lucky-I've never smelled the melting plastic as I did it. I was down wind, but did feel a little guilty about sending that out into the environment, like when I'm behind those big trucks on the road that spew out that noxious dark smoke...

[estación seca]

The noxious dark smoke is not wonderful, but burning plastic is far worse.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The noxious dark smoke is not wonderful, but burning plastic is far worse.

When I grew in SH, I had purchased several sizes of diamond drill bits, and drilled my holes in clear glass vases. It wasn't my drill, andI don't have one of my own, and so I bought a cheap soldering iron (as I now grow in bark and clear plastic pots) to add ventilation. However, I intend to pick up an inexpensive small drill just for the purpose of adding holes to my pots.

[Phonelady]

ok, repotting with my ventilated pots or just repotting] has done it's work it seems. I have a flower opening up - instead of falling off!
Carla

[Evendozen]

I do the same with my orchid pots. I concentrate the holes towards the lower third of the pot since the top dries out faster. If the orchid has a wide root system and needs a bigger pot to accommodate the roots without snapping them off I add packing peanuts to lessen the depth of the pot. I am learning to do what the phals seem to like.

[Phonelady]

Yea you!
It's good when we can figure out these Orchid mysteries, eh?
I had not thought of the packing peanuts though. I've had to use bigger pots in a last minute potting situation [come one everyone, you haven't brought home an unplanned orchid?...].

Smiles!
Carla

Originally Posted by Evendozen

I do the same with my orchid pots. I concentrate the holes towards the lower third of the pot since the top dries out faster. If the orchid has a wide root system and needs a bigger pot to accommodate the roots without snapping them off I add packing peanuts to lessen the depth of the pot. I am learning to do what the phals seem to like.

[bil]

Hey, anything except shallow pots...

[Lucille]

The already pre-ventilated plastic pots I bought on Amazon were pretty sturdy to stand up to the leca/lava rock I potted my orchids in. But some food containers are extremely sturdy and I'm going to keep this thread in mind if I need more containers.

[Phonelady]

The other things I like about using food containers was the square shape and being able to buy in volume [made the price go down].
They seem to like it too. I have new flower buds popping up!

Originally Posted by Lucille

The already pre-ventilated plastic pots I bought on Amazon were pretty sturdy to stand up to the leca/lava rock I potted my orchids in. But some food containers are extremely sturdy and I'm going to keep this thread in mind if I need more containers.