Making my own ventilated pots!

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Phonelady

Would you post a picture for us? I don't know what a bulb pan pot is. I would like to see what you are doing. I have a weird plant rack that the Hubbs made modified little shelves to fit. Maybe your bulb pan pots would work for me...

Bulb pans are just shallow, wide pots. The plastic ones are easiest to find but I did find one place in Central Ohio that has the clay ones...I drive 40 mins to get them. I have to put in my order early in the year or I end up not being able to get what I need...they sell out fast. You'll see a clay one in the pics below. Wide, straight sides, and much more shallow than the standard clay pots. I get my plastic ones from Kelley's Korner Orchid Supplies.

Originally Posted by bil

If a plant gets to any size at all, it needs more than 8" These paphs are all in 8" pots, and the leaves are already overlapping.

So right you are when it comes to plants that have a wider leaf span and/or those that tend to sprawl...like my maxima alba (pic below). However, for upright growers...the taller pots can save a good deal of shelf space. The pics are not perfect examples of what I'm talking about because these are my larger ones and once a plant gets to the 8" size, I try to use the clay bulb pans. But, my 6" and lower(Calistoglossa a great example)...I do tend to use the regular clay pots about 50% of the time. See example...the upright growth habit...I can fit more of those taller pots and w/adjustments made by filling the lower space w/something like a net pot...it makes for fitting more on my shelves.

Examples --
C maxima - this is a 12" bulb pan but if I had to use a regular clay pot, the actual leaves don't extend much beyond the pot so that equals less foot print on the shelf. This one is due for a divide. Upright growers work great in regular clay pots but, yes, you have to do something at the roots to avoid "dead" spots down in there.

C Bow Bells - also bulb pan but another upright grower

C Calistoglossa - upright grower

Ang viguieri - 4" regular clay pot and, it may not look like it but, that pot is chock-full of roots. It grows only a few from the base but they wind and wind around inside that pot - big, thick, fat roots, and they are kind of orange and warty. If it were in a shallow pot then I'd need a lot more foot print to house this on the shelf.

[Dollythehun]

Katrina, those are all spectacular! I am so jealous. I've always called those shallower pots "azalea pots." You're correct, they're hard to find.

[katrina]

Thanks, dolly! These bulb pots are actually even more shallow than the azalea ones. I use the azalea pots too but much prefer the bulb pans for my really large plants...less weight and easier to traverse my vertical grow space while carrying them up and down a ladder.

I can easily find the azalea ones at Lowe's but the bulb pans are rare around here and I pay a premium for them. Too bad too...considering I usually break them at repot time.

[Dollythehun]

I wonder if there's an online supplier? My Lowe's seldom carries anything but standard pots. I like your idea and will follow up.

[katrina]

You might check to see if your Lowe's can order them for you and you can pick them up at store...it would save on the shipping $. The azalea ones, that is. If my store has a steady supply, I don't see why they couldn't or wouldn't do it.

The bulb pans...i know the nursery orders them from somewhere in Ohio and they go pick up their orders. I can check and see who they get them from but I'm guessing shipping costs would be astronomical, given the weight.

[Dollythehun]

My guess too. Hausermann's has some nice ventilated ones...but, not always.

[katrina]

My Lowe's also carries a lot of the clay orchid pots...with the extra holes on the sides. It would seem to me that any Lowe's would have the same access. Maybe? Good luck in your search!

[Dollythehun]

I don't think so. I have one by work and it carries much different stuff. It might depend on the size of the store, ours is small.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Lucille

Five blooms are awesome, well worth the extra space! How long did it take to get to the 5-bloom stage? (I am curious because mine are small).

I'm trying to remember. 3 years max, I think.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I don't think so. I have one by work and it carries much different stuff. It might depend on the size of the store, ours is small.

You can probably order from Lowe's online and choose to pick up at your local store. That will save you shipping cost - clay pots, especially, would cost a fortune to ship directly to you but the store pick-up gives you access to things that the local store doesn't normally carry.