Making my own ventilated pots!

[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.

[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.

[Dollythehun]

Good idea, Roberta...as usual.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Good idea, Roberta...as usual.

Thanks Got the idea when I wanted a little float valve for my RO system... Home Depot sells them for swamp coolers in hot inland areas but doesn't stock them at the local store , nobody (or nearly nobody) has a swamp cooler near the coast. I could have driven an hour each way to the store that had them on the shelf, but postponed gratification for a few days and got them after a 10 minute drive, with no shipping cost. Much better.

[No-Pro-mwa]

It is hard to find the right pots sometimes. Katrina your plants are beautiful.

[bil]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

It is hard to find the right pots sometimes. Katrina your plants are beautiful.

If you want really shallow ones, you simply can't buy pots that are 3-4" deep. That's why I suggest looking outside of garden containers for your needs.

[estación seca]

A member of our cactus society buys ceramic containers at second-hand stores and drills holes in them with a ceramic bit.

[Phonelady]

That's a good idea!
Cheaper than buying them from the store new.

Originally Posted by estación seca

A member of our cactus society buys ceramic containers at second-hand stores and drills holes in them with a ceramic bit.

---------- Post added at 08:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 AM ----------

Mine seem to be top heavy also. This is a good idea if they can be kept anchored in the wide, shallow pots. Mine have a tendency to topple and come up out of the bark. How do others anchor their plants IN the pots?

Originally Posted by Evendozen

Well that's good to know. I use medium size bark chips and it still stays moist at the bottom long after the top has dried out. That's the reason for making ventilation holes towards the bottom. Another good thing with wide pots is that they're more stable. Many of my plants are top heavy.

[Evendozen]

I almost lost my first phal by planting in one of those pots
Since I couldn't see the roots I let it dry too long. . I am ready to try again and will add some sphagnum to the bark. They are nice looking. Roots growing through the holes were a problem as well at repotting time. I'm going to use one of my phals that stays wet too long as a guinea pig

[Roberta]

I have found the easiest is to burn(plastic) or drill (ceramic) 3 holes near the rim , stake the plant, and use a wire or plant tie from the stake to each hole. Once all are in place, you can tighten them so that the plant is properly vertical. Once the roots establish it won't need those "guy wires" but it holds tall plants until they do get established.

With clay pots one can also use rhizome clips. They have a part that clips to the side of the pot and a part that extends across the pot to hold the rhizome.