Drainless pots for soaking!

[orchid-asmr]

hello all I am new to the forums and came here out of desperation for one thing. Drainless pots! Preferably plastic. I have such a hard time finding them that i was wondering if any of you know where to get some. I dont care what color and sizes up to 6-7in pots! Ive tried everywhere local to me and have no luck online. Any help would be appreciated!

I use them to soak my orchids when i water as well as retain some moisture. I also dont like to have my orchids share pots just to lessen the chance of pests/illnesses.

[Roberta]

Most orchids don't want to be soaked... They want free-flowing water that pulls air into the root zone. About the only types that some people soak successfully are totally bare-root Vandas, etc., that are hard to water thoroughly in a less-humid environment. It can work to soak them, then of course pull them out of the water to drain and dry out. But most orchids absolutely hate wet feet.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

You can buy plastic containers intended for food storage online, or at a restaurant supply store. They are available in multiple sizes. Some wholesale florists' supply shops may have decorative containers without holes, which are used to hold plants for sale.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Most orchids don't want to be soaked... They want free-flowing water that pulls air into the root zone. About the only types that some people soak successfully are totally bare-root Vandas, etc., that are hard to water thoroughly in a less-humid environment. It can work to soak them, then of course pull them out of the water to drain and dry out. But most orchids absolutely hate wet feet.

Many people water potted orchids by soaking though. Pouring water through the pot (especially in a bark mix) doesn't wet it enough, or wets unevenly. Unless the mix is old and broken down, a soak of even a couple hours generally won't harm the plants.

As to the pot question, ditto what ES says. Deli type containers won't well, and I think you can even get them on sites like Amazon.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Most orchids don't want to be soaked... About the only types that some people soak successfully are totally bare-root Vandas, etc.

I soak almost all my orchids ... catts, phals, etc. As Camille mentioned, it takes too long to thoroughly wet the media in mine and I'm not about to spend several days standing in front of the kitchen sink watering all my plants.

I repurpose deli containers and butter tubs for this job. (After washing with soap and water, of course.) Easy enough to label the container with marker so as to ensure the same container is used for the same orchid.

Originally Posted by Roberta

But most orchids absolutely hate wet feet.

I suspect the OP is not planning on leaving the chids sitting in water until the next watering. Rather they are likely planning on soaking, emptying out the water, letting the chid drain, then placing back in the cache pot.

[rbarata]

Anything that's big enough and holds water serves that purpose. Imagination is key.
I use tupperware containers as well as pre-made soup packs that I buy at supermarkets.
I soak most of my orchids, 10 min each is enough to water once/week.

[orchidsarefun]

Camille, you are probably one of the few resident scientists. I have repeatedly heard that pouring water through an orchid pot introduces much needed oxygen. I accept that because it sounds logical. However doesn't the process of evaporation of water do a better job? If it does, then properly soaked media - as in op's method - is the way to go?

[estación seca]

100% of the air in a pot is displaced when it's submerged. All the air spaces are filled with water. When the water is removed, new air flows in. Ray makes this point in discussing semi-hydroponic watering. This is the reason large-chunk material is often recommended for orchid potting: It allows air to penetrate the entire pot.

When there is no barrier, oxygen diffuses rapidly from areas of more oxygen to less oxygen. It is possible for a animal in a 100% oxygen environment to remain well-oxygenated even without breathing; so long as the airway remains open, oxygen flows into the lungs to replace that taken up from the lungs by the blood, and used in metabolism. This would not work with room air, but the reason has to do with the animal's lung mechanics, not the flow of oxygen.

In normal air, with 21% oxygen, an air space inside a pot could become hypoxic only if there was no communication with outside air, AND there was something taking up the oxygen in the space. OR, if the something taking up oxygen from the communicating space was using oxygen faster than it could diffuse into the space. I don't think plants would be able to use oxygen that rapidly.

So, I remain unconvinced that watering has a significant effect on gas exchange in a pot of large-chunk potting mix. I think this is yet another piece of received gardening wisdom that is incorrect.

[rbarata]

100% of the air in a pot is displaced when it's submerged. All the air spaces are filled with water. When the water is removed, new air flows in. Ray makes this point in discussing semi-hydroponic watering. This is the reason large-chunk material is often recommended for orchid potting: It allows air to penetrate the entire pot.

Agree... and I think it is obvious.
The key for soaking is the time, which depends of medium used. Soakings of hrs or overnight is something that, to me, doesn't make any sense.

[orchidsarefun]

Water is H2O. Roots generally green up when watered and I've noticed they green up extensively when exposed to soaking rains. Aren't they absorbing oxygen via the water? Soaking - for +-10 mins, not overnight, is similar to soaking rains? When the pot is removed from the soaking, the water in the pot is replaced with air. As the roots and bark dry, more air is introduced? The same would apply to any media?