Affordable outer pots
 

So I have a about 30 orchids in semihydro. Most of them are in deli containers which are decidedly not very aesthetic. Does anyone know of a source for nice looking ceramic outer pots that don't break the bank? I'm not opposed to, say, buying an entire case of 12-24 of them if they are nice enough. I'm thinking something around or under $10/per pot.

Second question: How large is it reasonable to let orchids in S/H get in deli size containers? I don't want to buy a ton of deli size outer pots only to find out all my plants need to move up a size next year. Note that I'm asking "how large" here, not "how old" since I imagine "how old" is very species dependent but "how large" is probably a bit more constant.

Does your local lowes store sell Gubler orchids? I find that some of those pots are the perfect size for the way I grow my S/H and self watering orchids.

If you can find them at your local lowes, check the discount rack for decent orchids, you can sometimes get them for 6 or 7 dollars each, and if you're in good with the garden center staff, they may even sell them for 2 or 3 each if you tell them you just want the pot and don't care about the rescue orchid.

Take 1 of your deli containers into the store and check the fit on the different pots they have available to see which ones you like.

They may even let you swap a pot you like off the non-discount rack, with a pot from the discount rack to get the pots you want.

Look at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, dollar stores and thrift shops. Bring an empty container with you.

A local discount store is a good bet for that type of thing. We have a one called Cheap as Chips, another called the Reject Shop. I think your equivalent is maybe Dollar Tree. Other places to check out would be op shops, thrift stores ect.

You may even get a bargain on pots at a local hardware chain.
I did, I found terracotta pots with Made in Italy 17 embedded in them. They measure 170mm or 17 cm (6.7 inches) across the top.

The only thing I could find wrong with them was a slight colour change in the clay. I've used 20 of them for a year, and found nothing wrong with them. I just dropped the holey plastic pots I grow in inside the terracotta. The rest are waiting for plants to grow big enough.

They were priced at $1 AU, (70c US, 60 UK pence, 70 euro) so I bought 50.

Maybe something like this? You could also try asking a local florist if they have any pots they could sell you or order from their wholesaler with their next shipment. I got some manzanita wood I wanted for a tank by asking around.

Just swinging back around on this in case anyone finds this thread in the future. After several months of looking, and experimenting with several assorted ceramic pots the best "price to performance ratio" outer pots I could find were these two options from Ikea:

These ones I stack, so that one pot forms a large saucer and the other is a 5" inner pot:
FORENLIG Plant pot, indoor/outdoor white, 4 3/4" - IKEA

These ones I put 32oz takeout containers in and they peak out over the lid, which doesn't look great, but doesn't look horrible either:
BINTJE Plant pot, galvanized - IKEA

I have yet to find anything I am 100% satisfied with.

I guess I have the heart of a dumpster diver. I have gotten some nice pots at Hobby Lobby, Walmart, Lowes, and other "big box discount stores." I also get pots or ceramics that can be repurposed into outer pots from second-hand shops (Goodwill, Salvation army,) or yard sales. Looking for cashe Pots is an ongoing activity.

Those are both inexpensive nice options GrimTuesday. Especially if aesthetically you'd like a more uniform look. Watch on the metal ones... I had a couple on a wood table top and they rusted sooner than anticipated. As in by the time I noticed the table top now needs to be refinished. :blushing:

I'm more into doing same as Optimist does. Thrift stores, garage sales, etc. It's sort of a hobby within a hobby to collect them. :biggrin: And can become every bit as addictive as an orchid addiction.

yes, totally want to second what ww mentioned. ,etal cache pots are a bad idea. we have white tile and it was surprisingly difficult to get a rust ring off the white floor.

also thought to mention that if you have small pots like 6ers or something, then coffeemugs from the dollar store make great cache pots....premade with handles!

With the aging and breaking, I don't think I have a single clear S/H pot any longer. Most are in 1 quart or 1 gallon plastic buckets from Uline, which are much heavier duty than a deli container.

The best bang for your buck is at Ikea.

I use Deli cups and other plastic pails from Amazon for S/H but sometimes the plants can grow really tall and tip over. Not fun when they're full of round LECA pebbles. Ceramic pots help keeping the plants in place.

A while back, I ordered a box of Carlisle Classic 27qt. crock containers, which are a bit heavy but wide lid 6" net pots fit perfectly over them. I thought the clear ones would be aesthetic since I could monitor the roots, but algae was a huge problem. With the colored ones, I never had algae problems, and in fact the oldest plant I still own, a Dendrobium goldschmidtianum, has been in a netpot suspended over a partly filled resin pot (used to be in a crock pot).

I also bought a box of Genpak SC032 deli containers, which are more like 5.5" wide, 4" high saucers that are stiffer than the ones they sell at plant stores. The standard slitted 4" or 5" orchid pots fit into these and they could be functionally semi-hydro if allowed to be watered until overflow. Or as I do, water them a bit lower. Not as pretty as a cache pot, but not ugly, and rather space economical. You could buy decorative plastic or resin pots without holes punched in the bottom at a big box store like Lowes, if you get lucky to find one at the right size.

I bought both of these at restaurant wholesalers online, by the way, like Splyco or Katom Restaurant Supply.