Pot in pot semihydro?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

Very interesting, thank you all so far for the info! I had been under the incorrect assumption that the primary purpose of flushing was to completely exchange the water in the pot, rather than the mechanical rinse of the roots. The advantages of the full rinse do seem very clear once I think about the mechanism of it.

In that case, the pot-in-pot seems to be adding work (though, less added work ratio for someone like me who hopes to have 20 plants and a kitchen sink than to someone with a whole greenhouse and floor you can drip water onto). Does it actually manifest any benefits (time between flushing, local humidity)? Ray have you grown both ways indoors? Does one of them have an advantage?

The “fill the pot and let it drain” technique with the H-I-S (holes in side) pots accomplishes several things in one, quick and simple step:

• Flushes the pot
• Saturates the medium
• Refreshes the chemistry of the reservoir
• Aerates the medium

Pro’s - simplicity, cost, time commitment
Con’s - having to handle the drainage as it floods out of the pot, or carrying the pots to the sink.

My plants are in large “boot trays”, to which I’ve added drain hoses so the overflow is collected, precluding the need to move the plants for watering.

I’ve not grown orchids in the P-I-P pots.

[WaterWitchin]

Grim Tuesday, as Ray is telling you, if you use a pot with the holes in the side you skip having to remove the outer pot. You can take the pot to the sink, fill to top, let water drain down to reservoir, then sit it back in place without fiddling with a double pot. Less work, same overall effect. Plus less temptation to just keep topping up the reservoir (although I do that once a week, but I'm using plain RO water).

Since you grow on windowsill and don't anticipate a greenhouse or 50 to 100 or so orchids, it will work out best for you. Extra humidity from either pot in pot or self-contained reservoir will be the same effect.

Then if you get carried away and end up with more orchids we can easily show you methods to water in place. We have a habit here of encouraging everyone to get more orchids.

I have numerous in glass containers if you decide you want to try drilling glass (pretty easy) and make a nice display. As would an inside-coated ceramic pot.

---------- Post added at 09:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:25 AM ----------

PS I've grown in the pot in pot method. Same results if you water correctly, and over time a real pain to water as compared to self-contained reservoir. I have one plant in that method. Because it sits next to my sink and the outer pot is a really cool antique and I need a reason to display it (the pot).

[Grim Tuesday]

Thanks for all the advice folks! I think I will be avoiding the pot-in-pot method for now. And sorry for misunderstanding you Ray, I thought you meant you had grown house-orchids in the pot-in-pot, not house-non-orchid-plants

Two more questions:
For the regular method, I was thinking about sitting the pots on the windowsill, in darkroom trays (they have pouring spouts on the side to drain the water). To get the full effect of the flush is it sufficient to fill the pot all the way up to the top (like from a watering can, or a recycled milk gallon) and let it drain down? Or is it also necessary to allow water to run through for a bit (e.g. under a sink)? If the watering can is OK, I could use that and then pour the tray into a 5 gallon bucket, and empty the bucket at the end of the process. And I don't think there should be any disease issues since the pots are closed on the bottom, so plants are never sharing water.

Second, what would be an appropriate pot size for potting seedlings (currently in 2" pots) in semihydro? Would 16oz deli containers be acceptable or are they too wide and not tall enough?

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

Thanks for all the advice folks! I think I will be avoiding the pot-in-pot method for now. And sorry for misunderstanding you Ray, I thought you meant you had grown house-orchids in the pot-in-pot, not house-non-orchid-plants

Two more questions:
For the regular method, I was thinking about sitting the pots on the windowsill, in darkroom trays (they have pouring spouts on the side to drain the water). To get the full effect of the flush is it sufficient to fill the pot all the way up to the top (like from a watering can, or a recycled milk gallon) and let it drain down? Or is it also necessary to allow water to run through for a bit (e.g. under a sink)? If the watering can is OK, I could use that and then pour the tray into a 5 gallon bucket, and empty the bucket at the end of the process. And I don't think there should be any disease issues since the pots are closed on the bottom, so plants are never sharing water.

Second, what would be an appropriate pot size for potting seedlings (currently in 2" pots) in semihydro? Would 16oz deli containers be acceptable or are they too wide and not tall enough?

To answer the first question: Top it up and let it drain. I use the watering can for this, whether I'm flushing with plain water or feeding. And I may be wasting water, but I always top them up twice. It may not be necessary, (and Ray can comment on this) but that's what I do.

[Louis_W]

Grim Tuesday, those deli containers are my go-to but I use the 32oz ones that are really same size and twice as deep. That's what I pot up 2-3" pot into.

One good dinner from my favorite Thai or Vietnamese place and im set for three or four more plants!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

Grim Tuesday, those deli containers are my go-to but I use the 32oz ones that are really same size and twice as deep. That's what I pot up 2-3" pot into.

One good dinner from my favorite Thai or Vietnamese place and im set for three or four more plants!

The small pot is a pint gelato container. Hard plastic that doesn't deform when handled. I have several of these waiting for plants.

[Grim Tuesday]

Those gelato containers are great. Food safe and nice clear plastic. I've used them for rehydrating dinners while backpacking as well. Maybe this will give me an excuse to eat more gelato...

@Louis, is there any disadvantage to using the taller containers in a dry environment? Do you just place your drain holes higher up on the container so you will get water wicked all the way to the top?

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

...
Two more questions:
For the regular method, I was thinking about sitting the pots on the windowsill, in darkroom trays (they have pouring spouts on the side to drain the water). To get the full effect of the flush is it sufficient to fill the pot all the way up to the top (like from a watering can, or a recycled milk gallon) and let it drain down? Or is it also necessary to allow water to run through for a bit (e.g. under a sink)? If the watering can is OK, I could use that and then pour the tray into a 5 gallon bucket, and empty the bucket at the end of the process. And I don't think there should be any disease issues since the pots are closed on the bottom, so plants are never sharing water.

Fill to top once with a watering can, then good to go. Many ways to set up. Read through this thread for a few ideas... A few ways to move water...

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

.Second, what would be an appropriate pot size for potting seedlings (currently in 2" pots) in semihydro? Would 16oz deli containers be acceptable or are they too wide and not tall enough?

Appropriate size pot isn't as critical with SH for several reasons. For a seedling, a 16 oz deli container is big enough. for that size to start plants, a plastic semi-opaque drinking glass works as well. I've used a lot of rubbermaid type containers. Work well, and last for a long time. Buy the knockoffs that are really cheap.

A benefit to SH is repotting is really easy (not trying to remove old bark from roots, etc) so you can easily transition to a larger container when necessary. Less root stress, just pull and plop into bigger pot.

Something I learned a decade or so... I used to pot up much larger than needed. The downside is more open wide area at top, evaporation is more rapid. I use a lot of $1 glass vases (rubber would also work) that are tall cylinders. You can adjust the depth of hole in reservoir and make it deeper, and that assists with the dry line in a taller container.

The other thing about not getting the pot way out of proportion is the amount of water needed to flush pot. If I have a quart size plant in a gallon pot, it takes more than a gallon of water to flush it. A quart size plant in a quart size pot doesn't take nearly as much water to flush. That's important when you're schlepping water in a watering can, or dumping out a five gallon bucket. Even moreso when you're using RO water (which I do).

And if you're growing in a windowsill, opaque may be a better choice due to algae growth, if you care about it. The algae doesn't harm anything, but some find algae to not be very unaesthetic. The upside of non-opaque is you can see the root growth and transition much better. I like the latter.

[estación seca]

Your two holes should be relatively close, close enough you can cover both with one fingertip or thumb. I pick up the pot, tilt it to drain the reservoir, cover the holes, fill the pot, remove my finger and let the pot drain. If the holes are too far apart it will be easy for the LECA to plug both.

[WaterWitchin]

Or I just use one hole now in glass. If it's not automated watering, the second hole isn't necessary because you'll figure it out soon enough when watering. Poke with a chopstick if something gets stuck. Easier than drilling two holes close together when drilling glass.