Pots - Orchid Board

athena · #1 09-21-2008, 02:35 PM

I was wondering what everyone's success was with different types of pots. I had been thinking about putting my orchids in more decorative pots, but with orchid the orchids inside the decorative pot with a plastic orchid type pot. Any recommendations on what has been working for everyone would be great!

Cookiemonster · #2 09-21-2008, 02:38 PM

I personally dont like decorative pots, I personally love the clear pots as I can see whats going on!

Ross · #3 09-21-2008, 02:47 PM

I use clear plastic where possible and net pots where not possible (too big). I don't like ceramic decor pots (not even Erin's)

BikerDoc5968 · #4 09-21-2008, 03:13 PM

I don't know who Erin is but like the others so far I don't pot directly into ceramic. When I started with chids I fancied the clay orchid pots...in time with all the chids it got to be too much weight and costly so when I repotted I went to clear/translucent plastic. So far so good and it is nice to see if there is water vapor insiide the pot especially if you are heavy-handed with the water as I am!!!! I will place a plastic pot into a clay or decorative ceramic when I bring them into the home for show but that is for a week or two and then I change them out.

D&S Mabel · #5 09-21-2008, 04:57 PM

I think this may be one of those "it depends.." situations, as in, it depends on your growing conditions.

For example, I grow outside year round and use clay pots for those plants exposed to the weather. We have a fairly long season of high humidity and rain and my cat. and onc. types don't seem to do well in plastic pots. They don't dry out as fast as the clay pots I use and I have had root rot issues. At the same time, all my phals are in plastic pots (or S/H) as they are not exposed to the rains and don't need to dry out as fast. They've done better in plastic then when I had them in clay.

We do slip the plastic potted phals into decorator pots when we bring them in to enjoy them (IMHO, the clear plastic pots I use are ugly and need the sprucing up). The clay potted ones get a light cleaning off before they are brought in for display.

Growing plants in a combination pot-inside-a-pot may cut down on air flow so be careful.

RosieC · #6 09-21-2008, 05:07 PM

I use inner plastic pots with decorative pots on the outsdie.

I'm a real fan of clear plastic pots for orchids. Like others have said you can see what is going on with the roots and you can tell when it needs watering. One of my new ones came in an opaque plastic pot and I want to get it in a clear one as soon as possible.

But my orchids are in my living room and I want decorative pots on display so outer pots are a great solution.

My local garden center sells outer decorative pots designed for orchids. They are about 1.5" to 2" taller than the inner clear pastic pot. There is a ledge at this height from the bottom which the inner pot sits on causing the lip of both to be in line. This setup allows good drainage, when you have just watered the water dripping out of the bottom of the inner pot does not say arround it's base but drops into the bottom section of the outer pot, well away from the media.

A couple of my orchids are in these, the others have ordinary house plant decorative pots outside their inner pot... I have to be very careful with those to make sure they don't stand in water.

RosieC · #7 09-21-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D&S Mabel

Growing plants in a combination pot-inside-a-pot may cut down on air flow so be careful.

I would agree with this, I always make sure my outer pots are NOT snug with the inner pot. There should be plentry of 'rattle room' if you use outer pots in this way. (Well that has worked well for me).

greenbean · #8 11-06-2008, 02:43 AM

Could someone recommend a source for clear plastic pots. I ordered some, but none of my orchids fit them at the moment. I'd like to find a variety of sizes.

Cookiemonster · #9 11-06-2008, 07:42 AM

Green Barn Orchid Supplies : Pots and Baskets and http://www.calwesttropical.com/

BikerDoc5968 · #10 11-06-2008, 08:28 AM

I'm pretty sure cookiemonster has done the research as I have. I have ordered from Calwest Tropicals and they have an excellent variety of clear pots at about the best price unless you are going to order hundreds and their S/H are reasonable.