DIY plastic cone pot - Orchid Board

birdybrain · #1 05-16-2013, 09:34 PM

I was given a large Phal luedemanniana keiki and I bought a couple of mini phals, all of which needed to be potted into clear plastic so I could see the roots. All I had on hand were different sized deli containers I've used for semi hydro. The smallest of deli container seemed too large for the mini orchids & the larger deli container too big for the keiki. The solution I came up with is to put a plastic mesh cone in the bottom of the pot. My thought being that this would take up space and allow better drying in the middle of the pot. I have no idea how well this will work in the long term, but thought I would share to get opinions. Here's what I did:

Put holes in bottom of deli container

Cut a plastic mesh circle from one side to the middle

Form a cone just a little larger than the inside diameter of the bottom of the deli container & use fishing line to "stich" the seam

Put the cone in the pot.

Add the potting media & the orchid

Here's a pic of the large keiki potted the same way about 2 weeks ago.

Ray · #2 05-17-2013, 09:33 AM

I sell a great many 2" net pots precisely for that application - just invert it in an ordinary plastic pot before adding medium and - voila' - D-I-Y aircone.

cbuchman · #3 05-17-2013, 10:24 AM

That's what I've done - use a net pot upside down in the bottom of the main pot. But I like to reuse materials, so I will keep your clever method in mind. I have lots of the those little plastic bowls!

WhiteRabbit · #4 05-17-2013, 07:13 PM

Cool idea. I have also used small, overturned net pots for the dsme effect. But your idea probably costs less.

nlm2951 · #5 05-21-2013, 10:18 AM

What type of plastic mesh is it and where to buy it?

birdybrain · #6 05-21-2013, 06:53 PM

I bought the plastic mesh circles from the knitting department at a craft store. A packages of 6 was $1.80. I'm not sure what they are called. The same mesh is sold in rectangular sheets in various colors in case you want to get creative