Black Landscape fabric
 

I read about a tip to cover the holes in the bottom of the pot with a bit of landscape fabric. Designed to stop small bits of gunk running out the bottom of the pot. Well it works, but the build-up of this gunk ( fine bark etc ) is also delaying the water seepage. I am wondering if its a good idea after all. Has anyone else used this ?

No it is not a good idea. You do not want to build up the "gunk" but rince it out of the pot as fast as possibly!

If you need to keep finer bark from falling out of pot holes, you could try a mesh bag like onions sometimes come in.

I've also had good luck with fine mesh screen . It's good to use aluminum screening if you can since it won't rust. I have some left over from a home improvement project. So you can probably get some at any home improvement store.

Any material or hobby store like Michaels or Joanns fabrics will have plastic screenlike stuff that is used to crochette or hook rug making. It lasts forever. I used it to cover bonsai pot bottoms with. Or Home Cheapo or Lowes has 1/8 or 1/4 hardware cloth (mesh wire) that is galvanized. That's what I use now. Works very well.

Can't you just place the pot on a saucer to catch any debris falling out? I water my orchids in a sink or outdoors and I flush them really well. That way any debris is flushed out of the pot.

thanks for all the suggestions. I have to do something as the bath is in danger of being gunked up and I can't water outdoors. I will closely monitor the situation, I have only done about 4 pots with the fabric.