Difference between S/H and pot in plastic saucer?
 

Just as the title states, i'm wondering if there's any different between S/H specialized pots, and a regular plastic pot put in a 1/2 inch deep saucer? Shouldn't the latter be preferred so you can flush your orchids much more effectively?

Thanks

I don't see much difference good or bad between the two.

Assuming by "regular plastic pot" you mean something like a net pot. If so, the 1/2 inch depth outer saucer wouldn't be enough to surround the entire height of interior pot. You'd need an exterior pot (not saucer) to contain the moisture and humidity of the interior pot. I have about six orchids using this setup, and YES, it makes for a MUCH quicker and efficient flushing process.

Thanks for your reply.
I was picturing a clear plastic pot with holes only on the bottom. By putting this in a saucer of water, the water level would be about a 1/2 inch up the plastic pot. I'm thinking this could be the way to go for maintenance purposes.

You can certainly accomplish the same thing with a saucer or with a properly constructed/modified pot, but you can't necessarily just place a potted orchid in a saucer of water and call it S/H. S/H requires use of media that will wick an appropriate amount of moisture up to the plant and not break down due to constant moisture.

I see what you mean. Assuming you're using clay-pellets, that might work and if so, kind of a one-pot, best-of-both-worlds situation. Give it a try and let us know how it goes!

I have a couple Cattleya potted on leca in regular clay pots in trays of water. My Iwanagara Apple Blossom 'NN' grew quickly after the transition and is in sheath. One of my project C. walkeriana and a jenmannii share a tray and both are growing very well.

I agree with that clarification PaphMadMan, can't just slap that label on any orchid in a saucer of water.

I experimented with 1/2" lava rock in S/H, without any plants, just to see the wicking capabilities. It seemed to work quite well, but i'm unsure about using it for my new Phrag. I think it should work. I have 3 juvenile plants and one closer to bloom, so I have some wiggle room. If it doesn't work out in lava rock, i'll probably give leca a try

Setting a plastic pot containing an inert medium in a tray of solution does accomplish the same thing, just with an external-, rather than internal reservoir.

If you use a clay pot, the extra evaporation through the pot walls will cool the root system, which in many cases, allows the grower to grow cooler-growing plants than their environment may have otherwise permitted.

Yes and the opposite is true too.
LECA and Clay pots = very cool roots which may cease growing!.
The smaller the pot, the bigger the effect (surface area:volume ratio).
LECA in Mesh pots has same problem, very rapid evaporation.
I have moved away from Clay Pots except for cool growers.
This is less of an issue if high humidity is maintained or one is using larger size pots.