What kind of pot do you prefer?

[Sara]

I thought this would make an interesting poll. espeically helpful for newbies!

[atcrosby]

Pots with the side vents seem to work better in drying out the medium evenly.

Has anyone had any experience with the Aircone pots ?

[daytriper]

I use different pots for different species---Orchid clay pots for Cats, Paphs etc. Orchid ceramic pots--2nd choice. A decorative ceramic pot preferably with aeration ports can make an orchid a showpiece. There are pots especially made for some orchids---cymbidiums for example. I have several beautiful neofinetia falcata and they are displayed in japanese fukurin pots. We or I spend alot of time and effort growing award quality orchids and they should be displayed appropriately. Vandas on hangers or vanda baskets. Mounts should be left to the more experienced or be prepared to meet their extra needs. Well--that's what I use!
G.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Plastic azalea pots in a dark green, I buy them every 1/2" in cases, and occasionally bulb pans, which come every inch, also in dark green. Dark green round pots are asthetically pleasing. Cynthia

[chrono]

I like clay pots with side vents and a bottom hole for ventilation. The clay colour is also neutral, earthy and easy on the eyes. It also has a nice heft for supporting heavier plants. However, they can get pricy if buying lots of them.

[Ellen]

Like Cynthia, plastic pots by the case, every 1/2", except for mounted plants, which are on cork or treefern slabs.

[Maddy]

Plastic or ceramic for me. I have this weird thing about clay pots - I can't stand the way they feel. Having to pick one up is like raking my fingernails down a chalkboard. Plastic pots also mean less weight on my windowsills, which is good. I also have several ceramic orchid pots with side vents - three right now are acting as cachepots for some topheavy phals, and I have three cattleyas potted up in cermaic as well.

[greg_s]

Maddy,
I know what you mean about keeping the weight down on the windowsills. But I just can't help but to vote for the old fashoned terra cotta pots. The just look so much nicer to me. Very...um..."classic".

Greg

While I prefer plastic pots as I can't water that often, I do use the clay pots as sleeves to keep the plants from tipping over. I also have some catts in the slatted baskets.

[gerneveyn]

I use clear plastic pots to grow in s/h so I can keep an eye on the roots and the water level in the bottom.

[Anton]

Black and dark green plastic.
Have had problems with ceramic ones forming a white powdery residue all over them.

[Vincent]

I would have expected wooden baskets to be doing better in the poll than they are. Maybe it's their disadvantage of taking up more space than pots. I like them because they permit unrestricted root development and better ventilation through the medium.

[kmarch]

I grow mostly Paphs and Phrags, but i'm a LAZY waterer so I like plastic because I dont' seem to have to water as often.

[grumpysan]

Most of mine are in transparent plastic pots, I feel better being able to see the roots and I think it looks attractive. I punch holes or slits in the sides for extra aeration.
Other than that, a few of my largest orchids are in wooden baskets and my smallest are mounted on cork bark, which are actually my favourite "potting" styles but they are more work.

[prisana]

I like the special glazed orchid pots with different designs, but often get stuck using clay pots, which is also nice. The glazed orchid pots are too hard to find, and they just sort of fly off the shelf that if you don't get them now , you won't find them again for a while. I just like all the extra ventings on those pots and a water reservoir in and around the bottom..it's like instant little humidity, you just have to keep an eye out for too high water every now and then.

[Vivienne]

I too prefer the look of the terra cotta. Most of my plants are in clear plastic and then placed in terra cotta.

[turkeytaker]

I have much better luck with clay, since I LOVE to water. They also keep my top-heavy dends from diving off shelves quite so often.

[butt0n]

I get standard terra cotta pots, and sometimes, the ones made for orchids with the long holes on the sides. If I get the regular ones, I have my dad drill long holes in the side for ventilation.

[PhalPal]

I get the majority of my ceramic pots (especially tall cymbidium pots) at Home Depot. I need the extra weight to keep my mini cyms from tipping in any little breeze since I grow them outside all year. We have a very dry climate and the extra media keeps them from drying out so quickly. I make a point of 'just dropping by' any HD I see because these pots do go fast. Very pretty with cascading types!

[siriusmk]

I like clay pots with slits on the sides for my cattleyas and plastic for all others.

[pikevi]

I like the special clay pots with holes on the sides for the orchids. Unfortunately the the prices of those are about 3 times that of an ordinary clay pot of a comparable size.

So I stick with the affordable ones !

[GiovannaD]

I use a combo οf transparent plastic pots in glazed decorative clay pots, which I make sure they are at least 1' (2-2,5cm) bigger in diameter than the plastic ones, fill the bottom with pebbles and place a little moss on the inside peripherally. This way I get a nice deco pot and a humidity tray.

I prefer to use cypress and make my own. The cypress works well with dendrobiums.

[flowerchild]

Since going to an orchid society repotting class I have learned you can use almost anything to pot up an orchid. I have cut a few 2 litre pop bottles up to use the bottoms for really long rooted orchids you can use clear plastic juice jugs with holes drilled in them too. If you can drill a hole in it you can use almost anything. I use mostly clay with a pot inside, cause I like the look of clay.

[pikevi]

A great idea flowerchild.

One could also see the roots through the clear plastic

I started with clay pots and now I wish I had started with clear plastic so that I could see the growth(and health) of the roots more readily.

A good tip with pepsi/coke bottles. Do you smoothen the cut surface? or don't they pose a problem to the touch?

Thanks.

[palito]

Originally Posted by Vincent

I would have expected wooden baskets to be doing better in the poll than they are. Maybe it's their disadvantage of taking up more space than pots. I like them because they permit unrestricted root development and better ventilation through the medium.

i have almost everything in wood baskets filled with bark. much better aereation and no rotting but they definitely need frequent watering in the heat of the summer