Clear Glass Crystal pot planters I made

My grandma's crystal flower vase ( one of those lead crystal Lalique, Waterford or Mikasa types) thick and heavy ...she gave it to me since she cant lift it anymore... got my half inch diamond glass drill and bore a hole in it...beats the plastic stuff sold in orchidsupplies. I know that exposing roots to sunlight can also benefit orchids, but this is my first time to plant in clear glass. What do you think?

[iluvorchids]

Interesting to see how this will work out.

[koshki]

Well, I'll confess I just about had a heart attack thinking of putting holes in a Waterford vase (I don't think it's Waterford...don't know about the other names). Personally, I would have used it as a cache pot, but then you'd have a real pot sitting visible inside, so it's a toss up.

It does look nice! I'd worry that a single hole wasn't enough for orchids...

[katrina]

I'm w/Katherine on this...never would I drill holes in anything Waterford or Lalique (crystal or otherwise). Both are quite expensive and well..no, I'd just never drill holes in them.

Also w/Katherine...only one hole would concern me in glass. Might not get enough air flow to the roots.

Okies...I will add more holes

[koshki]

Instead of adding more holes, which might compromise the stability of the vase, why don't you just set a potted plant inside the vase? You'd get the beauty of the crystal without the worry of root rot. And since you've already got the one hole, it will drain excess water. Just a thought!

I bored 2 more holes...no worries... its easy to drill holes on thick glass once you learned how to do it...you were right Katherine: spoke with my grandmother, she said it was an expensive vase(but not Lalique or Waterford)..it was Danish of some sort. I didnt know...I thought it was just something she discarded and threw my way...and I considered it junk.

[Greybeard]

It looks good but ouch on the expensive vase part. My main concern would be though that once the roots get close to the glass, they might overheat, glass has a tendency to intensify the suns light, the whole magnifying glass thing, so I would be very vigilant and be careful of to much sun on the glass, you don't want to burn the roots Looks pretty but be careful Good luck

[Miranda321]

I have a number of phals, a couple of catts and a Cl. Rebecca Northen 'Grapefruit Pink' in glass vases (cheap ones from Michaels at various sizes) that I have been very successful at using. I too have only been putting in a single (1/2") hole in the bottom, but have found that I have not had problems with this set-up. However, I am extremely careful to usually put a loose layer or two of pretty pink packing peanuts at the bottom and use either a relatively loose CHC mix or a very loose and 'fluffy' NZ sphag moss and tree fern fiber mix.

An interesting side effect of the set-up is that the NZ sphag has all started to come back to life- sprouting tendrils and growing new 'fingers'!

[terry_sealey]

It looks really nice at the moment but, in a short period of time, you will get algae growth inside the vase and instead of a nice piece of clear glass it will look .....well very green and dirty.

I also cringe at drilling a good vase!

[PhalNewbie89]

Anky, I think I would have done the same if I knew how to drill glass. a vase is a vase.

[koshki]

Yes, but this particular orchid pot is probably at least a couple hundred dollars worth of vase!

Anky, if your grandmother has any more crystal vases she'd like to discard, why not have her send them to me?

[katrina]

Originally Posted by koshki

Yes, but this particular orchid pot is probably at least a couple hundred dollars worth of vase!

Anky, if your grandmother has any more crystal vases she'd like to discard, why not have her send them to me?

Katherine's right. IF it's Waterford crystal or Lalique glass or crystal...it's quite pricey. I have a sneaky feeling that vase/tumbler isn't one of these particular makers. Might not even be crystal. What is the mark on the bottom?

I only put my plants indoors in temperature and humidity controlled settings by the window never on direct sunlight, so overheating or cooling it is not a prob...if it gets algae I can always repot and clean the glass and put it back again...

@Nancy: purchase a diamond coated drill bit for glass at a hardware store (I use 1/2 inch@$12), I use an ordinary electric drill: choose an inverted pyramidial vase (so its easy to invert and take out the plant without breaking the glass; use a thick heavy one = I discovered Target has those $5 cereal bowls with a 1/4 inch bottom) put some water in the vase about 2mm thick...put it on a wooden chopper, wear goggles mark with a cross with masking tape where your target is and start drilling with steady hands never putting pressure on the drill but let it go its course...you will notice that once the drill has found its mark it cuts through glass like butter...in 20 seconds you have a hole. (also go to youtube and look for videos of boring holes thru glass...theres many ...and choose the one that will work easy for you).

[Brooke]

Gosh I wish my greenhouse could create constant ideal conditions like your apartment

If you want your Catt to rebloom, you have to give it sun but the glass container won't be a problem. It won't get any hotter for the plant roots than a black plastic pot.

The glass container will grow algae quite fast. I wouldn't recommend disturbing the roots as often as you will need to do, particularly on a Catt. Some of them can reward you for disturbing them by reduced blooming or no blooming for a season.

Brooke

[berkeleysgr8]

I think it's an interesting idea! I might look into finding some cheap-o heavy bottom glass containers for some of my plants that are in Hydroton. Having something with a bit of weight would help prevent the plants from falling over.

[pikkumyy]

very cool, i wonder if you could do it with jam jars for the smaller orchids and seedlings (just a sudgestion) also when the plant isn't blooming the roots would look very interesting and would attract a lot of attention in your appartment

[Rivka]

in my quest for pretty s/h potting i have bored holes in glass and used them a few times. finally i switched to finding combos of clear plastic cups that fit cleanly into glass vases and things. i have a selection of various crystal clear cups and togo containers that i get at restaurant supply places. and match them up with all kinds of fun glassware. that way i get a water reservoir, and a easy way to remove the plant to clean the glass. in the end they look amazing adorning all my windowsills!

now i am pondering making custom inserts so i can use any size glass. there are limits to what i can find in the store bought crystal clear plastic. and also lining the glass on the sunny side to slow algae growth, but still let me admire and examine the roots on the side that faces the room/away from the sun.

[ChryssM]

I think it's a great idea !! I've been recycling all kinds and shapes of plastic containers with successful results. I use a .38 special brass case, hold it in a pair of vise-grips while heating it with a propane burner and it melts nice round professional looking holes in plastic !

I like the idea of clear glass pots and will try it. I have seen no harmful effects of algae in pots unless it turns to slimy black on top of sphag, in which case I scrapped it off and reduced the watering frequency of that plant = cured !
.

[Rivka]

for the holes in plastic inner containers i use a cheep soldering iron directly, when its nice and hot it makes great perfect size holes. i have a little 5 dollar one set aside for this use.

[zildjian]

hmmm looks great to me...

[Chantie]

WOW thats really beautiful :-)

[switchblade]

looks very nice. Good job!

[HotPot]

My God if your Grandma is still in the land of the living I fear for your safety if she sees these pictures!