Square pots

[jpyerry]

This may seem completely random, but I have recently changed my opinion on pot geometry. Until this week, I have been a staunch round pot man, I find their geometry to be much more aesthetically pleasing. I ordered a few square pots the other week, and I like them, so much more space efficient. There is, however, one thing that I don't like as much and that is that they are translucent and not as transparent as the round ones I have been using all along. Does anybody know if transparent pots exist, and if so, where I can find them?

Justin

[jsehorn]

They have clear square pots at repotme.com, but they don't look entirely transparent. But you could check them out and see if that's what you're looking for.

Square Orchid Pots

[jsehorn]

Oh, but it looks like 3.25 inch are the only size the clear square ones come in.

[jpyerry]

Originally Posted by jsehorn

They have clear square pots at repotme.com, but they don't look entirely transparent. But you could check them out and see if that's what you're looking for.

Square Orchid Pots

Yeah, those are the ones I have. They are translucent, but not nearly as clear as their Crystal Clear line, which is the level of transparency I am looking for.

Justin

[Ray]

All Air-Cone pots are square and made from a translucent plastic - not glass-like "clear", but certainly not opaque, either.

[jpyerry]

Originally Posted by Ray

All Air-Cone pots are square and made from a translucent plastic - not glass-like "clear", but certainly not opaque, either.

I was kind of thinking that would be the case, it is too bad, I think there might be a market for very clear square pots. I still think I am going to change a lot of my plants over to the square pots, it is so much more space efficient. I am currently repotting a lot of my carnivorous plants to square pots, so that they would fit better in a rectangular tray, so that I can start watering by tray method, I am sick of having to check them every single day (of course, I still probably will check them everyday, I just might not have to water them).

Justin

[Ray]

The trouble with glass-like clarity is that in order to get UV stability, you have to go with really expensive materials. If you are willing to tolerate a slight bit of haziness, the possibilities and costs improve significantly.

As an aside, if you are standing your plants in a tray of water, you are setting them up for disaster, as that is the ideal way to share plant pathogens. if one gets something, they all do in short order.

[rcb]

Originally Posted by Ray

The trouble with glass-like clarity is that in order to get UV stability, you have to go with really expensive materials.

And they don't. I bought some really clear plastic pots before. Never again. They degrade quickly - in about a year or so outside.

I have plants in them and when I go to pick them up the edges crumble.

[jpyerry]

You both make interesting points. I suppose I have not had problems with degradation because I do not grow outdoors, my entire collection is under lights. I can see how exposure to high light levels would affect the rigidity and brittleness of certain types of plastics. I guess I have just gotten spoiled by being able to see the roots so clearly, watching root development is one of my favorite parts of growing orchids.

And, Ray, you do bring up an interesting point as far the spread of disease is concerned. I know that using trays for watering large amounts of CPs is quite common amongst CP growers. I might want to do some research on how this problem can be combatted. I suppose it begs the question that how do hydroponics growers combat the problem, when in certain hydro/aeroponic methods, essentially share the same water supply across all plants. Perhaps in these cases, they are growing them as crops and it doesn't matter as much if a disease develops. Interesting notions.

Justin

Justin