POTS (GENERAL): Clay or Plastic

Culture Orchid Doctor

by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)

Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988

Posted by Sys Admin almost 8 years ago.

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For growing odontoglossums success and failure were achieved equally with both kinds. A76-427
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Pots Comments
POTS: Air-cone Type Pots with an empty space in the bottom-center designed to reduce sogginess; they provide good drainage and the condition of the roots and the mix can be "viewed" fairly well. OD88-19 0
POTS: A Kitchen Colander Can Be Used A ten-inch plastic one with a full complement of holes provided excellent drainage and aeration for a specimen miltonia, fitted into a normal pot. A82-586 0
POTS: Are Clay or Plastic Ones Preferable? The main thing is to use only one kind, in order to achieve uniform watering if possible; if a choi ce is faced, choose clay pots with at least three slits in the sides low down because it is impossible to over-water them in Florida; plastic pots may become brittle under high sunlight and break easily; clay pots breathe; they can be "tapped" with the knuckles to "sound" them to see if they are dry or wet; they can be cleaned well in bleach at the rate of one cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water, and soaked for 12 hours. F82-107 0
POTS: For Cymbidiums Small laundry baskets of plastic mesh about 18 inches wide are used in the Bianchi establishment on Long Island to grow cymbidiums in. OA82-8 0
POTS (GENERAL): Clay Vs. Plastic Comparative experiments under scientific conditions demonstrated that cattleya-type orchids grow almost as well in plastic as in clay; differences in growth due to aeration by clay. A61-32+; OWD. clay, plastic or cement do not appreciably affect dendrobiums growing in no.3 blue crushed rock; refer to NH79(4)13+ 0
POTS (GENERAL): Soak in Clorox Make a solution of one part Clorox to four parts water; clean pots well of loose dirt before soaking one-half hour; follow with a washing, a thorough drying and a last rinse before using. A69-130; A76-507 0
POTS (GENERAL): Sterilizing It's feasible to use a microwave oven if only a few pots at a time are done; use a temperature of only 180 dF for 30 minutes to kill harmful microorganisms; a better way is to place the pots in a plastic tub with a household bleach solution overnight. A86-1031 0
POTS (GENERAL): Sterilizing Them Use Physan as a soak. A76-14 0
POTS (GENERAL): Tipping Them Over Top-heavy plants are a problem unless balanced against falling over; an ingenious counterweight consists of a five to six ounce lead weight as used by anglers and obtainable from sports shops, attach them to the ends of four-inch lengths of stiff wire; push the wires carefully into the pot compost at the back of the plant and let the weights hang free; sterilization before re-using is recommended. OR80-157; RMH 0
POTS (GENERAL): Use of the Best Size for the Plant Plants with a rapid growth rate require a considerable increase in size on repotting and not a gradual increase to accommodate an accelerated growth rate; too-small or pot-bound pots reduce the growth rate for the vigorous types because of insufficient water. AU84-199 0
POTS (GENERAL): Washing Them Scrape pots free of loose dirt; soak them overnight in 10 gals, water to which has been added one cup of citric acid; then scrub them in another 10 gals, to which has been added one-half gal. Clorox and one tablespoon of liquid detergent. A74-205 0

New Topics

  1. Danielle Carbonneau asked question phalaenopsis, dendrochum and Odontoglossum in category Phalaenopsis
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  3. Mark Farran asked question How to open and read articles listed in category General Discussion
  4. Juliann Eckhard started topic Cattleya little susie in category Cattleya Alliance
  5. Shannon Gardea asked question NELLY ISLER in category General Discussion

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