POTS (GENERAL): Clay Vs. 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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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+
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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 or Plastic For growing odontoglossums success and failure were achieved equally with both kinds. A76-427 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

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