Help with my Phal watering system/finding decorative pots with no holes
 

Hello

I currently have 12 phals varies sizes (in 4,5 and 6" plastic orchid pots).

I've been keeping them in decorative pots, taking them to sink, watering them, leaving them sit in the decorative pot 5 min. then draining and putting back in their pots and return to their spot. This has been working for me...

Except now that my phals are growing in size they are outgrowing their decorative "phal" pots that came with them in the store. I'm having a hard time finding pots with NO HOLES to put them in and keep them there while they soak.

I've tried not using a decorative/ceramic pot and just leaving them in their plastic pot but when they are in flower they are very top heavy and fall over.

I"ve checked Lowe's, Menards, Home Depot, the plastic pots all have holes, very few have ceramic pots no holes.

Any ideas? Or should I do another watering type system? I"ve thought about just taking them to the sink, watering them and put them back (no soak) but worry this isn't enough water for them. But they are still top heavy without a heavy pot.

And just curious - putting a few of them in a basin with shared water to soak is not recommended, right?

Thank you:)

I have numerous decorative ceramic cachepots that I use for orchids, violets, etc, etc. If they have a hole, I either plug up with a rubber or cork plug (hardware stores sell them), and/or I use a big blob of silicon caulk. Usually both, if I'm putting it on a wood surface I don't want to ruin if it leaks.

If the pot is too tall, I fill it up with either rocks, or LECA, or marbles, and actually leave water in bottom of pot, just not touching base of inside pot. Unless its something like a phrag. That also gives the pot more weight when needed.

I also will soak several orchids at a time in the sink. Yes, that's not recommended. At all. However, I've been doing it for a couple of decades and haven't had an issue yet. I like to sometimes break rules. :dance13:

You can probably find a plastic storage container that will be big enough to take the ceramic pot and the inner pot together. Try the Dollar Store or equivalent where you live.

Couldn't you use almost any kind of solid container just for the five minutes they are soaking at the sink? Take the orchid in its plastic pot out of the outer decorative pot, place it in, say, a Tupperware container, very small pail, etc., let it soak for five minutes, remove it from that temporary container and return it to its decorative container.

Or, you could just go with larger decorative containers that do have holes but buy those clear plastic saucers to place underneath each one to catch water drips.

Places here like Marshalls and TJ Maxx have a lot of decorative containers without holes.

oh I never thought about plugging them up! That is great, thank you! I think I have caulk too :)

---------- Post added at 02:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:52 PM ----------

[QUOTE=WaterWitchin;869543

I also will soak several orchids at a time in the sink. Yes, that's not recommended. At all. However, I've been doing it for a couple of decades and haven't had an issue yet. I like to sometimes break rules. :dance13:[/QUOTE]

Lol :)

I water my Phals the same way. I took some empty plastic slotted orchid pots to Smart and Final and found plastic cups and containers that could accommodate my varoius sizes of orchid pots. I now pull my orchids out of their decorative pots and put them in the plastic containers to water and I don’t have to worry about finding everyone pots without holes anymore.