Plugging holes in the pots - Orchid Board

bogdan · #1 02-19-2018, 04:19 PM

I went today and bought some mini office trash cans from our version of dollar store and paid almost 2$ a piece for a 1,3 L version (44 oz). It is semi-transparent white, so less chances of algae, hopefully. I need at least 150$ worth of these and who knows if they run out of them.

I do have quite a lot of regular orchid pots and would like to use them for s/h but I want them to have an internal reservoir, unlike last time when I grew a lot of algae in the trays in which the pots were kept. Do you have any recommendation on how to plug the multitude of drainage holes that these pots have? I was thinking bathroom silicone but wouldn't that give way due to the heavy LECA pressing on it?

Thank you

Orchid Whisperer · #2 02-19-2018, 05:21 PM

Since they have holes now, why not use as non-semihydro pots?

I can't think of a sealant that will never leak.

Optimist · #3 02-19-2018, 07:29 PM

I am real fond of a product called Bondo aka: auto body putty. It is a 2 part system, the Bondo and the catalyst. It is like a thick fiberglass. First, clean or sand the area you want to fill. You would need to put tape, like some duct tape on either the inside or outside of the hole you wish to fill. Bondo is slightly runny, so you would need to place your pot where gravity would help to keep the Bondo in the hole. It cures in about an hour or less, (curing time is dependent on temperature, humidity, and amount of catalyst) and then you let it continue curing overnight to off-gas.

Bondo is strong, and used in auto body repair, so it could take the weight of some lecca. Besides, everyone should know the fun things you can do with Bondo.

AnonYMouse · #4 02-19-2018, 11:45 PM

Why not use an external reservoir? I have net pot S/H!

camille1585 · #5 02-20-2018, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

Why not use an external reservoir? I have net pot S/H!

I've done the same, but with normal orchid pots. Works quite well!

Subrosa · #6 02-20-2018, 04:52 AM

Never use bathroom silicone in contact with living things. There are 2 general categories of silicone, kitchen and bath which contain mildewcides and door and window which doesn't. Use door and window grade. And proper use of silicone to seal a hole larger than 1/2" would be to use it to secure a patch of some sort over the hole.

estación seca · #7 02-20-2018, 11:57 PM

Most silicone releases a lot of acetic acid (vinegar) fumes as it cures. Living things should not come in contact with curing silicone for several days, until all the acetic acid has dissipated.

Did you consider using plastic food containers from a restaurant supply company? They are very inexpensive. Here are some from the US. You can probably find something like this in Europe.

Container and Packaging Catalog | If We Don'''t Have It, We'''ll Find It!

Subrosa · #8 02-21-2018, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca

Most silicone releases a lot of acetic acid (vinegar) fumes as it cures. Living things should not come in contact with curing silicone for several days, until all the acetic acid has dissipated.

Did you consider using plastic food containers from a restaurant supply company? They are very inexpensive. Here are some from the US. You can probably find something like this in Europe.

Container and Packaging Catalog | If We Don'''t Have It, We'''ll Find It!

You definitely need to let it cure a day or 2, but as long as your nose is in good working order you'll know when it's safe.

bogdan · #9 02-21-2018, 05:04 AM

Thank you all for your input. I found some plastic semi-transparent buckets in various sizes and perhaps this is a start.

The external reservoir lets more light to the bottom of the pot and that causes a lot of algae, but it also is easier to clean it. I also cannot properly flush the pot without going to the sink or shower. With the internal reservoir I only need two fingers and a bucket

I need to weigh in both the advantages and disadvantages