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HELP, Clay pot ( repotting issues)

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by DeafOrchidLover, Sep 5, 2014.

  1. Sep 5, 2014 #1
    DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    I bought 8 inches clay pot from Walmart. I've been reading and researching and I'm felt helpless. Is it safe to repot my orchid into that clay pot? I do not have stove. It says it needs to be bleach and heat up. Can you help me out? I really want use that clay pot. I do have yellow plastic pot, too. Any advices, please. (I don't want to kill orchid, though. I have the soil stuff, though. It's bark and sphagmun moss, red lava rock, n lit perlite, will mix them)
     
  2. Sep 5, 2014 #2
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I don't know what kind of pot needs to be bleached and heated before use. I've never heard of that. However, here are some other considerations. Many decorative pots don't have a drain hole. What ever you use make sure that it has good drainage. Also, I don't know what kind of orchid you are potting but an 8" pot is really large for an orchid unless it is a huge plant. Using a pot that is too big can easily lead to the roots staying wet too long and then to rot. Most orchids actually like being a bit root bound.

    Tell us more about the pot (drainage, glazing, terracotta, etc) and what kind and size of orchid you are potting then maybe we can give you a better answer.
     
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  3. Sep 5, 2014 #3
    DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    It's regular clay pot. The orchid is in 6 inches pot and the roots are inside and spreading out. I will take a pic of clay pot and the orchid pot, I'm not home at this moment It's in tan pot, that's the one. It's in 6 inches pot. You can enlarge the pic and see the roots.
    Well, I did research through goggle, it needs to be bleach, of course mix with water to kill bacteria. And have to heat clay pot in oven for 400 degrees to kill virus so it won't make orchid sick for a hour or couple. That's why I wanna ask other people's opinions. :).
    And other thing, orchids are sensitive plants , if plan to repot again. Pot need to sterilize, wash with soap, and let it dry, it's set to repot right away.
     

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  4. Sep 5, 2014 #4
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    If the clay pot is new, you don't have to sterilize it. That is only if it has been used before.
     
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  5. Sep 5, 2014 #5
    DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    Really, Marni.... Then that's super awesome. Yippie!
    KellyW , the orchid pot is over 6 inches. All I found is over 8 inches at Walmart. Are you saying it's too big? What should I do? I'm gonna send you picture to take a look in it. I need to buy styyfroam peanuts soon. [i did put orchid pot in it clay pot. What do you think? ATTACH=full]27553[/ATTACH] ImageUploadedByTapatalk1409954441.089048.jpg


    Pssst!!! My husband is laughing at me. He's the one made me to ask you guys and post myself a forum about clay pot. Now I feel belittle. Sighing. I'm so happy I join this forum... I love my husband very much and tends to get involved with my orchids and helps me and gives me right advices often. I have to get him fragrance caytella , he's obsessed with it already. (Father's Day yea yeaa shhhhshshshh, have to start layaway, it's 100 bucks yikes!)
     

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    Last edited: Sep 5, 2014
  6. Sep 5, 2014 #6
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Yes, the new pot is too big. I would just repot it into the same pot it is in now using fresh media. Since you would be putting the same plant back in, no need to sterilize it. You could just wash it out and proceed.
     
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  7. Sep 5, 2014 #7
    MattWoelfsen

    MattWoelfsen Active Member

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    Not to add to your confusion but judging from how your plant looks in its current pot, I recommend you get a 5" or even a 4" pot. HomeDepot or Lowes carries plain terra cotta pots with slits or holes on the sides.

    The reason? The potting media inside the pot is probably broken down into soil and the roots inside the pot may all be rotted. If this is the case, then a 5" or 4" pot is going to be large enough.

    For potting media, get medium sized chunky bark mix made for Phalenopsis, Walmart carries the MiracleGro product, but if you can go to Lowe's or HomeDepot, they carry BetterGro Phalaenopsis mix, this product lasts longer than MiracleGro.

    Instead of using packing peanuts, get some sponge rock and put a layer of this product on the bottom of your pot. Sponge rock is available @ Lowes or HomeDepot.

    Rather than boiling a brand new pot, soak the new pot in water so that it doesn't wick the moisture out of your newly soaked potting media.
     
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  8. Sep 6, 2014 #8
    DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    I may repot again. I like your advice very much. Thank you.
     
  9. Sep 6, 2014 #9
    DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    Yes, I understand what you are trying to say. Thank you for wonderful advices. The roots inside is not rot, as I double check to look inside, it looks healthy, thank you for sharing your concerns. Thank you so much about terra cotta clay pot. I've seen them at lowes, I only did see shiny paint on them. I do have correct potting mix with me. The clay pot is going to return to store and get a smaller size. I'm still thinking and researching. :).
     
  10. Sep 10, 2014 #10
    DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    Good morning! I am going to repot three phalaenopsis , two will go in clay pot and one will reuse pot. Here is the picture. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1410354933.820868.jpg . And it's my first time. Yippie!
     
  11. Oct 1, 2014 #11
    DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    Few weeks have passed by, they're doing very well, I'm so happy... Very pleased... Just would
    Iike to share great news. :)
     
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  12. Oct 2, 2014 #12
    DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    I use fir bark, shaggnum moss, red lava( small pieces, yep, did use hammer to make it lit pieces and rinse it well), and orchids are thriving. If someone is curious about potting media, there it go
     
  13. Oct 2, 2014 #13
    John Klinger

    John Klinger Active Member Supporting Member

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    The only suggestion I would make, if you are using clay pot's, keep everything in clay. It makes watering a lot easier. All my plants that I grow are in clay, any divisions to give away are in plastic. One thing I learned a long time ago, keep all your plants in the same kind of pots. It makes it harder to water if your plants are in different kind of pots, as plastic holds moisture differently than clay. Good luck growing, you will learn what works for you.
     
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  14. Oct 11, 2014 #14
    DeafOrchidLover

    DeafOrchidLover Member

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    Thank you so much for advice, John Klinger.
     
  15. Oct 12, 2014 #15
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    If all of your plants require the same treatment, I agree, but as I have an extremely varied collection of plants that require significantly different cultural parameters, I take a somewhat different approach:

    Like John, my goal is to simplify the care of my plants, so I use the combination of pot-plus-medium as my "controllers". For example, a high-light plant, hung high up in the greenhouse, is going to dry out faster than that same one down on the bench. If I use a more moisture-holding medium and a plastic pot for the one hung high, it will require rewatering at the same time as the one in the slotted, clay pot on the bench.

    By having stuff in baskets, plastic pots, clay pots, mounts, and probably a dozen variations in media (if any at all), I can water everything at once, and still make sure they all get what they need.
     
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