AusBonsai

Hi guys,
I've seen a few people using Orchid pots as bonsai training pots and was wondering 1. If they are any good, and 2. where can i get some? 3. Appx price....

any of your friends and family, or you could order from a nursery. I have just ordered some Black planter bags, they are around 50c for a 150mm, these are good as they are stored flat, you can cut open, half fill and cut the remaining, but most importantly i think they are clean. you can get them from Confast.com

I get mine from Ray Nesci. He stocks several sizes
Start at $2:50 and up to $5
they are great to use as grow pots. Lower then normal and much wider

Ken

collanders and even dishwashing baskets can work a treat! i havebeen growing some shimpaku in a collander for a while now and they are loving it, it is basically the same theory.

jamie

Try garden world Josh! $5 for 300mm. best size for growing on and training imo. Use shade cloth on the bottom to stop the bits from falling out. Collanders dont work well in our climate imo and they break down after 12mnths or less. orchid pots you will get to use for years.

Gday Josh & Co!

I have used orchid pots for quite some years now - I think it was about 8 years ago that I first saw them at a local orchid society show, and grabbed as many as I could afford at the time. At first glance, they appear to be quite expensive for what they are, but the plastic is at least twice as thick as most nursery pots and UV stabilised, meaning that the same pot may be used over and over for years (as Antonio has hinted at, many plastic 'kitchen' products are not UV stabilised, and will deteriorate in a matter of months if used outside).

My favourites are the 200x100mm and the 300x120mm sizes, and I am always on the lookout for more... Here's a bloke on eBay selling them: eBay link. There is no mention of postage, but that is a decent price for two of the larger pots.

Thanks and good luck!

Fly.

Hi Josh, Australian ferns and orchids in wisemans rd silvan same place as for the diatomite. they have heaps of them in many different sizes.
Craig

Josh, I have been using orchid pots for some years as training pots. Of late I have been burying the pots containing conifers in the veggie patch up to rim. This enables the tree roots to grow through the bigger drainage holes and speeds up growth of the tree. It is quite easy to remove the pot and cut back the roots and then bury it again if required. The fine root system is contained within the pot so it can easily be put into a regular bonsai pot when required

Cheers

John T

I got mine from Rays and yes they are bloody great,

Not sure why but my colanders are lasting years

If you are worried about U.V. decay you can purchase the pots from the following link. I have not used them, but i have been told they are completely U.V. resistant. They are not an attractive colour but hey, they are 30cm wide and cheap.

http://www.easyorchids.com/shop/details ... pack-of-12

The same site sells other items that may be useful, including other pots and sizes, as well as fertiliser baskets.

Joel

Do you need to line them with anything? The mesh looks too open to hold soil/diatomite/whatever.

Glenda

I cant really remember if the holes were too large for diatomite. I think they were fairly large. If it was going to be a problem, id just put a layer of scoria 10mm around the bottom and sides.

Joel

Glenda wrote:Do you need to line them with anything? The mesh looks too open to hold soil/diatomite/whatever.

Glenda

Yes I find until the Diatomite settles then it keeps leaking out when you move the pot

That is why I usually lay a layer of Scoria in the bottom first. When I can get it I by bags of 100 graded Scoria and line the bottom of the pots then add Diatomite mix

Ken

Bonsai Today had a story mNy years ago shout developing Japanese Black Pine through growing in a very course soil mix and in collanders. The collanders do work but the coloured ones fro the Asian Supermarkets are not UV Stabilised

I L O O O V E my orchid pots for shallowness and drainage wiyh UV Stabilisation too. I line the base with a layer of newspaper ... It keeps the soil contained for long enough for the roots to establish and for for the soulil to compact a little. Newspaper rots away but in the process you have kept soil in the pot with the roots. Newspaper also allows drainage.

Looks like i'm in the market for Orchid Pots and U.V resistant Collanders. The wife is getting sick of and ugly plant setup, so i guess uniforming the containers on smaller trees is a good start (i'll never get rid of styro boxes though!).
Joel, checked out your link - they have some decent stuff on there, but not much in the 300mm range.
I will also locate and visit some Orchid Nurseries for stock - thanks for the heads up Craig!