This is my idea for hoya pots. I started thinking about this a few months ago
when it was time to stake (or trellis) some plants. I do not like putting stakes
into pots - I don't think it is good idea for a few reasons and I attach the stakes
to the pots which is annoying.
I found a place to get 'custom pots'. Here is what I am going to try...
the pot will be triangle shaped and clay. It will be made so that an eight inch
EA pot will sit into it and just fit; that leaves gaps at the three corners for bamboo
or material of choice. Just insert canes and fasten at the top, height your choice.
The clay is two-fold purpose: to give a low center of gravity to the plant and to
provide humidity from being wet. No more light-weight pots toppling over in
a breeze.
I want to try three sizes: one that will hold 8", 6", and 4" pots. They could have
feet to keep them off the ground and allow air flow to the bottom.
What do you all think?
Hoya Pots Idea
Alison, I think that sounds like a great idea. Where are you going to get these?
Sarah
I think your idea is really good!!! That way you could change the trellis more easily!
Are you going to have the inside of the pot glazed?
Carol
I can get the guy to do any of it - glazed, unglazed, holes, no holes.
Holes for drainage at least, for sure.
And the sides very straight, not slanted at all; that makes the stakes
go out.
If the inside is glazed the pot will not take up the water that drains
from watering and release it as humidity.
I think it needs feet so that it has airflow at the bottom but it wouldn't
have to. That way it could sit in a shallow pan to take up water for
humidity.
I think that unglazed clay pots can murder some hoyas with very delicate roots...have seen it happen. The fine roots go out to the solid wall and actually get a grip on it as if they were climbing up a tree. One little slip of watering and the clay dries out can kill the roots which can begin to rot... You could have them made with a dish under the pot...like those self watering pots that work wonders....the 'dish' underneat could be filled with water...or pebbles in water...evaporation would create humidity. I see a dish under the pot that would have an outer edge deeper than the center, so that water can collect in it while the area under the roots is dry until water is put there again.
Clear?
This pot is only for sitting your pots into. It could be planted
in, but the pots we have should sit in and fit snuggly, that
way the stakes at the corners are never in the pot dirt.
They won't rot and if you have to pot up, just take the whole
pot, plant and stakes out repot the plant into a larger pot and
place into the next larger Hoya Pot. Stakes back into the
corners, nice and dry.
Your saucer idea is great! We could do that by making a lower
channel along the edge, then I would think glaze the bottom of
the saucer to keep the underneath of it from being damp on
whatever it sits on. Great!
AH...your pot idea makes a lot of sense now.
Have you looked into making the 'clay' as light as possible? Not only less stress on the area hanging from or sitting on...but cheaper to ship in case you could sell them?
We are going to try to make them in a fairly standard thickness
for strength with only a little band at the top. Terra cotta.
I suspect there will be several prototypes to get it right.
I'll need some experienced growers to test them out and
give me some feedback.
If I can think of any high end garden/flower shops...they might be interested...
Some do. But I find that the epiphytic types that like to glom onto a surface can get very damaged!!!