TRICKS/IDEAS: Waterproofing Clay Pots

[Todd March]

Gene had a great idea about sharing ideas and tricks, and so I would
like to share a trick I have found very useful...

I prefer to grow in plastic pots--they hold more water in my growing
area; I grow a few large Catts in untreated clay, but it is so porous it
just wicks the water away too fast for most of my orchids... Problem is
that plastic pots can be hard to find in certain sizes--particularily
"rose style" pots that are very deep and ideal for Paph and Phrags with
long roots...

I utilize something called "Universal Terra Cotta Sealer", which is just
a Vinyl Latex Emulsion, to seal and waterproof clay pots. This sealer is
odorless, non-toxic, cheap at $4 a jar, and easy to use; it rinses
completely and easily with water. It has the consistency of milk, and I
apply 4-5 coats to both the inside and outside of the pot, allowing them
to dry in-between; total time is around 15-20 minutes to seal a batch of
pots. Once its' totally dry after a few hours, it's totally safe for
plants, and is sealed from moisture for many years.

I have made some rose style pots that measure 6" X 8" for some larger
Phrags and Paphs, and the plants just seem to love these pots. They seem
to invite a lot of root activity, and I suspect this might be due to the
better temperature insulation factor from the clay--sealed or not. I
recently un-potted a mature Paph. Michael Koopowitz that was not
actively working on any growth to see what was going on with it's roots,
and found that it had grown extensive new and fat healthy roots in its
treated clay pot in the last six months while it looked so dormant. It's
the fastest I have ever seen a Paph, let alone a sanderanium hybrid,
grow roots...

If you have a need for some odd shaped pots, or like the weight and
insulation of clay pots, but not their penchant for robbing water, I
highly recommend that you try treating clay pots to make them
water-tight like plastic. I have seen the Terra Cotta Sealer at some
Home Depots, and I buy it from my local fancy nursery and pot dealer.
One $4 jar would coat countless pots; a little goes a long way...

Hope this helps someone, and I like forward to the next trick someone
shares...

Best--

Todd

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Todd March
Los Angeles, California

SEE my AMAZING apartment GREENHOUSE on the web at:

http://home1.gte.net/tmarch2/toddsgrow/growindex.html

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[Gene Schurg]

Sounds like something I need to find Todd. If I look for it at HD do I
look around the pots or in the paint section?

Gene

[Todd March]

Something I didn't mention in my original post is that this clasy sealer,
after 4-5 coats, leaves a shiny, glossyish and slick surface... Most
people like it, others hate it--missing, they tell me, the wonderful
weathering and mineraling untreated clay pots aquire on their surfaces...

But caring more about a great functioning pot for my precious orchids, I
haven't cared much about the aesthetics...

[Todd March]

Gene And All--

I found The Terra Cotta Sealer out in the desinger pot section of my Home
Depot, a few feet from the orchid plant section actually...

Our Home Depot no longer carries the Terra Cotta Sealer, saying that it was
discontinued, though I did see it a few months ago at a Home Depot store in
San Jose, California... So I am unsure if the Home Depot Corporation no
longer carries it, or just our store (which is a huge fully stocked
flagship store)...?

The independent guy that sells it to me now says it has been around for
years and is usually available somewhere if you check around, or contact
the company.

If anyone wants the information for the company, here is what I have:

Universal Terra Cotta Sealer™

Universal Mfg. TCS
P.O. Box 36773
Phoenix, AZ 85067

Something I didn't mention in my original post is that this sealer, after
4-5 coats, leaves a shiny glossyish slick surface... Most people like it,
others hate it; missing the wonderful weathering and mineraling untreated

clay pots aquire on their surfaces...

[Andrew]

Todd,
If you still want the old, cruddy look, you can always seal the inside
only. That will still stop moisture loss from the media but allow the
pot to weather naturally (although probably at a slower rate).
Personally, on anything but the huge tubs I like the clean glossy
finish.
Andrew

[Diana Kulaga]

Sounds good. One question: when it's time for repotting, how do you
sterilize the coated pots? I generally use plastic for the obvious reasons,
and then place the plastic in a larger clay pot for ease of hanging (use a
lot of pot clips that won't work with plastic) and a better look. I
presently use a chlorine solution to sterilize..........do you think the
chlorine would eat up that coating?

Diana
"Andrew" <Cory...@yahoonospam.com> wrote in message
news:3B6ED4...@yahoonospam.com...

[Gideon Singer]

Great idea on treating clay pots. What media do you use in the pots
for Paphs and Phrags?
--
Gideon Singer
Webpage: members.home.net/gsinger
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