I recently potted up my hoyas in 4" net pots using a very chunky orchid potting mix. I then placed those net pots into a cache pot, which allowed the net pot to fit snugly inside. Since the cache pot didn't have any drainage, I drilled a 1/2" hole in the ceramic to allow excess water to escape. They have been in this arrangement for about a month now.

After reading a lot of literature on net pots and cache pots, today I went out and sealed the holes in the cache pot. The cache pots will hold water now and not drain, consequently, the plants will be watered outside of the cache pot then after draining for a few monutes, placed into the non draining cache pot. So here's the conundrum - do I leave the cache pot with a drainage hole which will ensure I can't "over water" the hoya since any excess will drain out, or do I soak the net pot, then place it into a cache pot with no drainage thereby affording the plant some moisture for a longer period of time?

I'm really confused about growing them in net pots. BTW - the root systems look very healthy from the once I've removed from the cache pot which had drainage holes.

I hope I haven't confused anyone in my explanation. Basically - net pot in a cache pot with drainage hole or net pot in a cache pot without drainage hole?

Thoughts? Experience? Ideas? Thanks....

It shouldn't matter whether the prettier "cache" pot has a drainage hole or not. If the drain hole is plugged, you just need to be completely sure that the net pot has drained thoroughly before replacing it into the cache pot. Hoyas like a lot of air flow around their roots so a cache pot may deter that somewhat. My plants are outside year round where they get 24/7 air circulation but if I had them indoors I'd probably take them outside once in awhile to allow some good air flow.

Think about it- if you leave the drainage holes open in your cache pot... then what's the purpose or benefit of having the plant in a net pot at all?

Omie - The reason I put them into net pots was to allow for more air circulation around the roots. That being said, because they are in a small hobby greenhouse, which receives full sun throughout most of the day (I live in eastern PA), the net pots dry out extremely quickly, to the point where I need to water the plants two times a day just to keep the mix damp. Their root systems are extensive.

I placed them into the cache pots to help in slowing down the evaporation around the roots. I also drilled a small hole in the bottom of the cache pot because when I water, I drench them. Any excess runs out the small hole, so the plants don't sit in water but rather a damp medium instead.

Where I'm concerned is in the fall when everything needs to come back inside. The routine I use now won't work, at least I don't think it will, when the plants are inside. Maybe I'll need to plug the holes then. Additionally, during the winter, they are watered a lot less so maybe everything will even itself out.

Geez - the things we do to keep our plants happy!

Any other thoughts or ideas?
Stay well all....

Yes i understand your technique and I can see your dilemma. But, I'm wondering if the net pots are needed at all for either Summer or Winter, since you say if they are in 'only' net pots they dry out way too fast. So why not just plant them in a 'normal' pot with a drainage hole and skip the net pots altogether? Once the plants get big it will be hard to remove the net pots from the cache pots when you want to water anyway.. especially in a hanging pot. Hey I'm no expert, just wondering- maybe others have good working techniques with their net pots?

Some prefer clay pots for hoyas so more air can get to the roots without any waterlogging, others prefer plastic pots if their hoyas tend to get too dried out in clay pots.

I imaging net pots are great for orchids, hoyas, nepenthes, and epiphytic plants that stay outside or in a warm greenhouse year round and get watered/misted almost every day with a hose wand, where drips (and winters) don't even matter. I think of net pots as just that- plastic netting that holds together a bunch of chunks and bark in which the roots can grow, in open air. If that always gets too dry in your situation then maybe think about using a conventional pot instead?

I suspect you're correct Omie. I'm thinking that come September / October, everything in a net pot will get transferred into a plastic pot with drainage holes on the bottom. What I will do, is find some plastic pots two sizes too large, then plop the entire net pot, plant and all, into it. I'll fill around the sides with a chunky medium and it will then become their forever home. Any roots escaping the net pot can just grow into the new medium without disturbing the existing root system. They'll get tucked away for the winter and we should all be happy. At least that's the plan, but as the saying goes, no plan survives the first shot!

Stay well my friend....