FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Chipi, I use the trays you actually have and they are great, because even when you say they waste water, that extra water helps create a high humidity atmosphere around the plants, it is absorbed through capilarity even when it is a little below the plants, and prevents the water logging as they make the plants do not sit on water for too long. Normally I may even let the whole tray dry out before watering (7cm pots) and plants are always in great condition.

Kind of looks like an oil drip pan. You might find something similar at an auto store. The good thing about the tray with the grooves is it prevents your pots from sealing against the bottom and keeping the water out of the holes.

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/prod ... ys-inserts
I have this one. It is about 1/2 the price of the one you posted and will hold 20 4 inch square pots.

If I had to use one I'd choose this one, it gives a good water level, really stiff, but I won't be sure about how much would it bend, old trays bend a real lot.

I think these might work.
http://www.menards.com/main/mobile/floo ... c-6530.htm

I use the trays you have now, except mine are white. They work great, the depth means I don't have to drill drainage holes. I fill them to the top in the summer and refill when they are almost dry and in the winter I half fill them and let them dry before refilling. The amount of water that remains in the grooves is pretty negligible compared to the amount of water you're giving the plants.

Another option would be those flat storage containers for under the bed like this. With those though you will want to put a couple drainage holes since they're about 6 inches deep. I use one for my larger/taller pots.

The bad thing about storage containers like that, in Tx and Az at least, is the sun will quickly destroy them. I used a couple clear ones like that as a green house a couple winters ago and they were destroyed in 9 months.

xr280xr wrote:The bad thing about storage containers like that, in Tx and Az at least, is the sun will quickly destroy them. I used a couple clear ones like that as a green house a couple winters ago and they were destroyed in 9 months.

Good point, I wasn't even thinking about UV/weather damage.