Mounting on metal post?

[thepurpleorange]

Hi everyone! I live in the tropics and I have a very healthy Vanda which I decided to mount on a metal post. I've never heard of metal being used as a mount before. The only issue I thought of was if the sun heats up the metal so much that it burns the roots. Is that it? Does rust affect orchid roots? Is this a bad idea?

thank you!

[BobInBonita]

If you never see something done, it's usually one of two things.
One - it really isn't a good idea and doesn't work, OR
Two - the "traditional way" is so deep that nobody tries what they haven't seen.

I don't know if it would work. I've never seen it done.

I agree with your logic that the metal would heat up. I also don't think the Vanda would have much structure to attach to. Usually wood has a grain and holds some moisture for the roots.

I just went out and looked at my Vandas in baskets, and although the roots sometimes go across or touch the wire hangers, they don't ever seem to attach to metal.

If I wanted to test this, I think I would use the cheapest little Vanda I could find, not a large healthy one that would bother me if I lost it.

You could also just put a small piece of similar metal in the basket with the roots and see if they grow on it or attach.

Best of luck, and let us know what happens if you decide to go ahead.

[Vanda lover]

I would think that the vanda wouldn't get enough moisture close to the roots. Wouldn't the post rust after a while? Perhaps if you wired it in place with some moss, it could work, though it may heat up too much in the sun.

[Lorraine]

I can tell you this....I have several vandas hanging on metal wires and none have attached any roots to the wire. They will find a way into a nearby basket or a cork mount (they get watered every day). I would think that if your metal post gets too hot the roots would suffer and those roots want to attach to something that will offer them some moisture. Don't know about the rust factor but I sure would not put anybody on there that I REALLY want to cultivate.

[RobS]

If the metal post is rusty it could influence fertigation by out competing other elements.

[thepurpleorange]

thanks everyone! I actually moved it today because of your responses. I only have one of its kind so I really don't want to risk something happening to it. I've placed it in a clay pot for now until I find a more suitable place to mount it!

[Suresh Kalyanpur]

Try mounting it on a moss rod - the new roots will grip the moss around the rod and grow well as long as you water and mist them often.

[BobInBonita]

Vandas really like their roots to dry out quickly.

Without seeing it (the Vanda, the metal post, or the pot), I'm imagining all sorts of things.

Here's a pic of one of my Vandas showing their roots growing out of and around a basket.


Depending on the roots you currently have and how they are "formed" you could mount on all sorts of things, but they do seem to like drying out. Since they turn green when wet, they are photosynthetic, so exposure to light is good.

[Gin]

I tie quite a few of mine on an S shaped piece of heavy wire no bark or basket to rot out . Gin

[Royal]

Originally Posted by BobInBonita

If I wanted to test this, I think I would use the cheapest little Vanda I could find, not a large healthy one that would bother me if I lost it.

You could also just put a small piece of similar metal in the basket with the roots and see if they grow on it or attach.

Wise words.