Wooden slat baskets - Orchid Board

Lilac · #1 10-13-2013, 02:59 PM

I saw a video where Phalaenopsis were mounted on the wood slat baskets.

With some moss underneath it and green wire crisscrossed across and in between the leaves, and tied to the bottom to secure the orchid in the basket.

Then the wire hanger was attached to just 2 of the eyehooks on the basket, and it was ready for hanging.

The Phal was facing in a slightly downward position and the spike would grow down as it does in nature. (the basket ends up with the open side facing out, and the Phal in there.

Is this recommended? I feel like doing it for my 3 Phals and 3 mini Phals.

Any input is welcome Thanks!

nlm2951 · #2 10-13-2013, 03:41 PM

Well I just met a very well known grower here in Miami, he said that's the way we should do it, because they don't have bulbs to save the water and if you water from the top it will rot the crown, when he told me I did it, lets see. Don't let the moss dry out.

TOMMYMIAMI · #3 10-13-2013, 04:10 PM

Did you mean something like this? I do love to mount Phals, and do so with pretty much all the new "rescue babies" i get now. The one on the picture was pretty bad shape Phal I did rescue some 3 months ago, it is in small wooden basket, and it is hanging exactly as you described - the grower in Florida actually tough me this, it has the reason to do it under this angle - they do grow like this in nature, attached to the trees so they never grow upward position, but angle one, this way there is also no water stored in the leaves at the crown, so it eliminates crown rot. The roots grow great inside the basket, I do not use actually any moss, and as you can see, new roots are already attaching to the basket itself, so they will hold the plant pretty soon without any wires. Just remember, if you mount Phals, you must water much more often, I do water pretty much every day with spraying, once a week or twice soaking!

Lilac · #4 10-13-2013, 04:38 PM

Hi Tommy! Thanks! that's exactly what I meant!!! So great, I have the baskets so I just needed a little confidence! I will repot tomorrow!

Hi Nim2951! I have the confidence I needed now! Tomorrow, God willing, they will all be hanging as in nature!!!

)))

TOMMYMIAMI · #5 10-13-2013, 04:42 PM

It is easy, the worst part is to clear the roots from old potting medium, but than just use wire to hold the plant and roots inside and hang in the angle. I also mounted some on Cholla wood, and it looks great plus the roots love all the small holes in it to grow into! One is on cider slab, and one is on tree fern slab. I do recommend the most either this wooden basket, or tree fern or Cholla wood!

nlm2951 · #6 10-13-2013, 05:30 PM

To remove the old potting mix get a small flat screw driver, bend about an inch and it's very good, I saw that in a meeting.

Lilac · #7 10-13-2013, 07:52 PM

Tommy that sounds interesting. I have to Google Cholla wood! I don't think I have it readily available and even the tree fern slabs which they call "camaroncillo" here, is pretty far away, but I do have the baskets. I will use that for now and then when I can get my hands on some of the other stuff I'll use that, so much prettier!

Lilac · #8 10-14-2013, 11:33 AM

nim2951, good tip, I have one already with a similar bend that my son made for something he was making

. I have to sterilize it and voila!

Though in this case the roots were pretty loose already.

nlm2951 · #9 10-14-2013, 12:30 PM

I use to sterilize all my orchids tools a flame torch, I have a small one that my husband got for me (he's in the air conditioning business) and it's fine

Lilac · #10 10-14-2013, 12:44 PM

Wow nim! That may just be far better and quicker than what I do now!

I just scrub them with an antibacterial dish liquid and then alcohol wipe them all over and air dry. That's what I do to the scissors I use on them as well.

I have disc degenerative disease with a vertebrae slippage as a result, so I have to be as quick as I can, (can't stand too long

So that might be quicker and I maybe could sit ;D