Easy rescue vehicle I made and what is growing when all else failed.

[Lilac]

Rescues are so rewarding! I really enjoy them!
Love the basket idea, and I actually have some of that wire on hand,but that stuff is too hard to cut for me with my arthritic hands Otherwise I'd make up at least a couple ))

[james mickelso]

I use large sheet metal shears. Makes it east. As said, net pots work well also.

[debrasoon]

James do u create a base for the 'pot' with the wire mesh too? And do u then put rocks or something right at the bottom? Am trying to save a few cattleya with root/rhizome rot. Some are making it, some are not so this looks like a really good idea.


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[james mickelso]

I just curl the wire mesh up into a roll and then cut a couple slices that are then turned in on each other to make the base. Nothing but moss inside. The purpose is to give the old pbulbs some moisture without staying wet.

[Lilac]

There's also a wire that's softer 'chicken wire' I think it's called. Though I don't know if it would be sturdy enough. But what a great idea~

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by Optimist

To provide better ariation, I switched to a bigger moss. Spanish moss, and I got rid of the plastic pots and put them in the slit high drainage pottery pots. Big difference now. This is just phals. I guess it is like the apature of a camera. Or the equals sign in an algebra calculation.

That sounds like it would work well, though Spanish moss isn't actually a moss and would be hard to get for most of us. I have a few live sprigs that survive in my Vanda basket.

[james mickelso]

It is actually a type of bromeliad called tillansia. Even has flowers.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

It is actually a type of bromeliad called tillansia. Even has flowers.

I know that it is a bromiliad. They boil and process it because in the wild it is usually infested with red bugs. It is not alive or growing at that point. Lots of crafts stores sell it.

[Vanda lover]

I have seen that in dollar stores here. I didn't know it could be used for orchids.

[VMStearns]

Originally Posted by Lilac

There's also a wire that's softer 'chicken wire' I think it's called. Though I don't know if it would be sturdy enough. But what a great idea~

I recently purchased some plastic "Chicken Wire" fencing. It works just like standard Chicken Wire, but is less expensive and easier to use. It is available from most hardware and farm/field stores.