Vanda stands. DIY design.

[bil]

I bought three vandas this year with the idea of growing them in vases, but I found they simply weren't practical. The roots were being damaged by the pressure against the vases, and they weren't flexible enough to conform to the vases either.
So, I had to come up with a design - steel as wood is full of bugs overnight, and this is what I came up with. I thought I'd post pics in case it helped anyone else.

It's made from 3cm angle iron painted with Hammerite rustproof paint. The handle is a piece of rebar heated and bent, then welded on, and what looks like a handle is the bar the Vanda is attached to with soft rubber coated wire twist. I have put some Spanish Moss airplant around the roots as an experiment.

The vertical support is off centre so the orchid is in the middle and the feet are terminated with a 5cm bit of angle so it sits well.

[Optimist]

Since it is metal, does it conduct enough heat to bake the plant in the summer? It would be like thowing a cucumber into a hot frying pan. I do not think the vanda should be touching the iron.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Since it is metal, does it conduct enough heat to bake the plant in the summer? It would be like thowing a cucumber into a hot frying pan. I do not think the vanda should be touching the iron.

It isn't. It stands clear of the bar that supports it. The soft tie is twisted round the bar then twisted so the closest it gets is a quarter of an inch.

It's a good point to bring up tho, so thanks for that. I shall pay particular attention to the steel temperature. If that bar did get too hot, there's nothing to stop me taking the vanda off, putting some insulation foam round the steel and replacing it.

[My Green Pets]

The heat from the metal was my only concern as well. Otherwise this looks great, congratulations! Would love to have one for my monster vanda!

[Sak_ikim_lol]

GREAT IDEA!!!! Congratulations!!!

I think if the main support is curved, like a slender "C" you will not have problem with metal temperature touching the plant and the plant is just hanging from the top of the "C".

I remember a design that I see at Anco Pure Vanda website that shows what I´m talking about.

And again congratulations, I like how firm looks.

My

Mario

[bil]

Originally Posted by Sak_ikim_lol

GREAT IDEA!!!! Congratulations!!!

I think if the main support is curved, like a slender "C" you will not have problem with metal temperature touching the plant and the plant is just hanging from the top of the "C".

I remember a design that I see at Anco Pure Vanda website that shows what I´m talking about.

And again congratulations, I like how firm looks.

My

Mario

However you curve it, thee is always a problem with roots touching the metal. Plus, this design is using angle iron for rigidity, and if you use curved bar, it would have to be quite heavy to achieve the same strength. It's 1.2 metres high to give the roots plenty of 'hang' space, and that length gives a lot of flex on a flat bar. I COULD curve angle, it means a lot of cut and shut, but it can be done, and might look quite snazzy. I'll think about that for the mark II.

Thanks for the compliments.

[Sak_ikim_lol]

Originally Posted by bil

However you curve it, thee is always a problem with roots touching the metal. Plus, this design is using angle iron for rigidity, and if you use curved bar, it would have to be quite heavy to achieve the same strength. It's 1.2 metres high to give the roots plenty of 'hang' space, and that length gives a lot of flex on a flat bar. I COULD curve angle, it means a lot of cut and shut, but it can be done, and might look quite snazzy. I'll think about that for the mark II.

Thanks for the compliments.

You are right. By the way when you started this thread I remembered this idea. Here I attach the pic but it seems to me that some vandas need more stability but I think is a good idea.

And again congratulations.

Mario

[bil]

Originally Posted by Sak_ikim_lol

You are right. By the way when you started this thread I remembered this idea. Here I attach the pic but it seems to me that some vandas need more stability but I think is a good idea.

And again congratulations.

Mario

Thank you. You are right, that's a nice stand, and a nice bloom too.