Den Nobile supports.

[bil]

I started out growing these vertically, but then I realised I could have a line of them along the greenhouse roof. So, I hung them up there on wires, letting them hang down, but soon realised that if you had to repot, it was murder getting them down and up again.

So, I went rummaging in the scrap steel bin and got the welder out.

Now, the pots (I make these myself to get a wide pot that is still shallow) just slide in at an angle, and sit there. The bent bit of steel at the back stops the pot from falling off. I like having them at 30 degrees from the horizontal, as then there isn't such a strain on the soft canes if they lean against the pot edge.

[judith_arquette]

Awesome!

[Cntry]

Bill that really looks great. I like the idea of having them hanging and something that will support the weight as it gets larger and hangs over the edge like you have it.

[bil]

Thank you. I have been bouncing the idea around in my head for a while, and it sort of came together the other day. I found enough scrap in the bin to turn another out today, but after that I need to buy more steel strip.

Only burnt myself once so far!

[ThePinkCucumber]

Awesome, good job!

[No-Pro-mwa]

Looks great, aren't you handy.

[ula]

Superb welding, love it!

[Fairorchids]

Bill,

I like your approach. Two thoughts:

1. Looks like pot size is somewhat larger than I would use for Den plants of that size.

2. I think that you can achieve the same result with less metal (and without welding), if you use a strip about 2" wide, and then bend it so that:
Middle section is flat (to be screwed to the wall).
Lower end is bent outward at about 70 deg angle (giving the pot bottom support, with 20 deg tilt). You might even give it a slight upward turn at the tip, to prevent pot from sliding off.
Upper end is bent over 180 deg, to hook over the edge of the pot.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Bill,

I like your approach. Two thoughts:

1. Looks like pot size is somewhat larger than I would use for Den plants of that size.

2. I think that you can achieve the same result with less metal (and without welding), if you use a strip about 2" wide, and then bend it so that:
Middle section is flat (to be screwed to the wall).
Lower end is bent outward at about 70 deg angle (giving the pot bottom support, with 20 deg tilt). You might even give it a slight upward turn at the tip, to prevent pot from sliding off.
Upper end is bent over 180 deg, to hook over the edge of the pot.

Well, I am a big pot person as well as a barkista (Death to the Mossites!)

Fact is that some of those nobiles have quite big root systems. I really wouldn't fancy stuffing that lot into a smaller pot. Plus, those suckers are up the top of the greenhouse, and dry out in a minute this weather. They need a bit of medium in there to hold water. The damn greenhouse hit 42.5 today, so more shade cloth went up.

Nice idea about the 2" strip, it would be an elegant design. I'd still weld, as bending strip that wide requires serious force, and is liable to leave bows in the metal. I'm not a pro metalworker, and I don't have the facilities to shape steel.

The only thing that I don't like about it is that the wider pots that I use need a bit more side to side support. That tho could be overcome by using two strips and linking them with a horizontal strip. I might try that with the the small dens that hang down. They do go in smaller pots, and my design would be a bit clumpy if I scaled it down.

Thanks for that.