DIY shallow hanging cedar baskets for Cattleya's

[Keysguy]

Project complete!

I ended up using 16 ga. fencing wire. Cheap yet sturdy and easy to work with. I had some left over "pet proof" screening (it wasn't ) so also incorporated that into my design. Should accomplish 2 things....1) it will hold a shallow layer of fir bark while my Catts. get established and 2) it's porous enough for new roots to get through.

Was able to make 13, 10" x 10" baskets out of 2 batches of the white cedar wood pieces I bought. Total cost came to a hair over $5/basket plus about 5 min/basket to assemble.

Think it will be well worth it. It was a good summer project while I was away from my collection. I've managed to collect 23 new "friends" over the summer so looking forward to getting back at it when I get down to the Keys next weekend for the winter. Right now though it would be tough to leave New Hampshire. 72 degrees, bright sun, zero bugs and spectacular foliage but all that will change soon in the blink of an eye.

Picture is of a Potinara I bought a few years ago that was mounted like this and is thriving so that was my inspiration to get all my smaller leaved Catts. off the benches and up in the air!

[DirtyCoconuts]

kick a$$


really well done

[Keysguy]

Thought I'd throw out an update on these shallow hanging baskets I made. This is Blc. Aloha Mermaid 'NN'. The smaller sized Cattleyas I've moved to these baskets are "kick a$$" to quote DC. They are growing awesome and I love the way they display when blooming. Note the roots going anywhere they want and a couple more buds on the opposite side.

They are all doing so well I'm going to make another lot of 20 this summer.

[estación seca]

Is the screening stapled to the slats?

[Keysguy]

I did not staple it seca. I just laid it between he bottom 2 tiers of sticks and ran the corner wires through it. Seems to be holding up just fine.

That was a gametime decision I made during construction as my thinking was the salt air would probably eat the staples away in no time.

[Dimples]

This info has solved my issue finding hanging baskets for some outdoor plants! Thank you for sharing and updating.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i will add that if you have a table saw this can be done super cheap- cedar fence pickets are like 4.50 and i cut one into 45 10.5 x 1/2" strips

[Dimples]

Thanks. Unfortunately, no table saw. We could probably improvise with our circular saw, metal ruler, and some clamps, but I’m happy to pay a bit more for the convenience of only cutting pieces to length. I’m going to try assembling the corners with outdoor zip ties. I won’t be hanging them the same way, so maybe I can get away with it?