Lets talk about swamp sticks

[kavanaru]

Don't know about cedar, but grapevine woods seems to be very good

as per the watering, I only filled my swampstick with RO-water...

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by tmaxwell

Wow, I'll have to get a batch in soon. I am running low, And will be receiving a fair order from Orchidbasic (a Thai seller I've been working with for a while). I will let all know how this goes.
Anyway, I'll try to make quite a few. Does anyone have preference as to hanging method? I normally just put a thick copper or vinyl steel wire hook on each.
Another point of interest (or question?) Can anyone weigh in in whether I should glaze the back surface?
It would certainly decrease moisture loss, but I'm not sure that's a good thing. A lot of what these do is increase humidity. There's a big evaporative surface there, and the roots don't really stay wet for long, except on the largest "pockets". Any ideas?

Would it be possible to stand them up instead of hanging, or would the base not be wide enough?
As for hanging, I think any metal wire hook would work.

[tmaxwell]

Hey Connie,
I could always make some which would stand, and maybe a glazed tray in which to rest. I'm finally getting excited about working with clay again, and these are helping. Integrating multiple hobbies seems to be where many good things lie!

[Brotherly Monkey]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Don't know about cedar, but grapevine woods seems to be very good

as per the watering, I only filled my swampstick with RO-water...

I always heard that grape wood can mold up and rot pretty easily.

As for Ceder, it's pretty commonly used, and can be bought as shingles at most DIY stores. Though it's a pretty pungent wood, so I would watch how much I used in an enclosed space

[kavanaru]

Interesting about the grape wood... I have a friend in Germany who has all his plants on grape wood (his parents have wine yards and are wine producers) and he swears it to be the best for him...

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Interesting about the grape wood... I have a friend in Germany who has all his plants on grape wood (his parents have wine yards and are wine producers) and he swears it to be the best for him...

I also know someone who grows a few orchids on grapwood (remove the outer bark first) with no problems. Since I have friends with vinyards I was thinking of trying it out as well.
I know that grapewood is not recommended in aquariums because it rots quickly, but an orchid on a mount is not constantly wet.

[Brotherly Monkey]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I also know someone who grows a few orchids on grapwood (remove the outer bark first) with no problems. Since I have friends with vinyards I was thinking of trying it out as well.
I know that grapewood is not recommended in aquariums because it rots quickly, but an orchid on a mount is not constantly wet.

I mainly heard this complaint from people growing in vivariums of various sorts (rh of 80%+). So it might not be something you need to deal with in the home or green house

[Becca]

Originally Posted by tmaxwell

Wow, I'll have to get a batch in soon. I am running low, And will be receiving a fair order from Orchidbasic (a Thai seller I've been working with for a while). I will let all know how this goes.
Anyway, I'll try to make quite a few. Does anyone have preference as to hanging method? I normally just put a thick copper or vinyl steel wire hook on each.
Another point of interest (or question?) Can anyone weigh in in whether I should glaze the back surface?
It would certainly decrease moisture loss, but I'm not sure that's a good thing. A lot of what these do is increase humidity. There's a big evaporative surface there, and the roots don't really stay wet for long, except on the largest "pockets". Any ideas?

Hi! I almost forgot to respond after leaving for a long weekend last week. I would prefer smaller sizes and hanging rather then standing. And I think unglazed backings would be best, that way an orchid could wrap it's roots around the entire mount. Let me know what you end up making and what is availabile!

[Mandy2705]

I know this is an old thread but I am curious if your wife ever made you her version of a swampstick and how it worked out with your orchids JohnD and tmaxwell, your "swamp-pockets" are so creative! I would definitely buy them tmaxwell if you ever decided to sell them.