Orchid benches for lanai

[Moody2]

I grow on a screened lanai and have to adapt practices and equipment (and orchids) to outdoor conditions here in Tampa. I need to replace my current benches, and I’m considering tiered aluminum benches. I’ve looked at benches online from Green Barn and Plant Stand Factory. Does anybody have experience with benches from either of these vendors, or recommendations for other sources? I appreciate any recommendations or suggestions.

[estación seca]

I would call Florida nurseries and ask them.

[Roberta]

I recently got a 2-tier aluminum bench from Green Barn and I like it a lot. It's amazingly difficult to find benches like this for a small growing area. (Difficult enough that I paid as much in shipping as the cost of the bench)

[Keysguy]

Moody- are they out on the lanai year round? How many plants are we talking about?

One issue I had to learn on my own from personal experience is how to deal with the wind when you are growing outdoors. I never found a commercially available bench that solved that problem for me so I started making my own out of PT wood. The key is my benches have a 10" high outside edge above the shelf base around the entire perimeter of the bench. No more plants tipping over even in a 35 mph wind.

Just something to think about.

[Moody2]

Keysguy - they’re out there year round. The lanai is screened and that moderates the wind significantly. Plus most are in S/H, providing some weight to help with any tipping issues. My most bothersome problem is dealing with the occasional cold nights in Dec, Jan and Feb.(certainly some in the low 40’s, this year a night or two in the mid 30’s) With about 60 mostly small to medium plants, its still manageable to move them to the garage for a night or two, but I’m trying to come up with a practical way to protect them in place.

[Ray]

My greenhouse in PA originally had tiered wooden benches made from pressure-treated stair stringers and 5/4x6 deck boards. Like Keysguy, I added front and back “lips” to each shelf, not because of wind, but because otherwise it was entirely too easy to knock plants off.

Decades later I replaced those with flat benches topped with plastic Durabench, but added 6” walls on the perimeter for the same reason.

I highly recommend that whatever direction you take, make sure the benches have wheels. Storms happen, and you’re going to want to move the plants to a protected area. Rolling a bench full of plants is far easier and quicker than moving them individually.

[Keysguy]

make sure the benches have wheels

Outstanding suggestion!

[Fairorchids]

I love to solve problems. I have built multiple shade tables & benches for my own use.

If anyone would like a 'visiting handyman' within driving distance from NJ, send me a PM.