Miniature Disaster...

[Ross]

Originally Posted by JennS

I am thinking I will try to convince my brother to help my build a stand out of pressure treated wood with a slatted top to keep air circulation. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise to give me a bigger stand so I can get more orchids!

Jenn, you are on to something! As you describe the situation, I get an entirely different picture. Why not try a variation of the benches Adam (stonedragonfarms) uses in his? It's a frame of treated wood with a top of 3x3 or 4x4 welded wire fabric (reinforcing for driveways) and he wedges pots down into the spaces between the wires. It's a great idea and one I would use if I were growing in a GH or outdoors.

[JennS]

I think I have a decent picture and idea of what you are describing. I have built a variety of things before so I am sure I can get something decent built. I will have to look into those materials and see what is locally available.

I surveyed the damage last night....luckily my two orchids with spikes seems unharmed. The one has five spikes and the other just has one, but it is one that I want identified so I can't wait to be able to take a pictures and post them for ID. It was very late when I got home after 11, so I didn't get everything done that needs to be. It seems that only one pot was broken and only one seedling lost. I am hopeful that the seedling will re-surface. I do have several others though. All in all I think I am pretty lucky damage was not worse.

[quiltingwacko]

Orchids are so resilient it is incredible. Don't give up on that seedling. I recently tried the sphag and bag method on a phal that was trying to croak on me. I was going to trash it this morning because it looked so bad I thought it coudln't possibly be alive. So I hauled it out of the moss and lo and behold, there are roots! So I stuffed it back in there!

[JennS]

Well, unfortunately, I have not come across the seedling yet. I went home at lunch and checked again for it. There are a couple of others though that were way behind the others size and root wise, so I was going to trash them. I think I will give them another chance though. I checked them out today and their roots were green and they looked surprisingly happy for being out of pots for about a week.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by JennS

they looked surprisingly happy for being out of pots for about a week.

I have most of my orchids mounted and their roots are outside the pot all their lives. Doubt any harm was done.

[JennS]

Ok, well I should have been more specific...out of pots, out of their normal light requirements, out of medium, neglected, abused, etc. I basically had all but put them in the trash...resilient little things! No wonder I love them so!!!