New Carport Orchid Project

[cjm3fl]

This is going to an involved and long-term project.

I got my hands on a 36 inch long baker's rack from Walmart few months back, and it worked for most of what I had.
But I went to that Green Thumb Fest the other week and got no room, anywhere!

I needed to find another baker's rack for all the new guys.
A neighbor is moving and I was able to get a 48 inch baker's rack off her inexpensively. Pictures of it down below.


Part of my plans involves re-potting a lot of what I have and most of what I just got. But I needed to find "appropriate" things to put them all in.
I have a number of pots, baskets, and 1 or 2 branches for mounting. But I needed more things to put my orchids in...so I thought I'd fall back on items I used to use in the past.
So off to the thrift shops....pictures included below.

[gngrhill]

I have been looking for an inexpensive bakers rack. Seems they are pretty hard to find around here.
Your ideas look great.

[estación seca]

I would stick with wood or plastic shelving, unless you don't mind rust stains on the floor. It's also easier to move lighter shelving when you move everything to another spot for a few hours, and clean your growing area, twice a year.

[cjm3fl]

It took quite a while to locate this one. I've been looking for a used one for a couple weeks...then I pretty much "stepped in it" with this one because a neighbor had a large planter pot out with her trash cans. So, naturally I stopped to grab it.
She said she had other things to get rid of (I thought other garden stuff) and this rack was among the few items she isn't taking with her.

Rust shouldn't be much an issue...at least not for a bit of time, except for the cheap one, I mean 'the inexpensive one' I got from Walmart. I figure I'll have to spray that one down once, maybe twice, a year with a can or two of Rustoleum.

The one pictured is not made of "cheap" metal or other materials. I found out it was originally a rather expensive piece of furniture.
I have, none-the-less, put 2 layers of a clear, spray sealant on all the metal surfaces.
I'm using the same sealant on the baskets too.

In the background everyone should notice the potted plants/trees I also have under the carport. Between those and ALL the oak trees around here (plus other stuff..there's a maple right across the street) I'll be moving stuff to clean up dead leaves, etc., about 2 times a year anyway.
I'll use those as good times to check and do touch ups and re-paints.

Thanks for thoughts and concerns!
Anything else I should be cautious of please let me know.

[No-Pro-mwa]

It's very pretty.

[brianwstephens]

What a fun project I always love making room for more orchids haha

[WhiteRabbit]

excellent!

[Paul]

Craig's List could be another source if you haven't already checked that. Once in a while Freecycle might even have something.

Depending on how "handy" you are, you might be able to put some heavier duty casters on the baker's rack to make it easier to move. Some casters have the capacity to lock so they don't roll until you unlock them.

[cjm3fl]

Next project with this bake rack is to find something to use under the pots/baskets placed on the "marble" (and it might actually be marble) so they aren't sitting in puddles of water.

I'm thinking Lincoln Logs as a possibility!

[Pattywack]

Hey Chuck, just a thought. I grow most of my plants in a little countertop greenhouse with moss in the bottom for added humidity. To keep my potted plants from sitting in the wet, I cut wine corks into slices about 1/4 thick. I use 3 little cork discs under each pot. That way the water drips out of the pots and the plant isn't sitting in it. Maybe you could use something like cork coasters for your bigger pots? Or try egg crate?