Wire
 

Just a frugal beginner who enjoys DIY. I made some rhizome clips and mount hangers with a metal coat hanger only to realize that they rust a bit. What do you use that doesn’t rust. Hopefully also available in reasonably priced, small quantities. Thanks.

You'd want to use galvanized wire (or just buy some pre-made) You can get a spool of galvanized wire in whatever gauge you want at Home Depot or equivalent, for a few dollars. Since an orchid environment is wet, you definitely don't want to use materials that rust.

Single strand 12 guage copper wire works well. Leave the insulation on it for more protection. Available at the big box home improvement stores.

I was going to suggest heavy copper wire, too. Single strand, insulated wire is malleable enough to shape, but stiff enough to retain that shape.

I use the longer bamboo skewers like for shish kabob, or a chopstick on smaller spikes.

wire
 

You might look for a product called "Ceiling Tile Hanging Wire". The 12 gauge is what I use to make pot hangers, clip-on plant supports, and hangers for orchid mounts. Comes is 100 ft. rolls. Doesn't say it's galvanized, but in my experience, it tends to be 'non-rusting'. The caveat is that with my arid climate, I'm always adding moisture to the GH environment, so it may rust in milder climates.

Get yourself a professional level pair of "wiremans' pliers, with a cutter, and start bending.

I use the left over ceiling hanging wire from work. pro pliers needed indeed, its tuff to cut n eat up a pair of pink pliers from wally world.

I use it for hanging just about everything but ceiling tile. :)

I use the 14 gauge fence wire I get at my local farm supply store. It's malleable enough that I can twist it easily into whatever shape I need for hangers for pots and mounts but stiff enough to support an appreciable amount of weight. A 200' spool set me back around $18.

I have over many years, used galvanized 9 gauge wire for all orchid pot clips, mount hanging wire, support stakes for pots and to hang vandas commando style (just plant and wire). when I run out of supplies and it works very well. You do need a heavy duty lineman pair of pliers and strong hands to cut, bend and shape. Copper wire at todays prices may not be for the "frugal growers". Local farm supply house and or fence supply place usually have the 9 ga wire.

Thank you all for the tips!