Looking for cattleya supports
 

I would like to find some 4.5 inch round supports for catts. I'd like to keep my catts from spreading out too much. Anyone know where I can find these? What do you do to keep your catts "in line"? Thanks in advance.

Do you mean something like this? - Stakes, Ring Type Clip-On #

I have a couple of sizes and they work great. I've also been known to make my own supports w/stakes and wires or string...tying the first growth back and then continue the tying until all are where I want them.

I normally let the plants grow on their own. If I see a Cattleya, that is sending out an unruly new growth, I put a stake in the pot, and use that to guide the new growth in the right direction.
I have a few plants that are notoriously 'floppy'. There I start with the stake, and then I tie new growths to the older ones, so it does look a bit like a spider's web.

Once the growths have matured, there is no need to keep the stake in the pot.

Thanks Kim. I have staked a few, I can't let them do their thing because of space. I know there are supports out there I have seen pictures on this board with them.

---------- Post added at 02:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 PM ----------

Thanks Katrina, that is more what I am looking for. Have you tried those on plastic pots?

I have seen round green ones that stake inside the pot on some plants in the past.

I'm in the same boat with space and my catts are quite unruly at the moment. When I repot I am going to try a few different methods and see which one works best.

I use those on plastic pots. The fit depends on the pot. I tried clipping it on a pot with a lip and it cracked but all others without lip works fine.

I haven't used them on regular plastic pots but I have seen them used and they seem to work w/just about any kind of pot. They are actually kind of hard to get on the sides of some of bigger clay pots so I suspect they are easier to use on reg plastic.

Kelley's also has that "tight grip" kind that I've never used. Those are shown on a plastic pot so I suspect they would work great. They look quite sturdy.

I've seen (or rather found) some "basket extensions" in my father's shed that came from some poinsettia nursery pots.
These 'extensions' helped keep the heavy poinsettia "blooms" in the upright position instead of leaning.

I've never seen them before but they "clip" onto the lip of the nursery pot the poinsettias came in.

Would that be something more along the lines of what you're talking about, wintergirl?

I've used those rings on rimless clear pots and they work well. The ones with rims are a bit more difficult but it can be used. It may be the wrong season, but if you can find tomato cages (maybe on sale now) I know someone who cuts the larger rings off leaving the bottom ring and the 3 or 4 stakes that go in the ground. Those work great. So it is a solid ring with usually 3 wire legs to go into the pot.

Chuck, basket extensions sound like it might be something that would work.

Silken, I think cut off tomato cages are what I have seen. I can not find any the right size with a lone ring.

Thanks everyone for your help :)