What do you use to hang your vandas bare root?

[peeweelovesbooks]

I purchased a HUGE vanda from Baldan's and hung it up bareroot. However, I just cut up a wire and twisted it around the stem. Is there anything available that looks nicer? Thanks!!

[Lorraine]

I use 10 gauge wire rods and make a hook at the bottom. Catch the bottom of the vanda and use cable zip ties to secure to the wire. Then it's curved at the top for hanging. The ties keep it growing straight.

The first pic is with just a rod. This vanda has since been divided. It was 2 Keikis. The second is in a basket but shows how I have the ties. I can take a couple better pictures in the morning if you need a better look at the one only on the rod.

What vanda did you get from Baldans? I've tried to bid on a couple and didn't win

[peeweelovesbooks]

Lorraine,

Thanks for answering. I don't know the name off the top of my head, but it's huge and heavy. I should really divide it, but don't know how and I'm afraid to kill it. I hung it on my mango tree and the roots almost touch the ground. I'm actually afraid of the thing--I don't want to break it but handling it is cumbersome. When I first bought it, it was in a very decomposed wooden vanda basket--which I slowly took off piece by piece.

I actually didn't buy it on ebay but went to their nursery. Baldan's was having a sale in October because they were clearing out their inventory. So, I paid $90.00 for it.

So basically you just strap it on the hook, huh? Hmmm.....

I'll try to post a pic tomorrow if I can.

Thanks for your suggestion though.

[dgenovese1]

Hey Peewee,

I place mine in a wooden or plastic basket, and then hang it with one of those wire basket hangers. If it is a very large plant, I get a very large basket. I have had to improvise with the hangers when the plants are really tall by hooking two together. Also, I make sure that the base of the plant is well secured into the basket, using thin wire, so that when the new roots start to form, they don't get broken off by plant movement. The new roots are very easily broken if care is not taken.

I hope this helps.

[Grandma M]

When you buy a bare root plant with rather long roots, how do you work the roots in a wooden basket without breaking or damaging them? I have already removed a couple of the slats on the bottom, but still find it difficult to thread them into the space allowed. Any suggestions? I'm not too fond of just using wire.

Marilyn

[dgenovese1]

Originally Posted by Grandma M

When you buy a bare root plant with rather long roots, how do you work the roots in a wooden basket without breaking or damaging them? I have already removed a couple of the slats on the bottom, but still find it difficult to thread them into the space allowed. Any suggestions? I'm not too fond of just using wire.

Marilyn

Hi Marilyn,

What I've done in the past is to make sure that the roots are good and wet...hence more pliable before working with them; most of the time this will allow them to bend up and then hang over the edge of the basket. If it's a wooden basket and there are lots of roots, I usually remove some of the side slats, and then put them back on after the plant is secured to the base of the basket. It can be a bit of work, but this is how I prefer to do them. If it's just a few roots, I do my best to tease them through the slats.

I hope this is helpful.