Media for square orchid baskets

[gangof4]

I have some square hanging cedar orchid baskets that I would like to use for some orchids. What sort of orchids do best in them and what sort of media can I use that will not fall out between the spaces in the basket?

[Roberta]

I have been using wood baskets a lot for Catts (and Laelias) and they seem to love it - think of the baskets as three-dimensional mounts. Depending on the distance between the slats, large bark may stay in the basket without help (I have lately been found some mahogany baskets from Green Barn Orchids in Florida, that have narrow spaces between the slats) but most of the those baskets are pretty wide open. For those with too much "daylight" between slats, I put a piece of mesh (like the bags that vegetables and fruits of various sorts come in) across the bottom, and that does the job of keeping bark in. I would not recommend sphagnum - stays too wet, will tend to rot the wood as well not being great for these orchids that need to dry out.

[rbarata]

I tried the mesh solution proposed by Roberta but, in my case, I could only find yellow or orange bags.

So I bought the net bellow sold at a gardening shop labeled as "bird trap" to protect small cultivated fields from birds by sowing time.

[Roberta]

That looks like it should do the job fine. Actually, I also have a bag of mesh tubes that were used to ship plants, at one of the shows I asked the vendor if I could have what he was throwing away, and ended up with enough to hold me for the rest of my life. (I cut them so that they lay flat) I do also use the produce bags... they lose the obnoxious colors in the sun, very quickly. But any sort of mesh is fine.

[Paphluvr]

Depending on what you plan on growing in the basket, I've used coconut mat liner with good success.
I'm not endorsing this product, just using it as an example of what I'm talking about.

Hipp Hardware Plus - Hipp Hardware Plus 24"x60" Coco Liner Roll, LCC-24 - View in Your Room! | Houzz

[aliceinwl]

I bought shade cloth at the hardware store, cut to fit, and secured it with brown zip ties.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by gangof4

I have some square hanging cedar orchid baskets that I would like to use for some orchids. What sort of orchids do best in them and what sort of media can I use that will not fall out between the spaces in the basket?

I'm afraid your thinking is like buying a dog crate for a Yorkie when you really are thinking about a Great Dane.

You don't choose plants or media based upon the container.

However, if you think about the parameters of your overall conditions - humidity, temperature, air movement, and light level - and understand how the combination of the container, the medium, your conditions and your ability/willingness to water adequately will work together to create a "localized environment", THEN you can logically look into what plants would do well.

[nogreenthumbs]

Square baskets? Uh oh, you're definitely going to have to find some of the square media for the square containers. It can be hard to find, sometimes people end up having to make their own. Good luck!



j/k

[gangof4]

BAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[WalkingHorse]

Originally Posted by gangof4

I have some square hanging cedar orchid baskets that I would like to use for some orchids. What sort of orchids do best in them and what sort of media can I use that will not fall out between the spaces in the basket?

It depends on the size of the basket. I sometimes use the little ones for Vanda seedlings. I must say though that I have set that practice aside in the past year or so and strictly grow bare root with moss on the roots for the babies now. My Stanhopea's love the bigger cedar baskets. Makes it easy for them to send their flower spikes out through the bottom. I use a mix of orchiata (large size), sphagnum moss and a bit of larger chunk charcoal. I also have a Bulbophyllum medusae that is thriving in one of these large baskets as well using the same mix as the Stanhopea.