potting method experiment

[Jrabi]

I do not know of any single best practice for potting plants.

i live in south Florida so very often the plants do well when they are outside.

but, plants in pots with medium tend to suffer a bit... definitely more so in the wetter seasons when microorganisms are abundant.

typically, i have the best luck with plants that i attach to trees.

occasionally the plant doesn't like the tree or i want to move the plant.

recently i have experimented with a method i encountered while perusing the internet.

the only problem is that the explanation on how and why this works is not explained in my language, and i could not ascertain specifics.

so, going by observation alone, i decided to improvise using chickenwire-type material.

i fashioned a box, which i filled with orchid bark and attached the plant.

this is a cattleya "why not" which has not flowered yet.

one problem i notice is that the roots look a bit dehydrated, maybe...

Another issue is that they don't seem to reach the bark.

any recommendations on tweaks and modifications?

thanks!

[ChrisMalaga]

I love experiments
Could you post the link to the original video where you saw this?
I guess until the plant hasn't reached the bark, it's the equivalent of growing it bare rooted. I'm not sure what this method is trying to achieve, less humidity in contact with the rhyzome? I saw people do vertical mounts with pockets made of chicken wire or similar materials and sphagnum or bark inside and they work well.

[Ray]

In Florida, it is quite common for potted orchids to be grown in clay pots of LECA. No matter how much rain they get, the medium never decomposes or traps so much water that the roots suffocate.

[Keysguy]

Plants in pots can be moved in the event of a hurricane. Plants growing on trees cannot and will not be there when you return from evacuating.

Ask me how I know.