Stability mount

[Optimist]

I think I have something here, and so I will share. I have some plants that I have been trying to salvage. They have very short roots, and so are not clinging to anything with great success. Many times they have been knocked over, and I feel getting dumped may set them back as well as hurt roots. I dreamed this up and thought it might be a good idea. You get some of that gutter screen, cut it larger than needed so that it fits tightly in the pot, and some zip ties. Then you tie the orchid to it, and fit it tightly in the pot, and put your media in it (you can also do semi-hydro if you want to.)


The back.

Media on the screen and under it:


Here is a large oncidium with very short roots, fixed up this way. It is in a plastic bottle, before I put the media around it, (drains at the bottom). Here, I have zip tied the screen to the bottle.



I thought this might help someone with the short root problem!!!

[Helene]

Thanks for sharing
I like when you share things like this- never know when you need to fix something, should have a topic for all these fancy DIY thingy you guys come up with👍🏻

Very nice solution

[bil]

Nice to see original ideas.

I just worry that the screen mesh will be a problem when it comes to repotting.

I just plant rootless orchids as tho they were rooted, and put three rocks around them to hold them upright till the bark settles a bit and the roots start growing.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by bil

Nice to see original ideas.

I just worry that the screen mesh will be a problem when it comes to repotting.

I just plant rootless orchids as tho they were rooted, and put three rocks around them to hold them upright till the bark settles a bit and the roots start growing.

I did think about the problem of roots going through the mesh, and the mess it would be to remove them. I feel it is no different than what I had to unpot from a plastic mesh basket the other day. People use mesh baskets all the time, and do not think that removing the roots might be hard. To me, bringing an orchid from a near death situation to thriving and big will overcome any problems. I would just leave that bit of plastic in the pot. It is not goint to hurt any thing. This is similar to doctors who do a hip replacement surgery. They have a kind of mesh too, and the skin and bone just grows through it. They never talk about getting it out again, because they leave it in (I have a titinium rod and several screws in a leg, and no one mentions getting them out).

[Leslieann88]

What an inventive idea. I have one my mom tried to kill. If it doesn't root soon I might try this.

I do think my little guy might be pulling through though. I'm hoping it will thrive in its new smaller pot if not I will keep this in mind


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[gngrhill]

I think it's a cool idea.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I did think about the problem of roots going through the mesh, and the mess it would be to remove them. I feel it is no different than what I had to unpot from a plastic mesh basket the other day. People use mesh baskets all the time, and do not think that removing the roots might be hard. To me, bringing an orchid from a near death situation to thriving and big will overcome any problems. I would just leave that bit of plastic in the pot. It is not goint to hurt any thing. This is similar to doctors who do a hip replacement surgery. They have a kind of mesh too, and the skin and bone just grows through it. They never talk about getting it out again, because they leave it in (I have a titinium rod and several screws in a leg, and no one mentions getting them out).

Oh don't get me wrong, I think it's a good idea. I'm always pleased to see people thinking outside the box and coming up with new ideas.

With mine, I tend to use much wider pots, so there is plenty of room for three rocks to sit on the medium. For people who use smaller pots, I can see it being very useful.

[PaphMadMan]

I can definitely see myself using this idea. Thanks for posting.

[katrina]

I have done something very similar and it works great.

For small plants, I've also used p'nuts and used them to build a "surround" around what roots are there and then zip-tie them in place. The p'nuts secured w/zip-ties works like a "stem' and really helps to hold the plant in place for smaller plants. The p'nuts at the core allow excellent drainage and new roots tend to grow right down into it very nicely.

Neither have been a problem when it comes to repotting. And while I haven't had to divide any...I doubt that will a problem when the time comes either. It certainly can't be any more difficult to divide through that then it is to divide through a rock hard mass of roots. And, it'll likely be easier to cut through those items than it is to get through a plant that's been potted in leca or lava and the roots have surrounded the hard stone so much that you can't even get a saw down through it.

Great idea! Good job!

[Optimist]

Thanks!