On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 03:33:27 +0100 [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > In some cases mounting helps but if > you have trouble with mounts (growing in the home) then what to do? > I had an idea recently and wondered if anybody had tried it. I had the > problem crop up with P. schlimii and after dividing and repotting them I have > enough to risk an experiment (I haven't acted on it yet). Convert some
> relatively long, narrow (and probably shallow) device to a growing container > and growm the plant at an angle to accomodate its habit. One container that > comes to mind are gutters for houses - if you use the plastic ones, melt some > holes in the bottom, cap both ends - more drainage holes in the bottom > cap. the main concern would be on how to get the potting mix to stay in place > at an angle. Any thoughts? > Since I don't grow any of the plants you have this problem with (but a do have a couple, including a LC Mini Purple 'Blue Hawaiian', that refuse to grow slowly and seem to want to take over my orchid shelves), I'm going to offer some suggestions based on other things I've done with plants. The potting mix could be kept in the planter (why not buy a window box with no holes in the bottom, poke holes in one end, and set the end in a small tray to catch the overflow?) using chicken wire-just like they do for topiaries. Just put whatever mix you use in the pot, then lay the wire over it and bend the edges in. Depending on how the plant wants to spread, it would either travel above or below the wire, but it should poke through with no problems when it wants to. Repotting will be more challenging, and you might have to either remove the wire and plant together, lightly prune roots and replace the potting mix, and then put the wire/plant combo back in the new mix. Or, it might be better for the plant to cut all the wire off, but it would be more work! For those not familiar with it, chicken wire is wire mesh with hexagonal holes, and is available in sizes of 1/2 inch to probably at least 2 inches (the holes, that is). If the wire wants to fall off, a couple of wires poked through the planter should keep it in place, and you could even use spagnum moss under the wire to keep fine bark in place. It all depends to some extent on just exactly what the plant in question likes- if I had a greenhouse I'd probably plant a plant like that out the side of a spagnum-lined basket planter, but it would be way too messy for my current "4 shelves in the dining room" growing area! Monica Jones with the aforementioned LC Mini Purple 'Blue Hawaiian' and Darwinaria Charm 'Blue Star' in bloom for at least the last couple of weeks and showing no signs of fading! _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
