Cymbidium Stands

[fatcatrat]

Can someone assist me with regards to pot stands for my cymbidiums, whats the benefit of keeping all the posts on a terraced stand? Im new to orchids and still learning, so please be gentle.

[Diane]

Keeping the pots off the ground keeps out slugs and snails. That said, here in California we often grow them in the ground. Mine are up on some plastic shelving used as a table just to make them easier to water and check up on.

[wetfeet101b]

If you dont have any known slug/snail or ant problems, you can let the pots sit on the ground.
Most gardeners elevate the pots to discourage pests from taking up residence in the pots (and munching on buds).

With that said, I use whatever is available to me to elevate the pots. Plastic shelving, old benches, etc. As long as they are sturdy enough to support the weight of the plants.

Take my cymbidium stand for example. It is just made up of old recycled metal frames sitting on top of plastic shelves.
It wont win any best in show awards, but it gets the job done



It can also double as shelter for shade loving plants like hostas. The shade provided by the pots and leaves on top create an ideal growing area for the shade plants, not to mention they catch any excess water and fertilizer from the orchids

[fatcatrat]

Thanks guys, I think I will use a couple of cinder blocks and some recycled metal reinforcing as the shelves, I dont want anything that looks unsightly.


[update] Hi all, thanks for your help, I made my stand, I used 4 cinder blocks and 9 tomato stakes and 1/2 hour of time. I will post pics when I get around to it.

[walla2butterfly]

hmm, Well your ants must be better trained to stay down then mine. The ants up here if on a mission will get there some how some way LOL