Grow logs

[Ron-NY]

As you know I am into Bulbo species. There are some species that are ramblers and some pretty big ones too. I needed a new mount to grow my Bulbo beccarii on. I thought I would share this with you for it can be modified for other genera.

These are the supplies and tools needed to make this

plastic hardware cloth
4" cable ties
coconut fiber liner
3 or 4 wire basket hanger
scissors
pliers

With a pair of scissors, I cut the width of plastic hardware cloth, so that when rolled it will be the diameter that I want.


I then secure the edges with the cable ties.


I close one end by making some cuts and folding the hardware cloth onto itself, securing with cable ties as I go.


After making sure all cable ties are tight, I then trim the ends of them.


I then weave the wires of the hanger through the hardwarecloth, bending the last inch or so upwards with at least one weave of the end. I squeeze the ends with a pair of pliers to make sure all is secure.


I have made tubes and used them like this, filled with a medium but this one I want a covering on. Now it is time to cover the tube with coconut fiber. This takes a bit of manipulation and I always feel I can use an extra set of hands. It makes a bit of a mess too so be prepared. It might be better doing this outdoors. I need to do some cutting as I go to get things to fit and I wrap with fishing line as I go. This tube took two large liners for it is almost 3 feet tall.


Now it is complete and I tie the plant securely to the outside.


I then filled the tube with a water retentive medium (in this case CHC, charcoal and perlite.) and hang my final product!


As I said this can be modified to any size and can be used without a coconut fiber cover. Hope you find this useful!...Ron

[ischel1]

Wow how informative. Thanks for the post Ron, great info.

[Cjcorner]

Neat idea....may have to try that someday.
Connie

[orchidj3]

This is a great idea, it should climb nicely.

[Ron-NY]

Now to be able to get this species to bloom. It has been in my collection for almost 5 years and it hasn't bloomed for me yet. But it still lives...a few had told me that I wouldn't be able to grow it. The 4 newest leaves grew under my care.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

That is really good to know! Thanks for sharing how to do this. You should turn this into an article for the library.

Cheers,
BD

[Ron-NY]

BD how do I go about making an article out of it ?

[Grandma M]

Ron, That looks like a great do-it-yourself project. I'm going to try it. If it ever stops snowing long enough so I can get out of my driveway, I'll go to Lowes.

I tried the clay logs and it worked fine first, the ones that didn't break in shipping, but now they all leak. The leaking defeats the purpose. Your method will hold the moisture longer. Thanks.

[pavel]

very nifty!

[Ron-NY]

yes, most of the supplies can be found in Lowes, except CHC. It appears that some might not know what CHC is...it is coconut husk chips (It holds water well and is slower to degradate than bark)...I used the coarse grade as well as the course perlite, which some people call sponge rock.

Also, when using coconut products, I always worry about salt content. I pre wash the CHC and after assembly I hose it down and then I allow water to run through the whole thing for about 15 minutes.