Tying an orchid to a PVC Pipe
In my last post I showed how to prepare a length of PVC pipe to be used as an alternative for fern root slabs.
The orchids I normally tie to these pipes are phalaenopsis although others like catasetums, dendrobiums, and smaller orchids can also be tied in this manner.
The dead roots of the orchid plant must be cut off leaving only the healthy roots.
There are many ways to tie your plant. some will like to tie them with the roots facing up and the plants facing down.The reason is that water will not collect on the leaves of the plant
For me I like to tie the plant on the top of the pipe with the roots facing down. The plant will look more natural and the roots which follows the gravity force will grown downwards. I use a plastic string to attach it in place and then tie the roots down as close to the netting on the PVC pipe as possible.
After securing the whole plant with the plastic string, a piece of netting 3-4 inch wide is used to further cover the roots and keep them as tight as possible to the PVC pipe.
The end of the net is then secured with a piece of wire to ensure that it will keep the net in place .
Once this is completed, the whole plant is immersed in a pail of water to ensure that the moss inside the pipe is damp. Water once or twice daily depending on the weather. Dip in a pail of fertiliser mix weekly to ensure healthy growth.
Happy planting
