This Summer, when I bring the Paphs outside, I'm going to try something new.
I got the idea from an orchid hobbyist in Long Island, NY. He simply bolted some 1" pipes between two trees in a shady area, and hung his orchids on the pipes. What a great idea! And so simple....

So, I'm going to try it. I bought three 2x4x10 pieces of lumber and am going to attach them to the pine trees in the back yard. There is a mini pine forest in the back yard that gets filtered light and is protected from high winds. I'm going to nail some nails into the 2 x 4's and hang my paphs in baskets from the nails. That way, hopefully, they will get watered via rains and enjoy a nice Summer outdoors!

Now, it it would only stop raining, so I can get to work!

What do you think? Will this work?

I think it's a workable idea! Let us know how it works out for you.

I hang plants from my tree house on a pvc pipe.

A tree house! I wish I had a tree house!!!! :cool:

Here's a photo of the outdoor grow area, so far. About 60% of the plants are out. The hanging baskets are really convenient, as they can hold about 4 plants at once, making them a great space saver.

Would you believe that yesterday, after hanging out the plants, it snowed!! Ahhh, the joys of living in Maine. Snow on May 21st!!! It didn't harm the plants as they were protected by the trees, but it did get me slightly worried.

Here'a a photo of the grow area, so far.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b234/dustyatticstuff/AlFresco2.jpg

Thanks for looking!

That looks great Susan! Are those all paphs in the baskets? If they are I am so going to copy you... :cool:

Hi Teresa,

It's probably 98.999% Paphs and Phrags in the baskets and I can get an average of 4 plants per basket; sometimes less sometimes more, depending upon the size of the pot.

The hanging baskets came from a local shop called "Christmas Tree Shops" and only cost $1.99 each, making them very economical to use. Hopefully you can find a shop like that in your neck of the woods.

Now we just have to wait & see if they get enough light, ect. I'll be monitering them until I feel comfortable about the set up.

That is such a great idea. Expect many copy-cats!

Cool! I have a few of these baskets hanging outside with catts in them. The catts LOVE the baskets. I water them once or twice a daily and I don't have to worry about overwatering because the wind and heat dries everything pretty well daily. I have not thought of putting a paph in one, I love the way these baskets look, and I have spanish moss draped on all of mine. I hope I can find them for $1.99!!!

I read your last post Susan and thought "my word, she has her plants outside already?"

Then I read about the snow! :lol:

Sorry, been so cool here - I just am too paranoid - and worry about my indoor plants so much! They look great though. I hope we are finally on the "summer" side of spring! Just re-started using rain water again today. Ahhhh.....drink, drink, my little sweeties! ;)

Teresa, the baskets came with the liners, which really makes them look good. With other baskets, I do the same thing as you do: line them with moss. I hadn't thought about putting the Paphs in hanging baskets until I visited a local greenhouse that was growing their Paphs that way. The rumor was that they had a mature sanderianum in bud and I desperately wanted to see it. I didn't see the sanderianum, but I did see lots of Paphs hanging in baskets. It makes sense. This way you don't have to worry about drainage. I'm working on light and wind issues now, but I think it will be OK.

Heather, yes I realize I was acting a little too soon by putting the plants out, but I think I brought the plants out even earlier last year and they did fine. I kept them quite cool when they were inside, so this should not be too much of a shock for them. The shock came for me when I saw the snow!!!! :eek: Fortunately, it did not last too long and the plants were safely protected under the trees!

Heather, yes I realize I was acting a little too soon by putting the plants out, but I think I brought the plants out even earlier last year and they did fine. I kept them quite cool when they were inside, so this should not be too much of a shock for them. The shock came for me when I saw the snow!!!! :eek: Fortunately, it did not last too long and the plants were safely protected under the trees!


Sorry - I was just teasing - you are a much braver woman than I - I didn't intend it to sounds as though YOU were premature, more that I was a wus. ;)

No Heather, I don't think you were being a wuss. Just cautious.

For myself, I think I was probably being stubborn. I figured it was about time and that the weather had better comply with my demands. HA!:lol:

:cool: Very nice !! Are the pots sitting in the baskets ? SNOW !:eek: I would have been hauling them all back in ! A lot of mine have been out for a week or so...lowest night temps _low 40's..will summer ever arrive ?

:cool: Very nice !! Are the pots sitting in the baskets ? SNOW !:eek: I would have been hauling them all back in ! A lot of mine have been out for a week or so...lowest night temps _low 40's..will summer ever arrive ?

No kidding! Where the %$@! is summer!?
I honestly didn't mean to sound like I was harshing on the outdoors - I have more INDOOR complaints right now that are weather based! :roll:

(damn! I roll my eyes a lot, huh!)

Gilda & Heather,

The pots are in the baskets. The baskets are hanging in the air and above the frost if it gets that cold. The pine trees also protect from the little bit of snow that we had.

The night time temps are probably in the low 50's or high 40's. Very tempted to bring them in, but I think they are protected and will be oK.

Let's hope!!! :confused:

it looks like our summer here is coming tomorrow...which is when I am taking my plants outside...

I remember when I lived in Upstate New York, it snowed in late May...we got several inches of snow