Would this work as a "mounting wall"

[peeweelovesbooks]

I need a dedicated area to mount my orchids. I've mounted about 90% of the orchids that I've bought lately, and I've noticed that the plants seem to adapt more readily and throw out new roots when mounted as opposed to potting.

Which, leads me to the problem: where to hang? I have a VERY narrow growing space, so I need something beyond the space on shelves (because the mounted orchids are rapidly outnumbering the potted ones at this point). I ran across this online the other day:

Wire Mesh Partitions | Portable Indoor/Outdoor Partitions | Steel Construction Barrier Starter Unit, One Panel and Two Base Units | 269843 - GlobalIndustrial.com




Do you all think it will work as a dedicated mounting unit? Your thoughts please.

M.

[ALToronto]

Can you slip a drip tray under the mesh panel? Or maybe place the supports on some 2x4's to raise the panel off the floor.

The panel itself is very functional, but my concern would be dripping water. I would place a full length tray under the panel to catch water, and I would also mount a plastic sheet (like a thin HDPE, high density polyethylene) behind the mesh so that you could spray the plants without moving them. And then remember to empty the tray!

Another concern is the metal this panel is made from. Is it likely to rust?

[peeweelovesbooks]

Thanks! The panel is 9 feet long and 6 feet tall. It would go outside in my yard. I put "yard" in quotes because it barely qualifies as such.

I was worried over whether I was insane for thinking it would work as a place to place mounted orchids.

[ALToronto]

Outdoors, you need to worry about wind blowing it over. I'm not sure it's sturdy enough for that, unless you find a way to anchor it to the ground.

[vjo]

I think it looks like it would work OK . I hang 4x8 sheets of lattice on my wood fence and hang some of my mounts on that. With yours you could hang on both sides, actually doubling your space. It is galvanized so no worries about rust....Jean

[Tabbyblack13]

I would also make sure the material is physical strong enough to take all of the weight. The frame may be strong enough but the mesh needs a closer look. I would make sure the mesh is welded and not glued.

[peeweelovesbooks]

They have this welded model

Wire Mesh Partitions | Portable Indoor/Outdoor Partitions | Welded Wire Galvanized Fence - 4 Panel Kit | 260552 - GlobalIndustrial.com

[Call_Me_Bob]

My question is this, wil the bottom portion essentiall be wasted space? Because I know it can definitely be haassle to get to plants that are low like that, even if you're watering with a hose, getting to them for maintenance can be a pain. What about something similar that's maybe hung on a fence or wall that has the same amount of space to hang mounts, but it has all of that at optimal heights.

[peeweelovesbooks]

The problem is that I neither have a fence nor a wall from where I can hang something, so I have to have a free-standing thing.

[epiphyte78]

Personally, my preference is to grow orchids on trees and potted plants. But I do have quite a few mounted orchids and other epiphytes hanging on wire mesh that I've hung from my shade shelter. It works well for wooden slabs...but is awkward for branches.

The wire mesh partition looks like it would work well enough. My concern would be how to prevent the usual suspects from having easy access to the orchids. That's why I hang my wire mesh from my shade structure.

For the heck of it I looked up how much it might cost to make the wire partition yourself...

1" Elbow: 2 x $4.50

1" Tee: 4 x $5.25

1" Cross: 1 x $5.75

1" Foot Pad: 2 x $4.25

= $44.25

Electric Metallic Tube Conduit (1 in. x 10 ft.): 6 x $5.89

= $35.34

14-Gauge Welded Wire (4 ft. x 50 ft.): 1 x $37.47

$37.47 / 2 (You can use the other half when your collection grows)

= $18.75

Total = $98.34

Is that right? My figuring ain't so great. Not too much of a difference in cost. There is of course the opportunity cost of having to do it yourself. But it could be handy to be able to disassemble the structure. Maybe you would want to take it to display your orchids at your local orchid show.

If you do it yourself...it helps to take a fitting when you go get the tubing...just to make sure the tubing fits.

I found out about the fittings when I visited the collection that the Epiphyllum society maintains at the LA Arboretum. They use them to create structures to hang their Epiphyllums on.