Need some Vandaceous help - Orchid Board

crazymonkie · #1 03-10-2012, 11:02 PM

Hello everyone!

I guess this is actually my re-introduction, since I came on here about nine months ago, but have been lurking and trying to do things on my own for a bit.

I'm now the proud owner of about 10 vandaceous orchids-two Vandas, two Aerides, one Holcoglossum wangii, a Christensonia vietnamica, and several others that I can't call to mind right now. Starting slowly, I'm going to put them all into slatted cedar baskets. I just ordered a 3 set of one 4", one 6", and one 8" basket, without hangars or a place to hang them, and I need quite a bit of help (obviously!)

So, a bit of background: I got these things because the orchid seller misunderstood what I meant when I said I'd like a FEW Vandaceous orchids. I did mention wanting a Zygopetalum, so I did get one, and that one gave a volunteer offset when I repotted, so I technically have two.... right now they are in 4" deep pots that were many years ago used for succulents. Yes, I know they're supposed to be moved to airier locations, hence why I'm getting the baskets.

I'm going to be putting together some sort of hangar for them, making sort of an outside coat rack or huge hobby horse made of metal or, if needed, plastic, so I can move them to and from the full/really close to full sun, avoiding the landscaping crews and sprinklers that my apartment management brings around every week and every night respectively when it gets hotter.

I'm living in Austin, and have a decent sized covered patio that is generally about 5-10 degrees cooler than the uncovered outdoors (5-10 degrees warmer in the cold months), and have two fancy plant racks for the plants when it rains. I can't use tapwater because the TDS level on it is insane (I checked out the city's website), but I have a 2-gallon sprayer (soon to be more) that I use to water them which I fill with r/o water at a local fancy grocery store for 25 cents a gallon (cheaaaap!)

My questions are as follows:

-I'm assuming I'll need less drainage for the Vandas in baskets. For moisture retention, should I use coconut chips and perlite or something else?

-Should I get more of those sprayers, and if so, how many? If not, Is there some way I could set up a jury-rigged misting system? I'd have to figure out some way to run the power supply inside my house for the timer I'm assuming I'll need.

-Does anyone have any pictures or advice on making the aforementioned jury-rigged hanging stand? I've seen some pretty-looking wrought iron ones for sale (very expensive) that have three hanging spots, but I'm really concerned that those would be A)Prone to rust and B)Very heavy and a pain to move

-I've heard that most Vandaceous orchids don't like temps below 85 or so for more than a few hours at a time, but the only time it rains out here is when it gets close to 55. I usually move them inside when it gets cold and/or when I sleep. Is this okay, or am I being too nervous about this?

-I've got a few pieces of firewood that I'm going to cut to the right shape (the bottoms are triangular right now).... should I even bother with this right now?

Guess that's about it. Thanks ahead of time!