TIP: Stabilizing top heavy orchids while complementing their beautiful blooms!

[emmajs243]

So as some of you know, I bought a new Phal last night! As I was trying to take pictures for a post on her, I needed somewhere to set her down momentarily! Unfortunately, she was indeed slightly top heavy and off balance due to her tall spikes so instead of taking the "wedge" method of trying to balance her pot against something more stable,
I grabbed an item I have used many a time to hold my top heavy orchids.....a candle holder! That's when it hit me, HOLY CRAP! What a GREAT IDEA!

I have used candle holders before for holding up an off balanced orchid so I can stabilize it with a better staking job....I've even used my scentsy wax melter outer, wire, decor "shell" before so the orchid is lifted off its tray to drain after watering! I never realized the decor aspect however until last night! My newest candle holder is truly gorgeous and when my new blooming Phal fit PERFECTLY inside it, I just looked at and thought, "Wow! Way to complete the beauty!!"

I don't like keeping my orchids in their decor pots and as a newbie, I like keeping them in clear plastic pots so I can view the roots. The downside? Well, although we may look at the healthy roots and have it bring us joy and pride, it truly isn't the most attractive look! ESPECIALLY, when you have a gorgeous, eye catching orchid in bloom that you want to display! Putting them in a candle holder, BEAUTIFUL look!

The additional benefits:
- the large majority of candle holders have many holes or openings all throughout it so you can see the candle light. This also ensures good air flow still occurs to your orchids roots!
- Candle holders come in all different looks, holiday designs, sizes and even weights! You can use a light metal one like in the photo for slightly top heavy orchids and heavy ceramic ones for your BIG orchids!
- Wire Wax melter design "cases" are GREAT for plopping a plant in if you have to rush out the door and it hasn't finished draining!
- The standard size candle holder perfectly fits your average sized orchid pot!

I know to many of you, decor may not or a problem or concern due to where your orchids are located but who doesn't want to display a beautiful orchid in bloom? Maybe many of you have already discovered this idea on you own! I don't know! But it was just such a beautiful combination I felt like I should share!

[fooferdoggie]

ya this vanda is so top heavy his vase is too light. has to be propped up.

[Mountaineer370]

My two biggest Phals are in clear plastic pots, too, and have become quite top-heavy. It doesn't help that they lean a bit to one side of the pot (as many Phals like to do). So I was trying to come up with a solution to this problem, too. I ended up putting the clear pots inside clay orchid pots like this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southern...12OP/300208576

It's not a tight fit. There is still around a half inch between the two pots all the way around, but that works out well, because the plastic pots that these two are in have slots on the sides, too, and roots are coming out both the sides and the bottom holes. So I can fit them inside the clay pots without squishing the wandering roots, plus there's still good air flow.

It's nice to see how others handle this and get some other ideas.

[Keithj]

I think this is quite common. A number of my Dendrobiums are very easily toppled so I’ve had to sheath their pots in pot holders. One of my DenPhals has been an absolute nightmare because I didn’t have the right-sized sleeve for it. It’s now jammed into one that’s a bit too small so it doesn’t look great but I’m not having to repot it twice a week, either!

Keith

[camille1585]

Orchids which love to flop over is a very common problem! Love your solution, though I've never heard of such large candle holders before! I have a whole series of heavy decorative pots that I use as cache pots while orchids are in bloom. Keeps them upright and looks nicer since I usually display the blooming orchids in different spots around my living room. None of my decorative pots have any holes at all, but isn't really an issue since it's only temporary and I let the plants drain well after watering before putting them back in the decorative pots.

[emmajs243]

HA! WOW! Fooferdoggie look at that thing!!! Like man! Talk about some leaves!!!! That thing has got to weigh a ton!!! I really love way Vandas look....such beautiful blooms! Jus to like yours! But I have not yet started growing them yet! I want to learn a little more first! So I don't EXACTLY know If all those leaves are normal but I sure haven't seen it!! I am impressed!

And Mountaineer, Keith, Camille, Great tip too! I normally just buy some kind of base pot like slightly larger and a tad roomy for the clear pot to sit in but I am not a huge fan of clay or the look of clay in my house...so actually never thought of using those before Mountaineer! Now that I am getting more orchids added to my collection, some reather unexpectedly, I never seem to have my base pots handy when i need one!

I finally started buying plastic pots that are made for self-watering then put some gravel in the bottom under the self watering insert. Then let them go right back in ther pots to drain because the water drains into the bottom reservoir where the gravel is and there is a tray to keep the orchid up ans out of the water. Which do they look bad? No, I wouldn't say they look great though. I personally like the look of my orchids, pots and all BUT once I discovered that they fit so perfectly, really love having my blooming Phals in the candle holders!! PLUS! I am really a sucker for some elegant sparkles and flowers! I really just can't help myself at times!

And Camille! They make them larger then this even!! This is one designed for bath and body works 3-wick candles. If you sign up for their e-mailing list you will get coupons sent to you and often it will be like spend $10 get a free gift up to $13.50 or $15.50. So I always use my gift on a candle holder!

And Kieth, top heavy orchids are DEFINITELY an issue for everyone to some extent or another! You are SO right about that! That's why I figured I would share this! more for the newbie hobbyist with only a few orchids that really loves to "display" them. That's how I use to be and I would have adored thinking of this idea At the time! Once you become more serious into growing you kinda let go of the "displaying" aspect I feel like because your more focused on more important things AND having/caring for a ton more plants!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by emmajs243

And Camille! They make them larger then this even!! This is one designed for bath and body works 3-wick candles. If you sign up for their e-mailing list you will get coupons sent to you and often it will be like spend $10 get a free gift up to $13.50 or $15.50. So I always use my gift on a candle holder!

I'm in Europe, and I guess that such large candle holders aren't common where I am. Or I never really paid much attention! But nice that you can get your nice holders for free, that's always a good deal!

[fooferdoggie]

ya that vanda is crazy we bought it in the vase but it took a year to bloom then when it did it went crazy and the bloom has lasted over a month. I bought another vase and I will glue gravel in the bottom to add weight. the vase makes it pretty easy two overnight soaks a week one with 1 tablespoon fertilizer and lots of light and they are doing great.

[Keithj]

Originally Posted by emmajs243

And Kieth, top heavy orchids are DEFINITELY an issue for everyone to some extent or another! You are SO right about that! That's why I figured I would share this! more for the newbie hobbyist with only a few orchids that really loves to "display" them. That's how I use to be and I would have adored thinking of this idea At the time! Once you become more serious into growing you kinda let go of the "displaying" aspect I feel like because your more focused on more important things AND having/caring for a ton more plants!

I try to have my in-bloom orchids where we can see them easily, usually on our kitchen windowsill, but - and this isn’t meant to be trite - I don’t buy plants to kill them. Whatever it is I try to keep them alive and growing. Orchids generally don’t like to be over-potted, of course, so that makes it even more difficult to keep them stable, especially those Dendrobiums which grow long canes or spikes, so the plant’s centre of gravity tends to be well above the pot. Using a sleeve of some sort to improve stability has to be good for plants that dislike to be disturbed. I choose fairly bland colours for the sleeves so they don’t detract from the orchid or clash with the room and are easily ignored.

Keith

[Subrosa]

I use a heavy rock in the bottom of the pot when I pot my Catasetum up each year. They're not particularly top heavy, but they get lots of big wide leaves that act as sails outdoors, toppling the plants when it gets windy.