Grow walls-a blossom or a bane?

[terrestrial_man]

I have noticed in my visits to different sites of both European and American growers that some use a wall of heavy hardware cloth on which to hang mounted
orchids. I have also read of something similar being used in terrariums/vivariums with the use of coconut fiber sheets or other means to accomplish the mounting of orchids or other epiphytes.
This is a great idea for use in a greenhouse or is it frought with a host of problems that make it an interesting thought but a practical nightmare to do??

Any thoughts or experiences?

[Ross]

I personally think it's a grteat idea in greenhouse, not so practicle in orchidarium. I presume we are talking 1/4" or 3/8" hardware cloth as the backdrop? And I presume your plants already have hooks of some sort?

[Faerygirl]

The thing to keep in mind with mounting stuff to things in the greenhouse is, is it going to be a permanent thing or not?
I have shied away from the grow walls because they block too much light. I like to mount stuff onto large cork slabs and driftwood and hang them up. Then I can move them if I need to, and they look more natural.

Grow walls are great to use for a planting that's going to stay put and be completely covered, like with epiphytic ferns or a mass mounting of orchids or bromeliads you don;t plan to move, but if you change your mind...?

[Shadow]

If you mount orchids on separate slabs and then hang them on the wall you will save lots of space and you will be able to move them around later.

[Faerygirl]

true, but I like the more natural look of the different mounts.

If I was going to put a grow wall in my particular GH, it would need to be 12 feet high (the height of my sidewall) and would block too much lateral light