Lets talk about swamp sticks

[kavanaru]

Interesting photos. I would like to see some of them when the moss is not there anymore, would the plants still stay attached and do well? I mean, except for the first two photos, they do not seem to grow roots attached to the pots... That's also my experience with swampsticks, I have tried different ones (from swampstick.com and other sources), tried different plant (including pure moss) und different conditions (cool to warm, low to high light, low to high humidity to almost flodded with water constantly dripping in the pot - I was trying to at least get the moss growing on it), and no way to get the plants growing roots on them. As long as the sphag or living moss used around the roots was there, the plants were doing fine (not good, just fine)... so,I decided to stop the experiments after over one year, and almost loosing some plants...

I discused with some friends who have also tried this method, and only one of them was really succesful with it. However, he wrapped the sticks with Jute cloth and let the plants grow on that... He also sprayed the stick on a daily basis (like he does with mounted plants) and got moss growing on them pretty quick... yes, he must change the jute cloth every 1 or 2 years... having to change the cloth that often makes the use of the stick inefficient for me, so I stayed with pots and wooden/fern roots mounts.

[tmaxwell]

Hey Kavanaru,
I think, personally, that sphagnum on a mount is a hindrance. That's not to say I don't use it, but it's something I'm learning over time. It's like, I feel obligated to put some on when I mount a plant... Some plants seem to root well to the ceramic (the best I have now are Aerangis modesta, punctata, and biloba, a couple little bulbo's, and a chiloschista.
These all have firmly attached roots. Others though (namely Barkeria spectabilis, Dinema polybulbon, Diplocaulobium chrysotropsis) won't root to it. I need to get some wood for these.
One thing I can think of is that some people fill the ceramic with their fertilizer-water. I have never done this. Ceramic has far too much ability to hold mineral salts. Only pure water goes in, and fertilizer is sprayed.
On a side, is cedar the best for wood plaques? Ooh, I think I'll go down to the river, and cut some grapevine! Sounds like fun!!

[kavanaru]

Don't know about cedar, but grapevine woods seems to be very good

as per the watering, I only filled my swampstick with RO-water...

[Brotherly Monkey]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Don't know about cedar, but grapevine woods seems to be very good

as per the watering, I only filled my swampstick with RO-water...

I always heard that grape wood can mold up and rot pretty easily.

As for Ceder, it's pretty commonly used, and can be bought as shingles at most DIY stores. Though it's a pretty pungent wood, so I would watch how much I used in an enclosed space

[tmaxwell]

Hey Connie,
I could always make some which would stand, and maybe a glazed tray in which to rest. I'm finally getting excited about working with clay again, and these are helping. Integrating multiple hobbies seems to be where many good things lie!

[kavanaru]

Interesting about the grape wood... I have a friend in Germany who has all his plants on grape wood (his parents have wine yards and are wine producers) and he swears it to be the best for him...

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Interesting about the grape wood... I have a friend in Germany who has all his plants on grape wood (his parents have wine yards and are wine producers) and he swears it to be the best for him...

I also know someone who grows a few orchids on grapwood (remove the outer bark first) with no problems. Since I have friends with vinyards I was thinking of trying it out as well.
I know that grapewood is not recommended in aquariums because it rots quickly, but an orchid on a mount is not constantly wet.

[Brotherly Monkey]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I also know someone who grows a few orchids on grapwood (remove the outer bark first) with no problems. Since I have friends with vinyards I was thinking of trying it out as well.
I know that grapewood is not recommended in aquariums because it rots quickly, but an orchid on a mount is not constantly wet.

I mainly heard this complaint from people growing in vivariums of various sorts (rh of 80%+). So it might not be something you need to deal with in the home or green house

[Mandy2705]

I know this is an old thread but I am curious if your wife ever made you her version of a swampstick and how it worked out with your orchids JohnD and tmaxwell, your "swamp-pockets" are so creative! I would definitely buy them tmaxwell if you ever decided to sell them.