Orchid Hobby tips & ideas to save money

[L I Jane]

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread for different useful ideas that folks have come up with using common household items etc in the pursuit of the hobby.If you have something that you think will help others please add.

NUMBER 1-- I'll start it off by saying that I save mesh onion bags.I find them useful when mounting small plants on cork or treefern plaques by cutting into strips & tying the plant onto the mount or whole to keep any media in baskets.The thinner it becomes as you pull it.Even the bright red mesh becomes less visable. This & nylon hose works well .I used to use fishing filiment but it was harder to tie when the arthritis in my hands kicked up.

[cb977]

That's a great idea as I also have a hard time with fishing line. Thanks...

for people with smaller collections (such as myself):
I use a pump sprayer to do my misting. I have arthritis and carpal tunnel in both hands so the thought of squeezing a sprayer handle repeatedly is not a happy one for me. I got a 1 gallon sprayer that has a pump on top. Just plunge it a few times and it's so much easier than a regular spray bottle.

[Phantasm]

My favorite is the spray bottle with rubbing alchohol. It works great for slugs if you enjoy torture, and is helpful with other pests as well. When the sun goes down, I go into the greenhouse and attack my enemy.

[Heather]

oh! This is a great thread!

I used to cook a lot, and I worked for Williams-Sonoma as a manager for a while, so I have a lot of fabulous free stuff I won helping to motivate for contests.

I don't cook as much anymore - no time, not home as much or entertaining, plants have taken over my life... But I have found excellent new uses for some great tools.

12 qt. multi pot - with a steamer/collander insert.
Excellent for pre-boiling Prime Agra for S/H. This is a 12 qt pot, w/ a large collander insert and a steamer insert. Put PA in large insert, fill with water, after boiling, just raise inner collander and drain off the water. Good to go! Fabulous fabulous pot! (good for pasta also). Can anyone help me with a good way to clean PA residue off of pot? That would be good.

mini blow torch (ala creme brulee) for sterilizing tools

In sink colanders!
Any and all sizes - Great for draining mix and helping to repot. Simply invaluable!

[cb977]

You worked for Williams-Sonoma??????? I'd be in my glory getting free stuff from them...I'm so jealous

[L I Jane]

Little green mesh 'berry baskets' if you can still find them are good for planting draculas or any small plant that doesn't get too heavy.Doubling them will give more strength.

[Heather]

Originally Posted by cb977

You worked for Williams-Sonoma??????? I'd be in my glory getting free stuff from them...I'm so jealous

Yep, great company to work for. Not including the 40% discount. Truly. I'd work for them again in a heartbeat!

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by L I Jane

Little green mesh 'berry baskets' if you can still find them are good for planting draculas or any small plant that doesn't get too heavy.Doubling them will give more strength.

That's a great idea, and this is the fruit season if you can still find them!

[L I Jane]

How about using the little plastic boxes that salad (bigger boxes) & fruit come in to make little greenhouses for sdlngs or stressed plants that require more humidity than you can give them to recover or grow?Just make sure they have holes for breathing & that they are in a shaded area so you don't 'cook them'. Opening the lids periodically & let them breathe normally will cut down on excess moisture.

[cb977]

WOW!!! I read LI Jane's post and lightbulbs started going on in my head! What a great idea. I have some really little babies that were in a compot. As they've grown, I've moved them into pots of their own but there are still 8 or 9 tiny little guys waiting to grow up. This idea is great for these babies. Have to remember to save my next one. Thanks