Project Idea/need advice

Ok I have an idea for a project. I would like to use a couple of epiphytes. I found a topiary form that I would like to use to make a "chandelier" to suspend over my bathtub. I would love some suggestions on which combination of epiphytes might work for this project. Here is a pic of the form. I will be turning this upside down for this project.

Anyone?

sorry I have no idea as I have never tried that. But you would be best with a "basket" gowning one. Just remember they will get very large. The basket type hang down.

Sandy

I think there is an article on vining succulents it might gie you idea.

I have been thinking about it. How high above the bath tub will it be. Epi might get to long. A "christmas cactus" might work.

Sandy

you may just want to use either a shower curtain rod or hooks to hold Epis and such, they typically like their pots and the humidity of the bath. Hoyas have a strong tendency to grow upward. Rhipsalis can be basket like, upright or pendant depending on the species and size.

You could use hoyas, dischidia, ceropegia or bromeliads. I'm visualizing like a combo of all the above... maybe? What did you have in mind for the medium? Coconut liner? A hoya to climb and plug dischidia,ceropegia to hang down and small bromeliads or tillandsia for interest. Orchids or epiphyllum guatamalense monstrose (curly growth pattern. Do you see what I see? LOL I keep thinking of more things as I type. What plants did you have to work with? Or you starting from scratch?

Ceropegia will probably have problems with humidity. Some bromies are pendant, as are some carnevores. I am not sure of the Distichia

Sorry I took so long :( Forgot to check this thread :( Thank you for all your brainstorming.

1

You could use hoyas, dischidia, ceropegia or bromeliads. I'm visualizing like a combo of all the above... maybe? What did you have in mind for the medium? Coconut liner? A hoya to climb and plug dischidia,ceropegia to hang down and small bromeliads or tillandsia for interest. Orchids or epiphyllum guatamalense monstrose (curly growth pattern.

I found the curly epi at Bob Smoleys. He has everything and his prices are good. Most of my hoyas hang down. However, I had a climbing one in mind. Kinda like at top and the others like plugged in below cascading down. Too bad I can't post a sketch. Is there enough space to allow for upward growth? If not you could plug various pendant like small plants all around it through the fiber. Let me see if I can post a few pics of what I had in mind.

I think I'm starting to your vision. I have 3 hoyas, carnosa rubra, compacta,kentiana. I think of the three kentiana would be the best selection. Which other did you have in mind?
Thanks for the Bob Smoleys tip. I'll go look there.
I can't wait to get this project under way :)


OOOOO thanks for leading me to Bob Smoleys!!! They also had "Clown" which I've had on my list as well.

This message was edited Feb 15, 2010 2:56 PM

Gosh... I wish we had spoke sooner. I went there this past weekend. His epis were gorgeous. Would have grabbed some for you. I posted asking what epis were desired by other members but, nobody responded. :( I took pics of what I had in mind. Hoyas were...Bella variegated... curtisii...linearis...lacunosa...minibelle-string bean hoya...polyneura...ds-70-tsangii. I took pics. Gotta upload to laptop or I can email right from phone. Obviously I will share what I can from larger plants. ;)

Oooh I'm sorry I didn't see your post asking :(

Well I picked up around 13 new epis: happiness is...sedona sunset...lips betrayed...California dream...Diana. ..Easter morning. ..ivory brocade. ..vanilla ice...Julie...goldendew. ..chrysocardium and guatemalense. I tried to get ones that everyone didn't have. Hopefully they will grow fast. LOL. I believe they will once I put outside in spring. Too dry inside with the heat on. I am ready for the jungle to go back outside.

Wow 13! I probably would have done that too truth be known LOL.
this project will give me reason to get some new ones ;)

I also have a 4in pot of "String of Hearts" plant

Oh...string of hearts...in my top five favorites. Mine grew like two feet starting in September. I picked up the variegated one at smoleys. I definitely think you need to see the pics of a couple of things that I have. Gonna upload pics now: )

Man that Smoleys may make me go broke:) or not since they have such great prices. The variegated is also on my want list. Can't wait to see the pics.

Grrrrrrr... DH borrowed my SD card reader. May I email them to you? Uploads from phone are disabled on Dave's for some reason.

Yea, I'll dmail you.

locoluna, my head is spinning with ideas from the pics you sent. My original thought was to horizontally layer the plants up the form. With the pics of the plants you sent I am now considering an alternating vertical swirl so to speak.Can you see it? I love the look of linearis but have read that it's not easy to care for. Is this true? I think the tiny rhipsalis would give me the same effect though. Also love the dischidia million hearts. I am so glad to know the name of this. This last summer I had a plant trade and received two 8in cuttings of this as bonus plants. I didn't know it's name but I really like it. I think this will be a buyer for sure. Also think the curtsii would look good. Hmmm My mind is really spinning. Thank you for the pics. I will keep in touch and post some pics of the finished project.

Steph

I know right!! LOL. My head was spinning after I saw your post. Imagine how I was at smoleys gardenworld. He has so many awesome plants.
I have heard that linearis is hard. I have not Doonesbury much to mine and very little water. She grew a lot over summer. Love her soft flowing nature. You are welcome to cuttings of whatever you want. I think a collage of different variegation and leaf shapes of several hoyas and dischidia and even peperomia would add nice interest. Well I am currently battling fungus gnats. Grrr. Gotta fix this problem today. This is my first year of "houseplants" learning as I go. I had no clue how destructive they can be.

This is a great idea. I need to start doing more combos.....I guess I'm just not that creative. 1 plant.... 1 pot. That's as far as my imagination goes. LOL

But I was thinking, some of the small leaved Hoyas....like Hoya Bella (don't know the latin name of it) coming out of the sides might look nice. Here's a picture of a basket full. It started as 3 little cuttings. It doesn't vine, but just kind of bushes out. I could send you some cuttings if you like.
Roxanne

Wow that is gorgeous. I have H.Bella variegated. She just hangs. No branching. Perhaps she needs pinching back?

Thanks! It's about 5 years old now and has never been pinched. It just grows that way naturally. It does get really bright light though, I hang it out under the trees in the spring with the Epis and forget it. Hardly remember to fertilize it either. I've never grown the variegated one. Maybe it's more of the vining kind.

Thanks for helping av_ocd_girl. I would love a cutting. What would you like in return?

read end of following post as well :)



This message was edited Feb 17, 2010 8:41 PM

[quote="locoluna" You are welcome to cuttings of whatever you want. I think a collage of different variegation and leaf shapes of several hoyas and dischidia and even peperomia would add nice interest.
Well I am currently battling fungus gnats. [/quote]

I agree, A collage is exactly what I had in mind :) Pepperomia hmmm, a new one to consider adding to the mix.

I know what you mean. Fungus gnats are a pain in the lalalalala. I finally got rid of mine. I "changed" my soil up a bit. I made it 1/3-1/3-1/3 mixture. That is 1/3 potting mix,1/3 peat moss,1/3 vermiculite. No more fungus gnats after that. I have to water more often, but I'm ok with that trade off. My plants seem happier too. I think their roots like the "airiness" of the mix. BTW MG mix is notorious for fungus gnats. MG is what I have always used and still do, just with the 1/3 combination now.

I would be very grateful for any cuttings. What would you like in return? I have several plants that aren't "enabled" on my list. If you want to have a look we could work it out. JLMK.

Sounds good. Ill take a peek:)

ok I have them enabled.

I'll take some cuttings today and let them cure....they'll go out on Monday.

If you can spare a cutting of that Krimson Princess Hoya....I'd love to have that one. :-)

I'm in the address database here on DG. I'll be gone from Feb.24 til March 8th so wait if you would please. Thanks
Roxanne

close-up of the Hoya Bella

Stephanie,

Your box went out yesterday morning. Conformation # 03091830000217952909

I dusted them down with diatomaceous earth before I packed them up so they'll need rinsed off when they get there. DE is not poisonous but make sure you don't inhale it or get it in your eyes. It's an organic pesticide.

I'll be back in a couple weeks.
Roxy

Sorry I haven't posted pics yet :( I will soon I promise.

Hi all! It's been awhile. I promised pictures so here they are. Sorry it took so long but I wanted to let things grow out for a while first. It's on my back porch for now but will come in the house before too long. Please let me know what you think. #1

#2

#3

looks like a good start