Saw something to pass along....

To save (or make MORE) room in my greenhouse, I combine small pots to hang in a nice shallow round (plastic) planter which I hang from the ceiling. Those plants that really like to hang, like this way of growing. As the pots are small, they sink to the bottom of the bigger pot...so I fill the bigger pot with perlite so that they can peek over the edge.

Anyway...I noticed that the perlite is always damp white the pots may need water...so it is providing humidity for the smaller plants. Thought some of you in the drier areas might be able to adapt this for your own needs....

Here is the side view....

Here is how the plants look inside the pot. Yes, the perlite does get greeny algae on it....but that is easy to get ride of by rinsing it in Physan or putting it out in the full sun...

I have several big baskets filled with smaller pots, but I never thought of adding perlite to the basket for humidity - awesome idea - thanks!!!

Carol, that is a great idea!! I don't mind green algae. I don't think it hurts anything, and it sort of looks cool. All of the cuttings that I have rooting in pearlite had that green algae on it, and no harm that I have noticed.

S

Thanks, Carol - that's a great idea!

Jackie

Well...thought I should say something...anyway. I get that algae on the tops of my medium...sometimes on leaves...it is just part of the 'game'...

Great space saving idea, Carol. I fill wire hanging baskets with spaghnum moss and sink the small pots in. I also like to tuck cryptanthus pups in the side. It is great for those pots that always fall over when watering.
Mel

Thanks Carol. What a great idea and a great illustration of it.
Gabi

That IS a great idea. I have used it too. One thing that should be mentioned is to keep the pot of babies either hanging low enough to see the state of water needs, or at least in a spot where you will be passing it often enough not to forget to check for moisture. Those little pots dry out very fast if not in a greenhouse and need water more often than a regular large hanging basket of that sort would.
I had one hanging up high and forgot to check it often enough so I lost a couple of the babies from drying out. Now I keep it low and right on my "watering path".
Marcy

Carol,
How big is that hanging basket? You have a nice amount of small pots in there...
Gabi

I buy those pots (when they are on sale) in 12", 14" and 16"... not on sale they are too pricey! I also grow some with 5 - 6 different epis or schlums in them...and use them to plant at the base of trees... They are really quite shallow compared to the same equivalent diameter of 'other' pots....

I do this with pebbles and those little glass rocks they sell in craft stores, but only to make the baskets heavy enough that they stay pretty stable when the Squirrel Acrobatic Team starts their basket hopping routine. They are also less likely to dig thru rocks looking for imaginary long ago buried peanuts.

Jen - you are so funny about those squirrels - I laugh out loud every time you post about them!!

Karen

As destructive as they are and in spite of all the time spent trying to outwit them, they are funny and clever little guys, and my yard would be a lonely place without their antics!

Jen I have a tip for ya. We have a ton of squirrel as well, and it was so dry this year they were up on the deck eating all the bedding plants out of my baskets, and digging down for the juicy roots. A friend told me to throw some moth balls in the baskets, and it really did work. They never bothered them again. Now the only problem is they are trying to get all the spaghnum moss out of the baskets for their nest. Blue Jays in the spring and squirrel in the winter. They are fun little guys to watch.

Due to the squirrels in our area, I have wallnut, hazelnut or oak seedlings growing in every container plant I own! I had no idea the little buggers would 'hide' nuts like that! It's so funny to watch the squirrel vs. the redheaded woodpeckers as they fight over a paper towl roll covered in peanut butter and sunflower seeds. The woodpeckers win. :~)

We'll ya'all, this Southern belle/ redneck has a family of possums living in the yard disrupting potted plants and feasting on my vegies. Clearly, they are the ugliest of "critters" and despite what some may think, possum stew is not on the menu at this house! There are also the squirrels and chipmunks reeaing havoc and digging holes in my potted plants. With my 2 dogs and 2 cats, I often feel that I am in an episode of Wild Kingdom.

mel, I relate to your critter issues! 3 dogs, 1 cat, 3 dragons, 3 catfish, 7 pollywogs, deer, racoons, possums bear and I recently saw a bobcat. And TamiF has wild hogs in her yard!!
Yea, us rednecks rezide all ovur this heer cuntry. :~)

Joanne - dragons

Karen

LOL, Joanne. I may worry about you tho if any of your children are named Bubba and you hold your car together with duct tape! You have 3 dragons? Cool! Watch out for those pets the kids bring home. All but one of my pets was brought home by my Son and guess what? The kid moved out and the animals all stayed.
Mel

Karen, bearded dragons. lizzards. We have a breeding trio now and hope to have a few more eventualy. My 16yr old daughter wants to help pay her way through college and this is a good way. These high end beardies go for an unbelieveable ammount of money. Just think of how many hoyas I can buy when we start selling babies!

Mel, my best friend growing up is named Bubba :~) My last car I had for 13 years and it had more bailing wire and duct tape on it than a brand new roll of the stuff! We spent Labor Day weekend at my parents place on the river and brought home 3 baby catfish, about 2-3" long and some bullfrog pollywogs my 11yr. old daughter caught and fell in love with. SO right now she and I are in the process of cleaning a 50 gal tank for them to live in. They are tired of the bucket on the front deck. I best get back to it.....

Ya' all take care now ya' hear! -joanne