<< go back to Ionopsis main page   <<< go back to orchids

Orchid baskets for sale

To purchase baskets scroll down

Over the many years of experience growing orchids I have developed knowledge of making wood orchid baskets that meet the orchid’s needs. Plastic baskets look good only while new. Wood baskets look better with age and welcome mosses and most importantly - the orchid roots. I am using wood that has been aged (mostly from recycled window frames and old fences) and is free of chemicals. The wires that hold the basket together are copper and the nails that hold the bottom are copper plated. The aim for these baskets is not to outlast the orchid – it is to provide the best support for its growth and encourage root development. For  those orchids that bloom through the bottom or over the side (such as Stanhopoea, Dracula, Paphinia and etc.) the basket allows flower to develop unobstructed.

Standard baskets

All shapes come in standard sizes.

	interior space	Care of orchids in baskets Most of the orchid collectors who grow orchids in the house or on a window sill believe that orchid baskets are only for those who have greenhouses. This is not true. The fact is that a lot more orchids are killed by too much loving care and overwatering than from neglect and dryness. Orchid baskets prevent the orchid from loosing roots due to overwatering. During the dry months pest problems develop (such as red spider mites for example)  that kill the plant long before the dry conditions do. Usually the new orchid arrives to its new home in a medium that is good for the commercial grower routines, but not for home conditions. The home grower, needs to change it with new one as soon as feasible otherwise the orchid will die for sure. Transferring it to a basket is in most cases a good idea. To water orchid in a basket one could either flush it under the kitchen sink (and let it drain for couple of minutes) or dip it in a bucket of water. These two modes of watering will ensure that salts do build up in the root bowl (or those that had will leach out). Dipping in a bucket of water is also convenient for those who would rather use rain water or water from a home water-filtering-system... read more>>
	2½ inch (interior) shapes Square 2 1/2" $3.00 Heptagonal 2 1/2" $3.00 Octagonal 2 1/2" $3.00 Round 2 1/2" $3.00
	3½ inch shapes Square 3 1/2" $3.00 Heptagonal 3 1/2" $3.00 Octagonal 3 1/2" $3.00 Round 3 1/2" $3.00
	6 inch (interior) shapes Square 6" $5.00 Heptagonal 6" $5.00 Octagonal 6" $5.00 Decagonal $5.00 Round $5.00

Deepness

Deepness of the interior space 3 inches, 2 1/2 or 2

My recommendation is 2 ½ inches of deepness even for the largest sizes. For those orchids that need container deeper than 6 inch baskets are not really needed. Nonetheless, I would make any size you desire.

Custom sizes

I could make a basket (or many) of any custom size, no matter how big or small. All I need is the depth of the interior space and diameter. Also, the shape you prefer: square, heptagonal, octagonal or decagonal or round I could do any of them.  

The price of custom sizes is $1 for each inch of diameter plus $1 for each inch of height over 3. For example if you would like a basket that is 4 inches deep and 7 inches diameter the cost is going to be $8. For large orders please e-mail with offers. Smaller sizes than 2 inches are all $3.

For any questions or paypal payments e-mail: krum@ionopsis.com

square	heptagona	octagona	decagonal	round

to measure the depth deduct ½  inch from the height of the basket

When the orchid outgrows its basket and needs a new one you could either simply place the plant together with the basket in a larger basket (that way you are not disturbing the roots) or you could pull the copper wires out and disassemble the basket  to access the root bowl.
The bottom of the basket is held by nails. In early stages when they rust into the wood the rust will strengthen the hold, later the roots of the plant will enforce the bottom. If the wood rots and some of the slats come apart you know that your growing conditions are too wet for the liking of the plant. For those orchids that really like wet conditions I have developed a different design baskets – one with slats that are vertical. These baskets can be used, but are not recommended for Cattleya or similar plants that are very top heavy – they won’t anchor the plant well enough in the initial stages of development, so you need to secure it to the basket with wires. To safe the effort simply use the baskets with horizontal slats. Round baskets are great for Oncidium related orchids and those that need lots of water.
For the orchid plant it is important to have a stable support. The thin wires that are used to hang the basket will hold the plant until it takes hold of the basket. This will save you from using stakes and twist ties.

<< go back to Ionopsis main page  

<<< go back to orchids