Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
MAKE A HANGING BASKET FOR AN ORCHID
Gather your supplies
• Sticks of different colour and appearance, but fairly equal in length and height
• Poed moth orchid
• PVC coated tie wire
• Old fence paling
• Jute rope
• Sphagnum moss
You’ll also need Tape measure; drill; 2mm drill bit; wire cuers; timber saw; construction adhesive; scissors
Here’s how
STEP 1 Position 2 sticks on a flat surface, place 2 more sticks on top of them facing in the opposite direction and repeat until you have 5 layers of 2 sticks. Check your moth orchid will fit in the centre of the basket.
STEP 2 Making sure the overhang on either side is roughly equal, and the distance between them is the same on each stick, drill holes towards the end of each stick (you’re looking for your basket to end up roughly square in shape).
STEP 3 Cut 4 pieces of wire, each about 80cm long. Starting with the top pair of sticks (so you are building the basket upside down), thread the sticks onto the wire, leaving excess wire at the top and boom.
STEP 4 Using a timber saw, cut your fence paling down to create a piece that will serve as the base of your basket. Make sure it’s as wide as the boom layer of sticks (which is currently siing at the top). On one side of paling piece, apply a bead of adhesive on each end, then insert it under the boom layer of sticks and hold together firmly to aach. Allow the glue to dry.
STEP 5 At the top of the basket, twist the excess tie wire into a double knot (see below le) and trim the remainder, then carefully flip basket over so it’s now facing the right way up.
STEP 6 Twist the remaining 4 ends of wire into separate nooses with room to thread hanging rope through.
STEP 7 Cut 4 pieces of jute rope to double the length you want your basket to hang, plus an extra 20cm for knots.
STEP 8 Loop 1 piece of rope through each noose. Tie single knots (see below le) above nooses to secure.
STEP 9 Soak sphagnum moss and wring out any excess water. Use it to create a lining around the interior of the basket about 5cm thick.
STEP 10 Remove orchid from pot and insert with its original mix into basket.
STEP 11 Tie the 8 loose ends of the rope with a double overhand stopper knot (see le) and trim with scissors. It’s then ready to hang.