Off topic protective coating over Driftwood

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2007.02.02 at 23:38:33(15207) Reply-To : Discussion of aroids Sent : Thursday, February 1, 2007 11:14 PM To : Discussion of aroids Subject : [Aroid-l] Off topic protective coating over Driftwood Dear Brian, I would dig around a LOT before treating driftwood on which you will be planting epihites, as the water repellent MIGHT be toxic to plant roots, and the 'protective coating chemicals' are probably just that, poisons intended to kill mold, bactaria, algae and therefor PLANTS! Read about what active ingredients they contain or what makes them claim to be effective. I`d go with the natural driftwood. Julius +More I was wondering if spraying or painting water repellant or protective coating chemicals on my drifwood would effect the plants that grow as epiphytes on them? I was interested in doing this to most of the pieces being used so I can get more years out of them. Does anyone know if this is safe for the plants??<< _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

From: "Steve Lucas Exotic Rainforest" <steve at exoticrainforest.com> on 2007.02.03 at 01:23:23(15211) Brian, you might want to consider using the Fairchild Tropical Gardens idea of making "fake logs" out of large diameter PVC pipe with rolled cork bark attached to them. You can use a variety of joints to create all sorts of shapes. I've made several large logs and have all sorts of bromeliads, orchids, philodendrons and other plants happily attached. I'm sure you've seen the Fairchild display in their orchid and bromeliad room. Mine get watered almost daily and they are now 7 years old with no sign of falling apart. The roots love the material and I have all sorts of epiphytes firmly attached. I used just a very small amount of Liquid Nails to "encourage" the plants to begin to attach their roots. The stuff is not cheap, but if you buy it by the bail it is reasonable. One bail made 16 feet of "logs" for me. Steve Lucas +More www.ExoticRainforest.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Julius Boos To: aroid-l@gizmoworks.com Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 5:38 PM Subject: RE: [Aroid-l] Off topic protective coating over Driftwood >From : Brian Williams Reply-To : Discussion of aroids Sent : Thursday, February 1, 2007 11:14 PMTo : Discussion of aroids Subject : [Aroid-l] Off topic protective coating over DriftwoodDear Brian,I would dig around a LOT before treating driftwood on which you will be planting epihites, as the water repellent MIGHT be toxic to plant roots, and the 'protective coating chemicals' are probably just that, poisons intended to kill mold, bactaria, algae and therefor PLANTS! Read about what active ingredients they contain or what makes them claim to be effective. I`d go with the natural driftwood.Julius>>I was wondering if spraying or painting water repellant or protective >>coating chemicals on my drifwood would effect the plants that grow as >>epiphytes on them? I was interested in doing this to most of the pieces >>being used so I can get more years out of them. Does anyone know if this >>is safe for the plants??<<_______________________________________________Aroid-l mailing listAroid-l@gizmoworks.comhttp://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

From: Adam Black <epiphyte1 at earthlink.net> on 2007.02.03 at 04:58:54(15213) Hi Brian, I am by far no expert on wood sealers/preservatives, but would imagine that sealants that harden into a protective coating (polyurethane, etc) would probably not continue to leach potentially toxic chemicals that could be absorbed by the plants, but doubt they would really hold up to a constantly moist environment. I would also think the sealant would fill in the otherwise pourous surface of the wood, creating a much more slick surface which would affect the epiphyte's ability to anchor itself securely. I would think some "sealants" are actually oil-based to repel water and should therefore be avoided. Wood preservatives that are saturated into the wood most likely would not be good as well. I agree that it would be best to stick with untreated wood that is resistant to decay. Aside from the PVC covered with cork bark method already mentioned, certain types of wood are very long-lasting in wet conditions. Collected pieces of dead and weathered cypress and cedar are readily available to me here in north Florida. I have cypress and cedar branches and trunk sections covered in epiphytes under daily mist that have not deteriorated in any noticable amount in at least eight years. Pieces of waterlogged cypress found in the many rivers here are very dense and naturally worn into beautiful contorted shapes. Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) from coastal South Florida is also a good choice and can be found in neat weathered shapes but it is difficult to find places to legally collect it, as most large stands are in the few remaining undeveloped and protected coastal areas, such as Everglades Nat'l Park and other protected areas. Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) is also very resistant to deterioration if you can deal with the vicious spines. Adam +More Steve Lucas Exotic Rainforest wrote: Brian, you might want to consider using the Fairchild Tropical Gardens idea of making "fake logs" out of large diameter PVC pipe with rolled cork bark attached to them. You can use a variety of joints to create all sorts of shapes. I've made several large logs and have all sorts of bromeliads, orchids, philodendrons and other plants happily attached. I'm sure you've seen the Fairchild display in their orchid and bromeliad room. Mine get watered almost daily and they are now 7 years old with no sign of falling apart. The roots love the material and I have all sorts of epiphytes firmly attached. I used just a very small amount of Liquid Nails to "encourage" the plants to begin to attach their roots. The stuff is not cheap, but if you buy it by the bail it is reasonable. One bail made 16 feet of "logs" for me. Steve Lucas www.ExoticRainforest.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Julius Boos To: aroid-l@gizmoworks.com Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 5:38 PM Subject: RE: [Aroid-l] Off topic protective coating over Driftwood >From : Brian Williams Reply-To : Discussion of aroids Sent : Thursday, February 1, 2007 11:14 PM To : Discussion of aroids Subject : [Aroid-l] Off topic protective coating over Driftwood Dear Brian, I would dig around a LOT before treating driftwood on which you will be planting epihites, as the water repellent MIGHT be toxic to plant roots, and the 'protective coating chemicals' are probably just that, poisons intended to kill mold, bactaria, algae and therefor PLANTS! Read about what active ingredients they contain or what makes them claim to be effective. I`d go with the natural driftwood. Julius >>I was wondering if spraying or painting water repellant or protective >>coating chemicals on my drifwood would effect the plants that grow as >>epiphytes on them? I was interested in doing this to most of the pieces >>being used so I can get more years out of them. Does anyone know if this >>is safe for the plants??<< _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

From: "Sherry Gates" <TheTropix at msn.com> on 2007.02.05 at 19:53:49(15224) Hi everyone, I hope you are all well and your plants are thriving. I have mixed thoughts on this subject. I would advise against sealing the driftwood once the plants are growing on them. Not because I think the sealant would be harmful (toxic) to the plants, but I do think it could 'clog' the pores on the leaves (and other parts) and could harm or kill them by hindering, or halting altogether, the various gas or nutrient (or water!) exchange. We've all seen many plants (Ivy, some philodendrons, epiprimnum...) attach themselves to decks and houses (with wood siding) that have previously been stained and sealed whether with polyurethane, or other sealant, and do great. But the plants are removed when the wood is re-sealed so you get complete coverage. Maybe if you have a small 'sacrifical' epiphyte you could spray some of the sealant on it and see if it does ok. If the product of your choice has a 1-800 number, give them a call and ask if they know. Now I'll go back to the back and mind my own business while I learn from all of you. Best wishes for all, Sherry TheTropix +More _______________________________________________ Aroid-l mailing list Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

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