I'd like to know the answer to this as well. I cut down several cedars a coupla years ago, and I saved the wood. BUT cedar has oils in it that keep it from rotting and that repel insects, so I'm afraid that those same oils might repel the orchids as well!

I believe the same can be said of Pine. But I have been able to get an Encyclia tampense to grow and root onto a cut off branch of Pinus michoacana. The bark is nice and rough and reminds me of cork. With this plant being outside even when the temps reach 32F and exposed to full sun during the day I water it at least once a day if not more often, probably 2-3 times daily in summer (or more).

Whle cedar wood definitely has useful oils for use in building chests etc. the plants would be growing on the bark. I am not too sure that the oils are permeating the bark as well but rather the wood to keep boring insects out of it.

What I would recommend is that you try a small piece of th wood and mount an expendable plant (one that you have dups of) onto the piece and make it a point to run distilled, rain, or r/o water over the bark at least daily getting it thoroughly covered. I also recommend you use a plant that is really best grown mounted such as an Encyclia species as these not only look great mounted but really prefer the drying off period for their roots. Also the short squat Dendrobium species would be suitable.

So experiment and keep a photo log of how the plant does!!

Good idea. I do have some rooted Encyclia canes. I may try that!

I think that most of the baskets you can buy for orchids are made of cedar. I have at least 50 or 60 of my orchids in cedar baskets and the roots seem to love the stuff attaching themselves firmly to the slats in no time. T-man has a good idea tho, try it out, see what happens. I think there is a red cedar and a western cedar (most likely more) and I don't know if the kind of cedar makes a difference or not.
Good Luck!!
Pat..........

I think pcan is right about the wood baskets usually offered being cedar -- they "bleed" red if you soak them (never mind why you might soak them). That's even when the basket itself is tannish.

Two other ideas for getting information:

1. call the Ag Dept at the nearby University, or an Ag dept that has published papers on orchids

2. call a friendly vendor like Fender's Flora, or Oak Hill and ask them.

Good luck, and share your results with us when you have them.

Many baskets are also made of Teak which could bleed red and looks a lot like cedar, it just dose not splinter is harder and grows in the tropics and many orchids probably live in Teak trees.

This is not to say they do not make baskets out of cedar I just am adding my input.

I am of the school, that the roots want to cling on to anything if the growing conditions are optimal. Sometimes I feel that the roots will grow on me if I stay there long enough, lol
Dend roots(mounted on to a pink tabebuia 2 months ago- wants to take over the trunk)
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Vanda roots taking over another flowering tree:
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Finally my pool fence is being taken over by the Renanthera roots!
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Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Hard woods are always first choice. OHG mounts on hard woods. Baskets bleed red 'cuz they are finished with red pigment. Washes off in time. Baskets turn gray. Doesn't hurt the plants any. Baskets are made of teak today. Used to be made from cedar back in the day. Wouldn't mount on pine - leaks sap. Not good for indoor growers. Sambac's pics prove ya can mount on anything.
Right on.
Mike

Cedar baskets are still widely available on the net as well as teak. I was just in my HD today, and they had several different sizes, four of which I bought. They are cedar complete with cedar aroma and tags stating that they are cedar. Of course all these cedar baskets could be leftovers from back in the day...........

Thank you for all the reassurance. I already have about six different orchids on it. Along with some mosses and air plant. The trunk is about 6 feet tall and is about 7 or 8 inches around. I would love to fill it up. But need to buy smaller plants to start. Almost all my orchids are too large it their baskets and I don't want to divide them. See if I can load a picture that is in my camera.

My lens kept fogging up when I went in the warm greenhouse to take the picture. I could kick myself for not getting the larger portion of the tree! But my sister said that her son would love to do the same thing, so maybe she will tell him what I did with mine.
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I LOVE that!! I mount a lot of stuff. I like the look of the plants that way and I love seeing the roots take hold and go crawling all over the place like Sambac's pics above. Now all you got to do is fill it up!!
Looks great!! Thanks for sharing the picture.
Pat...........