Proud New Orchid Owner

[mimigirl]

Your info is very detailed & precise. And I can follow what you are saying. I will try mounting and check out a material suggested on the section here where they are discussing different ways to do it. I think it is morpani and they said it can be purchased at the pet store. I guess I need to see it & then also try to locate suitable pieces of wood or rig up something else. Perhaps hanging in a tree that I have(?). I guess I could mount and try to rig up an aqaurium atmosphere until I can put my hands on one that I feel would work for the amount of plants I want to put there. Hopefully with all of the info I have seen on this site, I will stumble on success. I also intend to try to purchase a few phals that were suggested to me as easy to grow.
Thanks for info & encouragement.

[Florida_guy_26]

Well I am happy that the info helps mimi, as that is why I got on here- to help others and myself along the way. I do think if you have any smaller trees around that are suitable, like ficus and/or mulberry trees (moracea family). Those trees seem to work well for mounting. I left a piece of den nobile cane on a crotch of a white mulberry tree and the nobile grew right into the knot between 2 major branches and actually survived a few winters now of 15-20F in the area but has not yet bloomed. If you have any trees like that, I think those are the best for mounting orchids as some species (denrobiums and phalaenopsis) naturally adhere to ficus and mulberry trees in china. I am planning on getting some ficus trees and wisteria and pruning into trees so I can mount some orchids to them. I would love to have some nice big wisteria trees and ficus trees in a greenhouse with some den nobiles and kingianum and possibly some phals on them. I have read extensively on orchids and I have had ficus trees in southwest FL when I lived there, but up in the panhandle of FL it is too cold to have ficus trees so they need to be in a greenhouse if you live any higher in latitude than 26-27 degree which would be about tampa/orlando. Maybe if you have any trees like that or natural live oak or scrub oak trees in the yard, you can mount them on those if they are big enough. Tell me what trees and shrubs you have growing around your area and maybe try finding some pieces of wood or order some kind of bark. Let me know and I can help you set things up.

[mimigirl]

Don't know when you wrote this, but I have had company in from out of town & this is the first I have had a chance to read this. Never thought of the ficus. I have one that is quite large in the total shade of my patio. I think I had it under the plastic makeshift area (with a light for warmth on freezing nites(ha ha for New Orleans) and the ficus does real well. The plastic is opaque (cloudy, right?) so light is ver filtered. I will try that this year, or just place the potted orchids under there and mount in early spring. Someone on this sight suggested mounting on moroni (?) a piece of wood obtained at pet stores for reptiles to lounge on. That shouldn't be too expensive. I am also lucky enough to know a local artist who uses a lot of driftwood in his art projects. Maybe a small piece of his leftovers for my small orthids. Hmmmmm. Thanks again!

[Florida_guy_26]

Sure thing mimi- I hope that helps you with deciding what to do. How are the orchids? Are they being dried out more thoroughly before you water them again? It is best to let phals dry out more when they are not putting on new leaves (in active growth) as they do not require as much water. Mine have been fairly wet all year around so far, but I am letting the temp drop at night even in the tank and letting them dry out a bit before they get water again. Keep that in mind when you find a place for them to stay humid but dry out some. Mine seem to do best getting nearly direct sun for 6 hrs a day as they use more water than your phals under more dim light. Remember that when you put your plants under ficus if it is outside. If night temps are higher than 60F and daytime is still higher than 70F they might need water 2-3 times a week, but only if they get bright light for 4 - 8 hrs a day. Here is how you know for sure what to do. If leaves have a purple-ish tinge on the under side of the leaves and a grass green on top they are getting bright light and will need more water but also need good air circulation. maybe try keeping the phals in their pots but tie them or hang them from the ficus. Maybe get a small fan for outdoors to blow more air through the pots so they dry more during the day and let me know how the leaves look-**** The best way to help you is for you to take some pictures of there the phals are the leaves and roots and then telling me how long the plants stay wet. They only like to be more wet when the weather is warm and they are in active growth. If they are being cooled, they will only need water 1 time every 3-5 days in winter. Sorry to be giving you so much info at a time, but please try to get some pics posted so we can help.

[Liza Orton]

Originally Posted by TiaMia

A new story entry has been added:

Proud New Orchid Owner

I don't find east or west or whatever side an issue, my orchids grow and flower and never seems to stop. I have mine on all four sides of my house in the windows.
Good luck, Liza

[Nic100]

Originally Posted by mimigirl

Someone on this sight suggested mounting on moroni (?) a piece of wood obtained at pet stores for reptiles to lounge on. That shouldn't be too expensive. I am also lucky enough to know a local artist who uses a lot of driftwood in his art projects. Maybe a small piece of his leftovers for my small orthids. Hmmmmm. Thanks again!

Hi - I think you mean mopani root - I've used it as it's so readily available and also very affordable. Comes in some great shapes and sizes too!
Nicky