companion planting

[Big B]

I am a born again orchid grower. A lot has changed in the orchid growing world since I was last active a quarter century ago. For instance, back then I was ridiculed for using metal halide lighting because it was so obviously wrong and fluorescents were the only way to go because everybody was using them and HID would be different and wrong and blah blah blah. Now it seems HID lighting is just using the obvious. Another weird uppity idea I had back then was companion planting for orchids.

The local orchid society had their annual spring show last week. I noticed that some of the plants I bought came with their very own spanish moss pre-attached. Has companion planting for orchids become a common practice now? If so, where do I go to find out more about how it is done these days? Also, what are the recommended species for companion planting?

[Donald]

The chances of your spanish moss surviving is a longshot. I tried doing it here in Massachusetts under humid conditions to no avail. Was also informed that to grow it you need to give it rain water only. How true that is I don't know. I think you'll find it was added to your plant for decorative purposes only. Best of luck if you can keep it alive.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The problem with Spanish "Moss" is that most people think that this is actually a species of true moss. Further can be the truth!

It is a species of bromeliad from the genus Tillandsia. Specifically it is Tillandsia usneoides.

Many bromeliads like good air circulation.

Here's some info:

Spanish moss - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To answer the original question about companion plants.

This practice is not common, and it's understandable as to why.

However...

It's not to say it's never been done successfully. A few people do it just fine. In fact some botanical gardens grow several species of orchids together on one tree as part of their displays.

Most people don't grow two plants together because sometimes they have conflicting requirements. Another reason is disease. Then there's giving each plant enough room to grow properly without interfering with each other.

But if they come from the same kinds of environment and you can avoid spreading diseases as well as give each plant the space they need, then who cares. Go ahead and grow two plants together. Some grow together in the wild anyways!

There are lots of examples.

Just remember that two different species of orchid are not always growing smack next to each other. Usually they are spaced far apart from each other.

[Izzie]

I'm not sure that the question was 'what orchids grow well together'...


When I hear companion plants, I think of the african violets thriving next to my phals. Though, that probably isn't the same idea here either.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Izzie

I'm not sure that the question was 'what orchids grow well together'...


When I hear companion plants, I think of the african violets thriving next to my phals. Though, that probably isn't the same idea here either.

I'm not particularly sure what BigB means by companion plants either. But from what I gather, he might mean two different species or hybrids of orchid growing in the same pot. Or maybe he means an orchid species and a species of Begonia in the same pot (it's a specific example, I know that's not what he's specifically talking about), idk.

If it is a species of orchid with a species of Begonia, then the same thing applies.

Some species of tropical Asian Begonias grow with orchids such as Habenaria rhodocheila in the wild on limestone cliff faces.

I'm currently growing live moss on mounts along with my Lepanthes antilocapra and Lepanthes wendlandiana, if that's what he means as well (this inference is made from the Tillandsia usneoides reference). No problems here. In fact, many people do this already.

If plants grow together in the wild, they most likely can be grown together in cultivation, it might be trickier to do so though.

[Izzie]

I have a giant angel wing begonia, that wouldn't happen to be useful would it?


I've been wondering if I can use that green carpety moss around my cabin in the mountains in a terrarium.



I still think of a companion plant as a plant that is a good indicator of the health of plants it's grown with- if your violet is doing well, odds are, your phals are doing well.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Izzie

I have a giant angel wing begonia, that wouldn't happen to be useful would it?

Smart ass.

Originally Posted by Izzie

I've been wondering if I can use that green carpety moss around my cabin in the mountains in a terrarium.

The only thing is the legality of it (not sure if it's legal or not to collect moss from the wild). If you're going to do it, don't get caught.

Originally Posted by Izzie

I still think of a companion plant as a plant that is a good indicator of the health of plants it's grown with- if your violet is doing well, odds are, your phals are doing well.

I'll let BigB answer that question.

[Big B]

Companion planting is the practice of planting mutually beneficial species together.
Companion planting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An example in agriculture would be growing beans on corn. The nitrogen fixed by the bean plant is used by the corn to grow with. The corn plant provides the beans with support to grow up. They both benefit from being grown together.

Examples of this for orchids would be growing spanish moss on your orchids to help maintain a humid microclimate or if your orchids grow better in live moss than dead moss.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Back to the Spanish "Moss".

I forgot to mention. Most places that use it as decoration for their pots use dead ones or semi-dead ones.

If you want to grow Spanish "Moss" (Tillandsia usneoides) get it from a place like Tropiflora or Rainforest Cargo or something.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Big B

Companion planting is the practice of planting mutually beneficial species together.
Companion planting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An example in agriculture would be growing beans on corn. The nitrogen fixed by the bean plant is used by the corn to grow with.

Examples of this for orchids would be growing spanish moss on your orchids to help maintain a humid microclimate or if your orchids grow better in live moss than dead moss.

Oh, well...then I answered your question.

I'm growing true live moss (don't know the species) with two of my orchids (Lepanthes antilocapra and Lepanthes wendlandiana).

I'm currently trying to grow live moss on the mount with Lepanthes telipogoniflora, and a few other Pleurothallis species.