What orchid is best for mounting in dry environment? - Orchid Board

ambersartain · #1 08-26-2010, 01:55 PM

Hi. I've been wanting to mount an orchid for a while now and am wondering if any of them would do okay on a mount? I have an epi. Mabel Kanda 'Miyao' x epi. radianum; den. Temasek Princess; and a catt. Williette Wong 'The Best'. While the other two seem to struggle, the epi. seems to want to grow everywhere. It's the biggest one and might could use dividing anyway. If none of these, can someone suggest one that would do well in a dry environment mounted, if watered and misted daily?
Thanks.

WhiteRabbit · #2 08-26-2010, 02:35 PM

Hi!
Any orchid that likes to grow a bit dry - I'm not familiar with your specific ones. Tho many Cattleyas may be a good choice - I'm not sure what type of Den you have, but that may work well mounted, especially if it's a phal type den.
Maybe the epi too - tho it may need more watering. Of course you can always use more sphag on the mount so it will remain moist longer.

gl

isurus79 · #3 08-26-2010, 03:34 PM

I would try Brassavola nodosa or one of its allies. There aren't many orchids that like to grow dry mounted, but this group seems to be fairly resistant to harsh conditions. BTW, how dry is dry? Might be better to plant them in baskets with media and hang them. Dry conditions are not conducive to mounting. I have trouble most of my mounts and I live in Hawaii with an average of 50-60% humidity and strong breezes!

WhiteRabbit · #4 08-26-2010, 06:26 PM

yes, of course we don't know how dry your climate is ... ?
I live in a usually rather dry climate, but have a mounted Den. bigibbum that is doing well with little moss on the mount - it does get roots sprayed heavily daily, and frequent drenchings (every other day in summer, or daily when it is extremely hot and dry)
If you are willing and able to water frequently (that could be more than once a day in hot dry weather) it can be do-able ...

ambersartain · #5 08-26-2010, 08:55 PM

Well, I live in Tupelo, MS. In the summer it's hot and humid and in the winter, it's fairly cold and I have to bring them in. Lately it's been really hot and that makes the humidity less noticeable or maybe it feels worse because of the humidity.
The epi. and catt. were bag babies from Lowe's, and the dend. was a NOID from Wal-mart, although it looks very much like a pic of Temasek Princess that I found. I was hoping at least that would tell me the type of dend. it was, and if that's the case, it's a phalaenopsis type. I'm not really sure about the other two. Oh yeah, the catt. is actually blc. if that helps any and I read somewhere that the epi. was mislabled at the store and was actually an epicyclia now. I think I just confused myself more.

The temperature here is going to be staying around 90 degrees F for the next several days. Should I bring them in?
I think the humidity is around 50% in the afternoon, but it looks like it changes a lot at night.

WhiteRabbit · #6 08-26-2010, 11:47 PM

I also have a small neo division mounted and doing well - they do like to be on the dry side in winter ...
I don't think 90 degree temps should bother them ...
but if that is significantly higher than what you've been having you could make sure they are shaded from mid-day sun ...
I've only had issues with heat when it's near or over 100, and that's only in afternoon sun ...

ambersartain · #7 08-27-2010, 12:08 AM

Wow, I didn't know they were that tough. Nah, they're used to it at this point. I probably should've increased the water to match though. I missed a couple of days there when it was really hot and next time I checked they were starting to shrivel. Oh, will this help at all, the epi. has short psuedobulbs with grass shaped leaves coming out of the top and a purple tint. Also, out of boredom one time I charted the orchids parentage as best I could.

WhiteRabbit · #8 08-27-2010, 12:17 AM

Yeah - 90s here is pretty common and doesn't faze any of mine. Some (truly) cool growers wouldn't do well with it. But when in doubt, move them in to shade to be safe.

phalaephila · #9 08-27-2010, 12:49 AM

I have both Den. rigidum and Cattleya (Sophronitis) cernua mounted and happy indoors in Las Vegas, NV.

ambersartain · #10 08-27-2010, 07:38 PM

Here is a picture of the ones I have. Any of them look more suitable than another or should I just wait until I can get one of the ones suggested above? This was earlier in the summer before it got really devilishly hot. As soon as I brought them out the dend. surprised me and bloomed. It's the first time I've seen it bloom since I got it.