MOUNTED PHALS. - Orchid Board

weiss · #1 07-22-2006, 08:45 AM

I'm wondering how many of you guys grow your phals. mounted? If so, which ones do best mounted? Finally, do you have a pictures you can share?

Mahon · #2 07-22-2006, 11:40 AM

Weiss,

I find that Phal. zebrina and Phal. cornu-cervi tend to flower more and grow more vigorous on a mount, as opposed to the same species planted in a pot...

-PM

Oscarman · #3 07-22-2006, 05:13 PM

Pat do you grow Phal. cornu-cervi?

I have a plant that is cornu-cervi x violacea, it is in a clear pot with moss. It has wonderful flowers and fragrance - but since flowering ended, it has just sat there with no activity since Nov '05!

Mahon · #4 07-22-2006, 10:20 PM

Oscarman,

Try potting Phal. cornu-cervi in a coarser medium, preferably lava pellets, or mount it... you will notice change... also, don't water this species as much... they need a dry period.

-PM

justatypn · #5 07-22-2006, 10:31 PM

Weiss, I have not tried mounting orchids, actually just purchased my first 2 one a phal, photo in my gallery, but want to do a few and see how they do, as space is premo in the nook, so moving chids up is good. Here is a website you might find helpful. Keep us posted on your mounting experience.

http://www.clanorchids.com/mount.html

nancy · #6 07-23-2006, 06:03 PM

Hi Weiss -
I grow mainly species, and have a couple of Doritis pulcherrima and Phal. equestris on mounts. I believe that this is an ideal method here in the deep south USA, which can be very, very wet during the hot months. I've been buying chunks of what is called 'Texas grapevine' at the local pet supply stores - a couple are chains, so this should be available most places. It's a nice gnarly, grainy wood that plants seem to love.
Some people like cork bark for mounting - it's good, but can get kind of creepy/mildewey after a few years.
Least recommended is a chunk or slice of osmunda - messy, crumbly - I've just never seen a plant growing on a root, either.
An orchid on display at a show I attended was mounted on a chunk of concrete. A cementophyte.
Mounted orchids need a bit more frequent watering than potted plants, but I think this is an excellent growing method.
Do you know how to do it? The first few are scary, but it gets easier - just be sure to attach the orchid very firmly to the mount, so it won't jiggle or fall off - I like clear monofilament fishing line; you can remove it when well rooted.
Regards - Nancy
p.s. Even after several years of doing this, I miscalculate which way the new growth will go a lot of the time - just turn the mount over, drill a new hole for a hanger.

Gideon · #7 07-24-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancy

...An orchid on display at a show I attended was mounted on a chunk of concrete. A cementophyte...

Some of you may have seen my photos elsewhere of these Phalaenopsis growing on the walls of this greenhouse, I quite like it.

weiss · #8 07-24-2006, 06:32 PM

Outstanding! Looks like the phals. really like the concrete. Good idea for a grower with limited space as well. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

nancy · #9 07-24-2006, 08:00 PM

Some Florida growers apparently wire orchids (of many kinds, not just Phals) to their palm tree trunks. Like the concrete wall method, my problem would be hauling the whole contraption indoors so I could enjoy the flowers!
Regards - Nancy

Tindomul · #10 01-07-2007, 01:14 AM

Gideon, those phals are amazing!
I myself have dabbled in the art of growing mounted phals lately. I have a Phal javanica growing on a foam background, its doing ok, no flowers or anything. And a Phalaenopsis Mini Mark growing on wood. It has been in bloom since September. I also have a Phalaenopsis lobbii on wood, straight from Andy's, the only one I didn't mount myself. It bloomed about 3 weeks ago, and is getting ready to do it again.