Misting Orchids?

[Cory]

How do I mist orchids in my viv without getting the flowers wet? I have a nice Phal in my viv, it is raised and attached to a branch, but the water looks like it is spotting the flowers and causing them to drop.

[Tindomul]

I didnt know that did them in. I've got three Orchids in my office, I'm not sure what genus they are(two differnent ones) and I've been misting the whole plants, and suddenly the flowers started dieing. I thought I wasnt watering it enough.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Cory

How do I mist orchids in my viv without getting the flowers wet? I have a nice Phal in my viv, it is raised and attached to a branch, but the water looks like it is spotting the flowers and causing them to drop.

If you have a misting system that sprays everywhere in your tank the only option is to cover the flowers when the misting sytem is on.. with perhaps a light weight wax covered paper bag [that resists water] or a shower cap or something similar.

If on the other hand you hand water, well I have a 10 litre sprayer that has an adjustable nozzle on the end which can be turned from wide fine mist all the way to a solid single jet of water.. if you had something similar you should be able to water your viv without getting the phals flowers wet.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Tindomul1of9

I didnt know that did them in. I've got three Orchids in my office, I'm not sure what genus they are(two differnent ones) and I've been misting the whole plants, and suddenly the flowers started dieing. I thought I wasnt watering it enough.

I had the same thing happen recently with my Miltonia Stenoglossa- I have a pic of the bloom in my orchidboard gallery - I brought it inside after the first flower opened and it had 2-3 more developing buds above it, which blasted.

I don't know if it was the lack of humidity, or water on the flower, or overwatering or possibly water in the foliage but one of the pseudobulbs turned squishy soft and I had to take it off but the flowering growth was quite healthy with new roots so I was able to repot that.

I will keep it in the GH next time it flowers, as I've read some flowers don't open well if at all if the humidity levels aren't good enough.

[Shadow]

I just thought about this problem yesterday. I want to make two orchidrariums with automatic watering system. A think it is too time consumng to put bags on flowers every time the system is working. Moreover. the system supposed to be automatic and I don't want to change manual watering on manual flower protection.... Hope, the good air flow and correct positioning of the plants will help to avoid flower damage.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Shadow

I just thought about this problem yesterday. I want to make two orchidrariums with automatic watering system. A think it is too time consumng to put bags on flowers every time the system is working. Moreover. the system supposed to be automatic and I don't want to change manual watering on manual flower protection.... Hope, the good air flow and correct positioning of the plants will help to avoid flower damage.

Shadow, yep it would be a hassle indeed

I think that if you had the fans and lighting systems set up together properly it would be ok if blooms of orchids got wet as long as they dried out in a short period of time.

Besides I know you can mount orchids so that water runs off the crowns of foilage but what about vivs with paphs or other orchids that 'gather' water- you would have to ensure they dry out too!

[Shadow]

I'm not planning to keep paphs in orchidrariums. I think to built another system (automatic pot watering) for them and keep them outside. I want to use orchidariums for mini orchids on slabs (one tank for warm, and one tank for mountain minis).

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Shadow

I'm not planning to keep paphs in orchidrariums. I think to built another system (automatic pot watering) for them and keep them outside. I want to use orchidariums for mini orchids on slabs (one tank for warm, and one tank for mountain minis).

Are you going to go for the complete 'bush' look like a lush jungle or a more practical 'wardian case' look with shelves etc?

How do you plan on acheiving the differences in temperature?

[Shadow]

I prefer bush look like, but I'm not sure if it is achievable in an ordinary flat.

I'm planning to keep those who need temperature drop at the heated and air conditioned balcony. In this case I will be able to control temperature.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Shadow

I prefer bush look like, but I'm not sure if it is achievable in an ordinary flat.

I'm planning to keep those who need temperature drop at the heated and air conditioned balcony. In this case I will be able to control temperature.

In a flat you might restricted by available growing space and light- ie you don't have a backyard/frontyard etc but a balcony instead, but with a viv/terrarium you're only restricted by your imagination and of course the size of the tank you're using .

Even in a small tank, I reckon you could still create that bush look, with some careful planning and design. The only problem I see in having the bush look in a small tank is you'd probably have to prune and remove excess plant material.. if you also used plants other than orchids. You'd have to take into account the possible sizes of flower spikes and whether or not they would fit in.

Oh yeah here's another idea, maybe not acheivable in your space, but it's inspirational to say the least
http://www.mvorchideje.cz/SKLENIK_GREEN-HOUSE.html