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09-27-2009, 10:06 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Zone: 9a
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 9,313
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Porpax huh...I happen to grow 2 species of Porpax.
And...I've tried to grow them mounted onto rocks.
Okay...
Listen up...
First you gotta get a porous rock that is somewhat smooth (not too many jagged edges). You know, a rock that can retain water. However, try and find one where the pores are not large like that of lava rock.
Unfortunately, I don't know what that rock would be. I no longer grow Porpax on rocks btw.
Secondly, you gotta find live moss that can grow on the rocks.
You can grow Porpax just fine mounted onto a piece of wood WITHOUT moss. Tie them onto the wood with fishing line.
They're deciduous and go dormant starting mid-fall onto mid to late spring. The protective bee's hive looking type netting is produced after the leaves have fallen off and the pseudobulbs are fully developed.
The most active time of growth is late spring and summer.
Water once a day or twice a day (depending on how hot it gets where you are) during time of heavy growth.
Those things bloom from in between the leaves of new growths ONLY. So be careful not to snap them off. Each new shoot can produce 2 flowers at a time.
New roots are produced ONLY from the new developing pseudobulbs and are a bit hairy. Other than that, they've got the usual silvery white velamin and green tips.
Shoots grow from the undersides of the flattened pseudobulbs.
Moderate to high humidity is fine.
Shade to bright shade is adequate lighting.
Moderate air circulation is perfect.
They're intermediate growing. Try not to let it get over 85 F, 90 F tops.
They're pretty easy to grow btw.
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09-28-2009, 08:35 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 609
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Great pics!
I think if you use an orchid that is lithophytic to begin with you'll find it easier, and then you just need to water the hell out of it as it establishes.
I have Den speciosums on the cliff-face in my backyard. I just stuck them in, and over a couple of years they established themselves and now about 8 years later they're well established and flower regularly.
Someone locally does it more carefully with rocks:
Gumnuts - Penjing and the Sydney Rock Orchid - Blognow
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09-28-2009, 05:59 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Ancient Oaks, Illinois
Age: 47
Posts: 43
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Wow that is just too cool! Undergrounder I am jealous of your climate. Curse the Illinois winter!
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09-30-2009, 04:53 AM
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Jr. Member
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 11
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I have Epidendrums growing on blocks of old coral, very happily.
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09-30-2009, 06:39 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Zone: 9b
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,164
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Ingse, please tell us the name of your plant. It is most impressive looking.
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10-05-2009, 05:05 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Zone: 9b
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,164
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For anyone desiring to grow on rock, I would suggest some of the rupiculous laelias. They should feel right at home since it is where they grow in nature. Securing them to the rock could be done with hot glue. Remember that rupiculous laelias must be started when they are making new roots or they just might sit there forever and do nothing.
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10-05-2009, 06:43 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2008
Zone: 7b
Location: Smyrna, Georgia
Age: 68
Posts: 3,014
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As a young man I enjoyed the mountains and my girlfriend. We successfully mounted on stone. However, at my age now I prefer more cushion.
There are lithophytic orchids, so mounting an orchid on stone should work.
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10-05-2009, 10:40 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Zone: 5b
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Age: 74
Posts: 252
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Something that might help here.Put a hand full of live moss (from trees,woods,where ever you can find it) in a blender with 1/2 teaspoon sugar and one can cheap beer,blend til moss is just broken down and spread on the stone mount.Keep shaded,cool and humid.The moss will grow, with any luck.I've used this on tufa and cedar,it should work fine on rocks.
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10-05-2009, 10:41 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Zone: 5b
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Age: 74
Posts: 252
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John,John,John....
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