Dendrophylax lindeni and Mold - Orchid Board

FlyingBrunswick · #1 09-28-2010, 07:11 PM

I was recently gifted a few Ghost orchids and after reading as much as I could find I've run into a little problem.

I have each set up in a different "environment" mainly as an experiment to see what they like. The consensus seems to be that Ghosties should be grown above stagnant water with little or no air circulation and high humidity. My ghost being kept this way seems to be developing mold on it's mount that is steadily creeping towards my baby! The terrarium is set to 86F during the day, 68F at night with 78% humidity and a humidifier on a timer 7 times a day for five minutes. It receives about 2000FC for most of the day.

Though the Ghostie looks happy (so far!) the mold is worrying me. Which is the best method to deal with mold in these conditions, and is it possible to prevent it (other than adding airflow)? Are my conditions off?

What do others that are growing these do about mold?

flhiker · #2 09-29-2010, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingBrunswick

I was recently gifted a few Ghost orchids and after reading as much as I could find I've run into a little problem.

I have each set up in a different "environment" mainly as an experiment to see what they like. The consensus seems to be that Ghosties should be grown above stagnant water with little or no air circulation and high humidity. My ghost being kept this way seems to be developing mold on it's mount that is steadily creeping towards my baby! The terrarium is set to 86F during the day, 68F at night with 78% humidity and a humidifier on a timer 7 times a day for five minutes. It receives about 2000FC for most of the day.

Though the Ghostie looks happy (so far!) the mold is worrying me. Which is the best method to deal with mold in these conditions, and is it possible to prevent it (other than adding airflow)? Are my conditions off?

What do others that are growing these do about mold?

Welcome to the Board. I think your keeping it to wet. I would cut back on the humidifier and keep a close eye on it. They don't mind a little air movement. or at least some air exchange.

FlyingBrunswick · #3 09-29-2010, 09:07 AM

Thanks for the reply.

The humidifier does create a little air movement (I can feel it on the opposite side of the tank if I put my hand in) and the orchid itself never looks wet. Nevertheless, I will turn it down to half strength and lower the time it runs. It is a tabletop humidifier, only capable of 1/4 gallon every 18 hours, but the fan is nice!

Is there something I can do about the mold currently on the mount?

prem · #4 09-29-2010, 03:51 PM

maybe a paste of cinnamon?

---Prem

susiep · #5 09-29-2010, 07:56 PM

Hello Fly! I have been growing my Ghost outside this summer and it has really taken off. 4 new roots! I can tell you about my conditions, because it seems to like them. Temps in upper 90s in daytime, mid 80s at night. Humidity 80-100% all the time. Water with the hose about 6 times a week. Rarely fertilize and never any pesticides. It is in bright, indirect sunlight (about 4,500fc). No problem with mold or fungus. You asked if your conditions were off... well I think your night time temps along with the misting is causing the problem. Here when the temps go down into the 60s and 70s, the humidity decreases too. If not, we have big problems with fungus. So we work to keep the orchids dry. Rain in winter is our enemy.

In the Fakahatchee we won't see temps in the 60s until well into winter. Hope that helps.

FlyingBrunswick · #6 09-29-2010, 08:13 PM

Prem - I will give that a go and see what happens on the far end of the mount!

Susie - thanks so much for your input! I would love to get some of mine to where you are. Information on these guys is so varied, I didn't know what to follow! Since you're in the Fakahatchee who better to know?! I will adjust my heater And light accordingly and cut the mist to once or twice a day - does that seem closer to your conditions? I noticed without it the humidity tends to drop too low even with the heater and enclosed space. It's too dry here with the air purifier and heating/cooling system. (Though I would happily go without for my babies, the other *a'hem* non-orchid addict refuses it.

)

prem · #7 09-29-2010, 08:20 PM

Susie...that's a nice-looking Ghost!

BTW, for all you ghost growers out there, in the wild, they grow with their growing tip DOWN toward their host tree, so new roots will emerge beneath the old roots. I would not recommend anything different for Susie's ghost, but if you get a new seedling from Oak Hill, be sure to turn it over, as they always seem to mount them with the growing center out. When the growing center is away from the mount, then new roots tend to grow out into the air, looking for their substrate.

---Prem

susiep · #8 09-29-2010, 08:30 PM

Yes, just slightly drier and warmer. And maybe eventually brighter.

I used to keep mine inside the house and it was fine, but not doing much. It was lower humidity and a constant 75 degrees. Plus light was bright but not like now. It was when I moved it outside that it sent out 4 roots. Outside it hangs about 4 ft above the gravel covered ground. This adds enough additional humidity. Recently I had mold growing on a coconut husk mount in the same conditions as my ghost, but the coconut husk held a lot more water. It was a catt so I just pulled all the loose material from around the roots and set the roots free. Then hit the root and mount hard with the hose. The pressure removed all most all of the mold. Then I hit it with Physan. However, I wouldn't recommend such rough treatment with the Ghost. Plus, I have never put physan on my ghost. Since the ghost was near that catt, I was worried about it getting mold, too. So I gently removed the little bit of moss that the grower had placed on the mount. Now it is just on the wood. What are yours mounted on?

susiep · #9 09-29-2010, 08:36 PM

Good advice Prem. I need to put this little mount onto another one. The mount is starting to rot anyway. The roots are looking for something to hold onto! In nature they are on a flat tree trunk and can really spread out. These tiny round mounts are not rightfor a ghost. Oh yea, this one came from Andy's. The one I got from Oak Hill died right away.

FlyingBrunswick · #10 09-29-2010, 08:48 PM

Prem - i read this somewhere else but don't quite understand! It was going to be a question i asked at some point.

Mine is from Oak Hill and mounted like a normal orchid - to the side of the stick but with the roots curling forward. Do you mean to flip it around so that the roots grasp the stick or am I misunderstanding? Someone else told me to mount it facing down or at the bottom of the stick, but i don't think that is correct!

Susie - I'm going to follow your culture and gradually brighten it's growing area as well. I've adjusted my heat and mist accordingly - well, the heat will go up somewhat slowly! It is on a stick with some moss, Ive been too chicken to remove the moss but knew I was going to have to! The advice here is giving me the courage to just do it.

I do have some flat, rough bark - perhaps it will like that better than this round stick.