mounting phalaenopsis schilleriana

[H.D]

Hi all!
I just acquired a new phal. schilleriana, which is not in the greatest condition, it suffered during shipping.

Attachment 165834

it came to me mounted on a tree fern plaque (which are popular here for mounting). I really want to grow this mounted, but need advice.

I have 3 mounted orchids, two dendrobiums and one ionopses. I also grow mounted ferns. When I asked the same on other platforms for my new bellina, I was discouraged to mount.

but the beautiful pics of mounted Schillerianas just make my wish to mount these more strong.

[Dalachin]

If you can maintain humidity and water daily, it would probably do fine on a mount. Although with that much spag, make sure it dries a bit between waterings. I have one mounted and two potted, they are all slowly growing along.

[Feloni]

I’m also currently thinking about mounting one of my schillerinanas. The others are under hams though with quite high humidity and seem to be liking it. I don’t think I’d be able to provide them with them same high humidity. Also, my winter lows are in the 60s, wonder if that might cause me troubles with the schillerianas. But I still do feel like they’re lending themselves to be minter with the gorgeous foliage and the very elegant arching flower spikes…

[tmoney]

it'd probly be fine. ours did not like to be potted apparently, as after about 8 months growing just in a drinking glass without media, it bloomed again. so yeah, even with your temps it will still be ok i think.

[Kittyfrex]

The thing with phal roots is that once they are used to an enviroment (media vs aerial/semiaerial), they become quite strong. If your ferns are any of the more thirsty kinds, most phals should not have issues being mounted, provided you water them more or have ambient humidity to the maximum.
It mostly boils down to being more maintanence in lower humidity areas when you mount orchids opposed to water retentiveness of different media.

[Feloni]

Many thanks for your reply!
I guess I’ll give it a go then, will order me a new Phal and try my luck. I’ve never mounted before, so I’m really excited. I guess my southern window is gonna be too bright, as I plan to hang it from a hook to the upper window frame, what do you think? Got an eastern facing window as well….

[Kittyfrex]

Just mount it a bit higher than in the photo; new roots will start emerging higher on the stem (or lower, i guess, when uspide down) as the plant grows. It will be fine like that for a while, but if you are re-mounting anyway, i'd secure the stem closer to the actual mounting piece.
That said, i'd suggest a secondary opinion on that one.

As for what window...I'd go east most of the time, but mine has a huge overhang, so there's barely any light. And my southern one gets like...2-3 hours of direct sun a day. You want light, but what direction it comes from is irrelevant, the only difference is if the sun hits the plant directly. No issues in the morning, but come midday....

[Feloni]

I’d mount with much less moss anyway, but thanks for the tip to mount it higher up. It looks soooo nice to mount an orchid!

[Kittyfrex]

I mean, it's not a detremental either or, but it can save some headaches. I've had a few phal mounting attempts cuz the roots didn't transition well, and the new ones never touched the bark peace, going all over the place instead. It was so annoying, cuz the plants were not doing terrible, to always need more wire to hold them attached because the roots went all nope, not doing that.

Edit: just saw you are in berlin. South window might do quite well, provided you don't stick your plant to the window. At least most of the year, barring the hottest of the summers.

[Feloni]

So just to belay: I want the roots to touch the bark, right?