Means for more efficient moss mound moistening

[alecStewart1]

Hello friends!

So with the orchid collection having grown, but to a point of stability, and the growing season kicking in here, I was wondering if y'all have an more efficient way to water moss mounds.

All are pretty much the same amount of dryness after 3-5 days.

Recently I was able to take advantage of some (not quite) spring rain and everyone got watered with some nice rain water.

Usually I put 2-3 in a large bowl of water, with any additives for fertilizer every other watering if the plant(s) are growing, mostly to fully submerged for about 5 minutes. This is fine, but there's around 15 or so plants in moss mounds. Plus, the mounds make them float a little bit, so sometimes I have to hold them upright. If there's a type of tray I could line them and poor water into and get them all at once, that'd be great. Or if I really only just need to pour some water on the mounds and not soak them (at least when it's not a watering to fertilizer as well), then great!

[Roberta]

I don't grow my Neos that way, so I''m just guessing (and will happily defer to others who have done the moss mound approach for awhile, long enough to evaluate the results) but I strongly suspect that pouring water through the pots with the mounds would be the way to go. The purpose of the potting technique (along with aesthetics) is to give the roots lots of air along with their water. (They are Vandas, after all). That's why the air pocket int he middle is so critically important. So saturating the moss (as you would achieve with soaking) would be exactly the opposite of what you're trying to achieve, driving out the air and potentially drowning roots by keeping them too wet.

[alecStewart1]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I don't grow my Neos that way, so I''m just guessing (and will happily defer to others who have done the moss mound approach for awhile, long enough to evaluate the results) but I strongly suspect that pouring water through the pots with the mounds would be the way to go.

[ ... ]

So saturating the moss (as you would achieve with soaking) would be exactly the opposite of what you're trying to achieve, driving out the air and potentially drowning roots by keeping them too wet.

Awesome, so I was overthinking it. Good to know!

[Dalachin]

I water my moss my moss mound neos (and a sedirea japonica) with a hand held pump sprayer, holding the pot over a catch bin. I aim for enough water so that the roots turn green, rather than saturating the mound. I water them every or every-other day. I am no expert, but they seem pretty happy, the neos are growing new fans, the sedirea is spiking.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by alecStewart1

Usually I put 2-3 in a large bowl of water, with any additives for fertilizer every other watering if the plant(s) are growing, mostly to fully submerged for about 5 minutes.

Sharing water is a big no-no. If any plant has a disease, or pests, you are very likely to spread it to the other plants in the bath. You probably don't share your toothbrush with the rest of the family...

[Fairorchids]

The mound approach is how they do it in Japan, but it is basically strictly cosmetic.

Neos, and all the other mini-Vandas, are fine in a net pot with spaghnum (or 4:1 spaghnum/bark mix). In my greenhouse I water with a hose; in a house environment you would have to take it to the kitching sink for drenching.

This gives them adequate air, and fairly constant moisture around the roots. I have only grown them this way since 1969 (and my dad back to 1938).

[Jmoney]

I do not consider myself an expert, but most of my neos seem to be growing quite well and I have always mounded. I dunk them in a bucket of water (or fertilizer or kelp, depending on my schedule). If I have to water at night I try to not get too much water where it doesn't belong. (They are CAM plants and some recommend watering in the PM, I'm not sure it matters that much). If it's daytime I'm not as careful.

I do have a lot of airflow including some fans from below directing a soft breeze upwards, in addition to the plant level air movement. My mounds get crispy dry in 4-5 days.

[alecStewart1]

Man, life has gotten in the way the past few days.

Just to update, I'm just watering with a watering can now while the plants are in the sink to let the water drain. Everyone seems to not mind the change at all.

All the plants are starting to grow new leaves and keikis are starting to grow as well. A few have grown to the point where I saw surprised because I didn't see the new leaf before. But of course it's not officially spring, and orchids are still slow growers so I shouldn't get overly excited.

[estación seca]

Neos also grow fine completely bare-root, like other Vandas. Grown like this they need to be well watered every day when it's warm. I now grow them in pots with bark or LECA because I don't have time to water every day, and moss goes bad quickly here in the heat.

[Jmoney]

neos never really stop growing, even in the winter. just slows down when it's cold (or too hot).

I think the standard neo is a vigorous thing. I have an amami getting the vanda treatment (bare root, in a glass vase). a word of caution, some of the classic fukiran are not nearly as vigorous. I would not grow, for example, a fukiden bare root.