The Phal abuse ends here.

[Flobish]

Did a little more research on my question (see above) and, besides learning that, at least according to Google, I may just be the only DIY orchid bark preparer on the Internet, the packaged stuff you buy is steam-treated and then kiln dried. So, having no kiln but a cooking pot half filled with boiling water with a tight fitting colander over top filled with my self-gathered fresh bark and covered, then dumped into a baking pan and then onto the middle shelf of my preheated oven at 450°(don't ask me why, I just kinda go with my gut on these things).
I let it bake, occasionally mixing it up with a metal spatula, until it started to smoke. Just a little, seriously. About 5 mins of steaming and 15 of baking, then back into the pot with some hot water for... I won't lie, it won't be 24 hours. At least 18, though, before mixing with sphag. and perlite, then repotting my milt. for the first time.
Wish me luck!

[silken]

Good luck! That sounds a bit ambitious for some bark, but ambition is a good thing .

[Flobish]

Silken, is "ambitious" a nice way of saying "obsessive"? Or possibly" get a life "? :-) Anyway, I took WDs advice and just posted on the ice breaker board. That may shed some more light on my mysterious ways.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Flobish

Silken, is "ambitious" a nice way of saying "obsessive"? Or possibly" get a life "? :-) Anyway, I took WDs advice and just posted on the ice breaker board. That may shed some more light on my mysterious ways.

I think those words go hand in hand with many of us orchidaholics-another word for you!

[Flobish]

Not a word for me... For you, maybe. I can stop any time I want, just as long as I've sprayed the roots....also make sure the dendro gets a misting round 2:30-3 o'clock in the summer... and the humidity trays have enough water... and feel the weight of the pots, and while I'm at it take a sniff to make sure the compost is fresh... probably should stare at the foliage for awhile to make sure it's not too dark or light, then I'm done, we're good, see? I don't have a problem. Is that a spike?! What was I saying?

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[cythaenopsis]

Here's an example of a Phal that has suffered from too densely packed moss potting and too much water.





I've since potted it with fresh moss, more loosely packed, and I'm going to be much more careful with watering. Thankfully it has two aerial roots that are at a low enough angle in the new situation to help with feeding, while new roots (hopefully) make their way down. The leaf showing some yellowing has already fallen off and the new leaf is aggressively pushing it's way to maturity.

[Rowangreen]

Like an orchid nappy! Sounds like a good idea to me, though I don't know if it would work.

Here's something I posted in another thread: a mount box made from a clear plastic storage box with a window cut in the side. I never made one so don't know how well it would work in practise. You could choose a box size and shape to fit (eg a pasta storage box for small mounts maybe!), and I guess you'd need to be careful of a 'greenhouse effect' making it too hot.

[PoeticFlames]

That's a pretty cool idea! I'm living in a studio at the moment and have NO room, but I will have to try that when I move!

I was looking at the mounting in form of a 2x4 with a phal mounted every foot or so up it so I can take advantage of height rather then space. They would be further apart mounted like that then they are currently in pots... I'd like to hang it from the ceiling and also set the base end in a pot of ivy and other various med light plants for added humidity and a base water catcher. Does that make any sense at all in writing? Haha! I will draw it up and post a pic if that will help!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Q. What exactly does the genus name Phalaenopsis mean?

Phalaena = moth

opsis = look


Phalaen + opsis = Phalaenopsis = "looks like a moth"

[Rowangreen]

Yes, and you might not need to cover with moss. Remember, they grow with their roots uncovered in the wild.