Correctly Mounting a Small Phal - Orchid Board

directorstef · #1 04-30-2012, 10:39 AM

Hi All,
2 years ago I posted pictures and asked for some help with a Phal in seriously poor condition. It was about $1 from Walgreens and I'm the type of person that feels obligated to save poorly treated plants. The little phal I bought had one "acceptable" root left after I'd repotted it after purchasing. Over the last two years it's grown 4 more roots, that for the most part are in pretty good condition (one or two are kind of iffy). It's grown two new leaves and I thought it was time to mount it.

It's still really small, and the bloom spike refuses to grow back since I cut it two years ago. I suppose that's due to a lot of things, but my main concern is keeping it in good health and growing more roots - I can concentrate on blooms later. I only used a small amount of sphagnum moss on the cork mount since it's not very big. I am just curious if it is mounted correctly on the cork. I'm not sure if it's oriented correctly, facing the proper way, etc. Also I'm not entirely sure how I should be watering it. Dunk it in water or mist with a spray bottle? I'd read that after mounting I shouldn't water it right away. The roots are dry; the last time it received water was last night before it was mounted. I used fishing line and a piece of twine to keep it from drooping over.

I'm very proud of how far it's come over the past two years, but now I feel just as lost on how to care for it as I did when I bought my first phal. I mounted it because I really feel that it's best for it; I never liked it in a pot.

Anyone who could redirect me to an appropriate thread or offer advice would be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately I'm not the most forum savvy so the search button doesn't usually work to my advantage. I apologize in advance if this has already been a topic covered.

Lana · #2 04-30-2012, 10:48 AM

I can't give you an advice about mounting, but I see that the leaves look dehydrated. Since I see a couple of good, healthy, roots, I think this phal needs a good soak. Put the entire mount in water, and let it stay there for an hour or so. You'll need to mist your plant daily, maybe more than once a day, and soak 1-3 times a week, depending on how dry your environment is.

Gage · #3 04-30-2012, 10:49 AM

Congrats on keeping a struggling Phal alive for 2 years! It looks pretty desiccated. I would add more sphagnum moss to cover every bit of the roots. That amount of moss will still dry out very quickly, indoors or out. The orientation looks fine. Anything between sideways and downward is ok, it will orient itself as it grows. Just make sure it's not wobbly. Strap it down pretty snug and secure. Good luck!

tucker85 · #4 04-30-2012, 10:53 AM

I think your mount is fine. Most growers mount them facing down, but yours will probably grow downwards as it gets bigger. I would mist it every day. You don't want it to get dry, especially a new mount. It looks a little dehydrated already. Either dunking it or misting it are fine. I prefer misting. If you have a rooting hormone you could add that to your fertilizer or spray it on by itself. I prefer Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed at 1 ounce per gallon every two weeks but there are others like KLN. Good luck.

james mickelso · #5 04-30-2012, 08:26 PM

It looks just fine mounted like that. It is dry though. I would place a small amount of spagnum moss under the long root but not over it. You don't need to press the root into the moss. The moss just adds some humidity around the root. You can hot glue the moss to the mount although I just use small brads or pins and wire to keep the moss in place. I like wire better because it holds shape unlike fishing line. I also dunk all of my mounted orchids. I find they get enough moisture that way. I only dunk them twice per watering. But I dunk them every other day. The roots will tell you how much they need. Dried out looking water more. Nice and plump, watering is good. It is hard to over water a mounted orchid, leaves and all but don't let water sit for long in the center. I blow it out when I've finished watering. . Remember that phals grow on tree branches without the aid of moss or media. They get rained on everyday during the wet season and misted during the inbetween. During the dry season they get next to nothing. Maybe a little rain once a week or even less. They are tougher than we give them credit . From the picture it looks like two leaves are old and the central leaf is fairly new. A little more water and I think this will grow well. Please keep us informed.

directorstef · #6 05-01-2012, 09:39 AM

Thanks everyone, I feel more confidant now in what to do. Those leaves (mostly the right one) have looked like that for a short while. I'm sure I'm prone to underwatering my plants. The first phal I'd acquired was killed but poor potting and overwatering from the nursery and I was very afraid to do the same when I came across this little guy. And he's lasted this long, so I suppose I wasn't underwatering too severely. Now I know a few signs to look out for so I'll keep them in mind.

As soon as I arrived home from work yesterday I dunked the mount. This morning it's definitely still moist but I think I anticipate possibly having to mist later in the evening. I'm not a huge fan of moss at all, but given the advice I'll add a little more very soon. As a lot of you can understand this little orchid is like a child to me. It's come this far and I'd do anything to baby it and keep it going. I feel if it died it would just be a bad omen for me, haha. Thanks a lot everyone; it's really appreciated.

james mickelso · #7 05-01-2012, 07:33 PM

Watering is my main reason for mounting some of my orchids. I feel it is very difficult to overwater most mounted orchids because the roots don't stay moist for very long and therefore don't get waterlogged and fungussy or moldy. If anything you have to be careful not to underwater too often. Here's all the hope we can muster for this little guy.