First mount attempt

[Pilot]

Ok turns out there wasn't enough moss!!! These mounts dried out in less than a day. Remember, I live at 6500': things get crunchy dry up here.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It should work. I'm doing something similar. Instead of moss, I have a Phal in coconut fiber arranged in a similar fashion, (actually, I have to give the credit to the seller for this method of growing).

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

It should work. I'm doing something similar. Instead of moss, I have a Phal in coconut fiber arranged in a similar fashion, (actually, I have to give the credit to the seller for this method of growing).

Share photos!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh man...

My camera batteries are out of juice, and I can't find my camera's battery charger. I can't post photos directly onto the OB anymore.

I'll see if I can post a photo from my cellphone onto my Flickr account. It'll take a while for me to do this, I've been busy lately.

---------- Post added at 11:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 PM ----------

Ok, I just decided to knock it out while I'm goofing off on the OB...

Here's the link to the photo:

Phalaenopsis appendiculata in coconut fiber. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[RosieC]

I bought a Cat in coconut fiber like that. I thought it was just the way he packed them for travel to the UK from the USA when he came for a show, however I grew it like that for 6 months before deciding to mount it the way I usually do on cork and a bit of moss. (I had originally planned to pot it, but it's loved being mounted). I wonder if it's the same seller you saw doing this Philip

Ryan, I was going to say what you have already discovered... what is too much moss for some, is not enough for others. I usually over do it for mine and have to take some off again, I've now found they do best with it just underneath, but in a fast drying environment like yours more is good. I guess it's a matter of experimenting in your own environment... if it's drying to fast or to slowly adjust as needed.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The seller I got the Phal from is from an international seller - Ooi Leng Sun Orchids in Malaysia.

[RosieC]

I think that could be the one. I had mis-remembered USA then, that name seems right now I see it. They came to a show in the UK and I bought from them there.

[james mickelso]

The roots do not have to be wet all the time. Water daily if necessary. My phals get watered once a week but sometimes they go 10 days without water and bloom just fine.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

The roots do not have to be wet all the time. Water daily if necessary. My phals get watered once a week but sometimes they go 10 days without water and bloom just fine.

James I get that...but I'm not joking when I say they get crunchy dry. Far too dry for it to be a long term solution. I can get two days out of the mounts this way and the center is just slightly moist, to the point the roots are only just beginning to take on their gray color, if that makes sense. It be one thing if they dry too fast but they dry fast because of my humidity and high altitude.

[james mickelso]

I read an AOS magazine from the early 90's the featured a couple in Colorado who lived around Aspen and they grew cats and phals mounted. I'm not sure phals can't grow a couple days dry. Maybe try something I do with my mounts. I drill bunches of holes into the mount. That holds water more efficiently than just moss. Also there is a substance that I've seen in florist shops that is made of gel. Maybe put that under the moss.