Mounted orchid vs potted - Orchid Board

Marilynsteber · #1 08-07-2013, 03:22 AM

I'm a new poster to this forum. I live in a San Diego apartment, and have grown what was labelled Cattleya x laela years ago. Then I learned that wasn't its name, it was a Brassavola digbyana, and now it has been renamed Rhyncolaela or some such. The flower is the size of a cattleya and is growing in a one gallon pot in large bark.
From the photos I saw above, I doubt my plant's name is even Brassavola. My new plant is labelled Laelea digbyana. Mine by mistake! It's a teenie little thing and I want to grow it in a pot, but I fear that may be wrong.
Advice?

Island Girl · #2 08-07-2013, 12:38 PM

If its a small plant, then a gallon pot is WAY too big, orchids like to be root-bound (so they can get air to their roots b/c they are epiphytes). Cattleya types (which is what yours is regardless of the (many) name changes... There are lots (of name changes), even experts can't keep up, so don't worry if you can't either!

) they really like wet/dry cycles, meaning you will want the roots to become dry before watering them again. Oh, and

welcome to the board!

One more thing, this section of the forum is not somewhere most ppl check, so I will get a moderator to move it for you, to the beginners section, where there are lots of experts trolling around to give lots of wonderful advice!

That way you will get even more help, and if you can make 4 more posts, then you will be able to post a pic of your plant, and can get even better advice as to what to do for it.

Good Luck! I'll check back in a little later.

Marilynsteber · #3 08-07-2013, 04:48 PM

Thanks. I won't invest in a gallon of bark for this little thing, but I also wonder if it Should be mounted on cork or something else I don't have. <Sigh>

tucker85 · #4 08-07-2013, 05:10 PM

Mounted orchids might be difficult to care for in an apartment. They usually need to be watered daily, so it's easier if they're growing outdoors. They also like to be in a humid environment.

Island Girl · #5 08-07-2013, 05:50 PM

^+1 yea, I agree with Tucker (Jeff), mounted orchids need daily watering, and high humidity. If you can, use the large/sized bark from the large container, and put it in a small one... Can you post a pic of the plant... Maybe we could advise on a smaller size.

If you want to post a pic, just post 3 more times, like your next post (on this thread) could just say "3" and then the next "4" & then on the next, you can post a photo. (or u can comment on other ppl's threads til you have 2-3 more posts). It's a rule on this forum, that you have to have 5 posts total before you can post a pic, because it keeps the "spam" content down.

Marilynsteber · #6 08-07-2013, 08:50 PM

Oh, dear! I may have confused everyone. The new baby (Lalea digbyana) is the one I wonder about how to grow. On cork or small bark.

Who's this guy, Digby, anyway.

---------- Post added at 04:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:45 PM ----------

I have a balcony, covered, and shaded with green shade cloth. I grow nothing in my apartment except paper. 8-)

Ray · #7 08-08-2013, 10:37 AM

I don't think you have confused anyone, except possibly yourself.

Brassavola/Rhyncholaelia/Laelia digbyana (everyone cheer for taxonomists - and wait for the next change) CAN be grown mounted or potted, but, as Tucker said, unless you can water the thing frequently, that's probably not the best choice for the home grower.

I will add that the plant is probably not the best plant for your environment in the first place, as it needs a great deal of sun in order to grow and bloom well. In my greenhouse, it is hung up with the vandas in the winter, and stuck out in the full sun all summer.

Ray Barkalow
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