Falling Over! - Orchid Board

lornaheath · #1 08-07-2013, 06:56 AM

Nope. It's not drunk (nor am I), but I have two Orchids that insist on falling over and leaning all the bloomin time.

I know in the wild they can grow upside down preventing water from accumulating in the crown, but what can I do to keep it upright.

I have re-potted one and it is still wanting to roll over.

The other I placed support sticks beside, but the leaves are now maimed through leaning against the stick support and I can't do right for doing wrong.

Is there a proper way to encourage plants to stay upright the way 'we' want them to?

Thanks

Lorna
x x x

tuvoc · #2 08-07-2013, 12:32 PM

I have that problem a lot too. My first solution is to repot them into a slightly larger clay pot. Number two is to place the offending pot into a larger plastic pot, and wedge a rock or piece of brick between the two pots, behind the direction the plant wants to tip.

Kim

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #3 08-07-2013, 12:48 PM

The plant will want to lean no matter what, that's why I advise people about the natural growth orientation of their Phals. That's because it's not an option to have it grow upright or not in cultivation. The plant will try to lean every time you try to prop it upright, it's physiological.

You'd need a means to allow the plant to lean, but counter the weight of the plant with a heavier pot, so the whole thing doesn't topple over.

So, Kim's #2 option is what I'd go for.

lornaheath · #4 08-07-2013, 12:52 PM

Fank U peeps.

I know I can always rely on you to help. You don't ever let me down.

Huggies.

Lorna
x x x x

Island Girl · #5 08-07-2013, 02:06 PM

Or, you could plant into a clay pot (w/ a lip) or a plastic pot (w/ a lip), and get one of those pot hangers, and let it hang kinda tilted... It works very well with baskets too, but a basket might be a little messy in your living room.

(Personally, I use baskets, but I grow on a porch, so water dripping out all over doesn't matter)

EDIT: I say a pot "with a lip" b/c the pot hangers need/use the lip to hold on to the pot.

butterfly_muse · #6 08-07-2013, 02:10 PM

I don't know if this is a possibility for you, but I have recently mounted a couple of my guys that insisted on flopping over on me. They are VERY happy. And now I don't have to be bothered with my cats assisting the plants with falling over.

Everyone's a winner.

TOMMYMIAMI · #7 08-07-2013, 02:26 PM

Hi Lornie
I guess everyone has the same issues with Phals, and as King said, it is natural for them. I recently get rid of nearly all pots and growing phals in medium, since they were having root issues here in Florida, and I did mount them. I took pictures for you, to have different ideas. my biggest phal is on first 2 pics, it is the only one in pot, and since you can see it is huge and leaning, I did just put the pot inside the wooden basket and hang it. maybe you ca do the same? All the rest is newly mounted. I did mount them cca month ago and they all seems to do great. There is one mounted on tree fern block, one in tree fern pot, one in small wooden basket and the last one is my interesting idea, I found this BIRD FEEDER in my local Lowes, got it, filled it with sphagnum moss 9instead of bird food:-)) and mounted one on it, thinking it might be interesting:-)

Island Girl · #8 08-07-2013, 02:58 PM

Duh! Of course you can put a pot inside a basket & hang it! I do that too, I just wasn't even thinking about that when I was writing you.

Yes, mounting is good too, I either put mine in baskets or mounts. However, in a home you would have to have high enough humidity (can do baskets w/o it, tho), & be able to water at least once a day, if not twice during the summer. Which is why I suggested the basket &/or pot hangers

TOMMYMIAMI · #9 08-07-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Girl

Duh! Of course you can put a pot inside a basket & hang it! I do that too, I just wasn't even thinking about that when I was writing you.

Yes, mounting is good too, I either put mine in baskets or mounts. However, in a home you would have to have high enough humidity (can do baskets w/o it, tho), & be able to water at least once a day, if not twice during the summer. Which is why I suggested the basket &/or pot hangers

Yes, it would need probably every day misting and watering if mounted in the house, I have everything outside and our Florida humidity is pretty high, especially in summer, so I water only like every other day even the mounted ones:-)

Island Girl · #10 08-07-2013, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Yes, it would need probably every day misting and watering if mounted in the house, I have everything outside and our Florida humidity is pretty high, especially in summer, so I water only like every other day even the mounted ones:-)

Yea, me too, mounted outside on a porch, I'm a little north of you, but here in NC, it is humid as all hell... But here on the outer banks, it's humid and we have a nice breeze! In fact, it's been really nice here for this past week, the humidity is low (60-70%) and temps are around 80°F give or take... Quite nice!

Tho, with this low humidity, I've had to water my mounts daily! Lol... I don't mind, I like to spritz my mounts!

Hehehe

sorry for the hijack Lorna!