Phalaenopsis potting vs. mounting question

[Paschendale]

Sorry if this was addressed in the Phal Abuse Stops Here thread...I'm still making my way through this at the present time, but I have a question.

I have a miniature Phalaenopsis amabilis that I have repotted in the past couple of months (it had bloomed twice since I'd gotten it and I was afraid the potting media might be getting exhausted) and it has since not done so well. Granted, it is winter and it may just be dormant, but I uprooted it last week and the roots were in pretty sad shape. I pulled it from the pot it was in, trimmed the rotted roots off and repotted it temporarily in a small basket with bark only, in hopes that it won't get too waterlogged. Now, having gone around the world to tell you that, here's the question: can a Phal be successfully mounted on bark or hung in a vanda basket-type arrangement, rather than grown in a pot? My space is limited in my home and care must be given that plants are grown where the cats can't get at them. I had thought it would be nice to hang it in a basket and just take it down to water in the sink periodically and possibly it might be happier that way.

What say you all? I'd really rather not lose this plant; I realize it'll probably happen eventually to one or another of the orchids but I want to prolong the time before it happens.

Thanks in advance!

[Orchid Whisperer]

Some Phals do well mounted, based on what I have seen others growing. You could certainly grow a Phal in a small Vanda basket, or in a net pot.

The key, I think, to growing either way is to try to keep the correct moisture level at the roots. In a plastic pot, terra cotta pot, net pot, or basket, I would provide a coarse chunky bark-based mix (that will not fall through the holes if using a basket). Regardless of the pot, you want to water when the bark down in the pot is nearly dry; if you are unsure, wait another day before watering again. If your roots are rotting, you will want to water less often (rotting roots is virtually always caused by the roots being too wet). Happy roots experience some drying between waterings, and happy roots = happy plants.

Many Phals do fine mounted, but I don't know if P. amabilis is one of them. As mentioned above, this is based on what I have seen others grow. I am hoping to try growing my first mounted Phal sometime next year. I think you need to ensure that a mounted Phal gets watered more often, possibly daily under certain conditions.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck with your plant!

[Paschendale]

Many thanks! I was definitely leaning toward trying it anyway, but it is very nice to have verification that it DOES work, if you get everything right. I'll let ya'll know how it goes...with luck, it'll be wonderful!

[james mickelso]

Nearly all phals can be mounted and in fact do very well when mounted as they get lots of air flow to the roots. Once mounted (potted in an open form) you water them every few days as the roots dry out quickly enough that rot won't get much of a chance to start growing. I have hung bare root phals in my green houses from time to time and they have done very well. Let the roots grow any way they wish.

[HighSeas]

I agree with James. I have 10 mounted phals. Some are on a piece of driftwood. Some are on a log I made. Some are on cork slabs. They are all doing fantastic and several of them are in spike. I've noticed that they do better mounted. Also, the blooms are bigger and more vibrant.

[Paschendale]

Hey, good news! Thanks for all the tips, ya'll. Guess I'll be roaming the posts in the mounting section over lunchtime, lol. I think that would be a lot of fun to try, plus being most attractive. My main concern would be, since I don't have a greenhouse, how the phals would respond to being on mounts in the more dry environment of my house. Of course, our summers are pretty humid, so they can divide their time between the house and the patio, I would expect.

[james mickelso]

I take them down and put them in the shower to water them. they like it and they don't need and extra humidity. As long as they get watered every few days they're fine.

[Paschendale]

Mmmmm.....mounting is looking better and better for the Phals.

[Laserbeak]

Root rot has always been a problem with me for Phals, so much so I question why they are often thought of as the easiest orchids to grow.

I now keep them in Vanda baskets, combo mount/pots made out of hollowed out fir bark logs, or clay pots with huge holes all around them, not just a few slashes or holes at the bottom.

I am also starting to use Phytosan when I thoroughly water/soak the plants to kill any fungus or bacteria. I'm not sure how effective that will be.

[james mickelso]

If you are needing such large holes and phytosan all the time, you should try changing your culture. If you have root rot problems all the time with phals which are by far the easiest orchids to grow successfully, learn what they need and change the culture. So many folks here over water their orchids thinking they need a lot of care. My friend has a noid phal in her bathroom which keeps growing new roots and she hardly ever waters it. To those who like to experiment. Buy a noid phal or den or catt at the hardware/big box store and place it in med light. Now.... don't water it much. Say water it every 7 to 10 days. Leave it in moss. Just don't water it very much at all. Betcha it lives and flowers just fine. Try it. You'll be amazed.