Newbie mounting question

[Raqsharqi]

I had a phal that just wasn't making it, so I decided to mount it. Since phals supposedly grow with the leaves facing down, that's how I mounted it. It isn't doing anything much, but since it wasn't doing well to start with, the fact that it didn't up and die is encouraging.
I wonder, though, if there are any other orchids that like to have their leaves hanging down. I am getting some seedlings and want to try to mount them on Kool-logs, but didn't know if the normal procedure is to mount them all roots down, or if it varies by orchid type. How does one know what the orchid prefers?

[Gage]

All orchids seem to grow towards the light, including Phalaenopsis. But phals leaves are large and heavy and pull downward, which keeps the rain from pooling in the crown. Sympodial orchids can grow a lot of different ways, depending on the species (or species in the parentage of a hybrid). It's good to try and make a judgement on the growth habit of the plant by looking at it before you decide how you want to mount it. For example, I have oncidiums that I mount purely because they grow upwards which doesn't really work in a pot or basket. If you aren't sure, you can always google image the plant + mounted (ie: Cattleya luteola mounted) and see how it tends to grow. Hope this helps. Good luck!

If you want to post a list of the plants I may be able to tell you the growth habit and mounting tips...

[Raqsharqi]

Thanks, Gage. I think I'll start with a Miltonia and Brassolva. I also see a replacement Angraecum Didieri in my future.

[Gage]

The Miltonia will probably not do very well mounted because they need constant moisture.

If the Brassavola is nodosa or something similar, it can be mounted to just about anything, and the leaves will point almost straight up, so keep that in mind as you're placing it on the mount.

Angraecum didieri is monopodial, but will generally keiki and ultimately spread similar to a sympodial orchid. They should be mounted with the crown facing up.

When mounting any orchid, you want to place the new growth or leading growth against the mount so that the roots will attach. It is generally best to wait until you see new roots JUST starting to peek out from the base of the new growth, and do your mounting project immediately before the roots get long enough to be damaged in the process.

Have fun!

[bil]

Originally Posted by Gage

But phals leaves are large and heavy and pull downward, which keeps the rain from pooling in the crown. ..

Now this is something I have a problem with. Over and over again I hear people saying, don't get water in there, it will sit in the crown.

This summer the leaves of my phals were getting dusty, and I figured the easiest thing would be wash them down by watering with a spray, and I'll just get a tissue and dry the crowns after.

When I did tho, all the crowns were dry. So, the next time I did it, I carefully filled all the crowns, and watched what happened. None of the crowns would hold water, it all drained away quite quickly, and when you think about it, it's a great help is the leaves can catch mist etc and have the water run to the centre. There's a desert plant in Namibia that does that.

Now my question is, are there other types of phals that DO hold water in the centre, because mine don't.

[Gage]

If your phal's crown is pointing up, it should hold some water. Can you post a picture of some of your phals?

[bil]

Originally Posted by Gage

If your phal's crown is pointing up, it should hold some water. Can you post a picture of some of your phals?

Well, here's a couple. Bit difficult to tell the angle, but these vary from absolutely upright to visibly at an angle. When I watered, I was careful to fill the crown and observe where the water went. It wasn''t flowing away over the edges of sloping leaves, but was draining away at the base of the leaf so it ran down the central 'core' of the orchid.