Bought mounted orchids. Send help!

[Lady Oscar]

So...yesterday I went to Kawamoto Orchids to try to find a larger basket to put my little Dyakia's teeny basket pot into so that I can hang it without it blowing away. (For the record, I actually succeeded at that, though I don't know what it will think of the setup.) ^^;

While I was there, though, I gave in to my desire to try a mounted orchid, and bought an Oncidium "gold dust" and a lovely blooming Dendrochilum filiforme (wonderful citrusy smell!), both mounted on what I think is tree fern. I'm thinking of eventually attaching them to palm trees in my back yard, but they're living inside for now because we're under a tropical storm warning. I'm wondering how to tell if they have enough water? So far I've soaked them for 15 minutes floating in a bowl once a day.

I really like how much more natural mounted orchids look, so I am hoping not to kill these. ^^;

(They also let us go down and walk around the greenhouses...literally acres of orchids, with every kind of species and just insane quantities of gorgeous plants! I'm sure my husband was alarmed at the "I want one of everything" look in my eyes.)

[estación seca]

Orchid shopping tends to go better solo, or with other orchid growers. LOL

Hybrid Oncidiums should be very forgiving in your high humidity. Getting it wet once a day, when it hasn't rained, should be fine. Mounted outside, the nightly dew should be enough water for when it hasn't rained.

I haven't grown that Dendrochilum. From my reading, they don't like to dry out for very long. I would ask the people at Kawamoto about growing it where you live.

[No-Pro-mwa]

All I can say is that Dendrochilum is amazing. So beautiful.

[theloyalplum]

Mounted orchids for me have been foolproof. Water/soak them for 10-15 minutes every day and you're golden. No guess work on if it's too soon to water = no worries of root rot. As long as they approach dryness or are dry by end of day, no worries!

Do watch for mounting material, though. Some woods will rot and deteriorate quickly if kept that wet for prolonged periods of time. Be smart!

[estación seca]

If you're ever forgetful enough to leave the kitchen and let pots boil dry, you're going to have to be very careful with soaking orchids in a bucket. I have learned to set a timer.

Vandas and Schomburgkias don't mind being forgotten for a little over 24 hours. Dendrobiums and Encyclias don't handle a long bath very well. Tolumnias are somewhere in between.

[Lady Oscar]

Originally Posted by estación seca

If you're ever forgetful enough to leave the kitchen and let pots boil dry, you're going to have to be very careful with soaking orchids in a bucket. I have learned to set a timer.

Vandas and Schomburgkias don't mind being forgotten for a little over 24 hours. Dendrobiums and Encyclias don't handle a long bath very well. Tolumnias are somewhere in between.

Good suggestion! Right now I'm soaking them in a bowl in the kitchen sink, and it's hard not to notice that the sink is full of plant. When I move them outside I think I'll need the timer. ^^;

Do you do anything special for blooming plants? I'm worried that getting the blooms wet all the time will make them drop prematurely.

[estación seca]

Flowers of most orchids should definitely be kept dry, not even misted. I water flowering orchids carefully by hand and don't just dump them in the bucket of water.

[bil]

I mount mine on forked orange tree branch mounts, with moss to hold water. At the moment when it is hot (40C) they get two sprays a day. If the wind is blowing too, three times a day.

[Roberta]

Some of the Cattleya group (especially Laelias) actually need to get their buds wet - if not, sometimes the sticky sap that most orchids exude can stick the petals together and cause the buds to blast because they can't open. In nature, plants (even blooming ones) get rained on, and it is reasonable to suspect that they have evolved to not only not mind getting wet, but even need it. Of course, that's assuming that it warm (as it is in the tropics at night) Getting flowers wet below about 60 deg F (around 16 deg C) is asking for botryitis spots.

[Lady Oscar]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Some of the Cattleya group (especially Laelias) actually need to get their buds wet - if not, sometimes the sticky sap that most orchids exude can stick the petals together and cause the buds to blast because they can't open. In nature, plants (even blooming ones) get rained on, and it is reasonable to suspect that they have evolved to not only not mind getting wet, but even need it. Of course, that's assuming that it warm (as it is in the tropics at night) Getting flowers wet below about 60 deg F (around 16 deg C) is asking for botryitis spots.

Interesting about the Cattleyas! I was thinking about the rain issue, and wondering if the difference of having the rain come in drops, and having outdoor air movement levels, mattered.