Suggestions for First Mounted Orchid

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Why not any of the Leptotes species? If natural lighting coming through a window is not enough, you can use CFL's or LED's. They are fairly sturdy plants that are very resilient. Many of them stay small. I don't think your humidity will be an issue for this genus of orchids. If you're cranking up the AC/fans, then, yeah, I'd advise you to get a humidifier. Temperatures should be fine indoors year round, but if you grow outdoors it is only suitable for mid-spring through early fall in your area. There's no dormancy to worry about. They bloom quite easily and reliably. I like their colors.

Leptotes bicolor is the largest of the bunch. Flowers are white with a purple lip.

Leptotes pohlitinocoi is one of the smaller ones. Flowers are purple.

Leptotes unicolor is also one of the smaller ones and the flowers are also purple.

There's also Leptotes bohnkianum and Leptotes harryphillipsii.

Leptotes are epiphytes that grow on trees.

Some Leptotes come from the State of Bahia in Brazil.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by estación seca

D. wassellii is also an easy grower, but it needs to be grown on a horizontal mount, not a vertical mount.

Originally Posted by bil

Interesting. Why's that please?

Could it be that Dockrillia wassellii is found growing strictly as a lithophyte in the wild? It's growth habit seems to suggest this, although, I cannot find any photographs online of them in-situ growing on rocks. The only photos of them I found online were ones growing in people's houses as a cultivated plant.

If Dockrillia wassellii grows as an epiphyte on trees as well, I wouldn't be surprised. Perhaps, the way that Dockrillia wassellii grows is with the leaves pointed upwards and they grow along horizontally oriented branches. Who knows...

I know that Dockrillia linguiformis grows as both a lithophyte and an epiphyte of trees in the wild.

Dockrillia linguiformis growing as a lithophyte:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...ea8a2e8e69.jpg

Dockrillia linguiformis growing as an epiphyte on trees:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2949/1...7a97713c_z.jpg

I don't know why Dockrillia cucumerina would be considered more difficult to grow compared to the others; I cannot offer any explanation in this regard. I have, however, read that they have been found growing naturally as an epiphyte on trees without moss or as lithophytes. The leaves have a natural growth habit of pointing downwards, (they hang pendulously), so that they actually do look like cucumbers hanging off a vine.

Dockrillia cucumerina growing on trees:

Dockrillia cucumerina

Can't find any photos that verify that Dockrillia cucumerina grows on rocks, but it's not difficult for me to believe it.

If anyone's wondering what kind of rocks Dockrillia usually grow on in the wild, it's granite.

I think this website gives a quick and easy to understand guide to how Dockrillia grow in the wild:

Dockrillia

[bil]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Could it be that Dockrillia wassellii is found growing strictly as a lithophyte in the wild? It's growth habit seems to suggest this, although, I cannot find any photographs online of them in-situ growing on rocks. The only photos of them I found online were ones growing in people's houses as a cultivated plant.

If Dockrillia wasselli grows as an epiphyte on trees as well, I wouldn't be surprised. Perhaps, the way that Dockrillia wasselli grows is with the leaves pointed upwards and they grow along horizontally oriented branches. Who knows...

I know that Dockrillia linguiformis grows as both a lithophyte and an epiphyte of trees in the wild.

Dockrillia linguiformis growing as a lithophyte:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...ea8a2e8e69.jpg

Dockrillia linguiformis growing as an epiphyte on trees:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2949/1...7a97713c_z.jpg

I don't know why Dockrillia cucumerina would be considered more difficult to grow compared to the others; I cannot offer any explanation in this regard. I have, however, read that they have been found growing naturally as an epiphyte on trees without moss or as lithophytes. The leaves have a natural growth habit of pointing downwards, (they hang pendulously), so that they actually do look like cucumbers hanging off a vine.

Dockrillia cucumerina growing on trees:

Dockrillia cucumerina

Can't find any photos that verify that Dockrillia cucumerina grows on rocks, but it's not difficult for me to believe it.

If anyone's wondering what kind of rocks Dockrillia usually grow on in the wild, it's granite.

I think this website gives a quick and easy to understand guide to how Dockrillia grow in the wild:

Dockrillia

What's the difference between Den and Dockrillia cucumerina?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

As far as I know...

Dendrobium is the old genus name.

Dockrillia is the new genus name.

Different genus names to describe the same group of plants.

[bil]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

As far as I know...

Dendrobium is the old genus name.

Dockrillia is the new genus name.

Different genus names to describe the same group of plants.

OK, thanks.

[LexyBoy]

I'm a newbie to mounts also (and orchids in general - but one of the things I find attractive is their epiphytic nature; once you've seen habitat photos they just look odd in pots).

I have a mixed mount on my east (a touch southeast) facing kitchen window, made of a bit of branch (about 50 cm long) cut to fit the corner of the window. It's been going about 8 months now I suppose so long enough to get a feeling for how things are getting on. Currently I've got the following (might be added to with ideas from this thread!):

Oncidium croesus - a nice small species, not sure if it qualifies as a miniature but pretty dainty for an Onc. When bought it was in Sphagnum and had no live roots though the pbulbs were nice and plump - it took a couple of months to come into growth and grow new roots but has done fantastically, looks healthy and has flowered.

NoID Phal - a smallish one that I had sitting around. The plant as a whole looks much better on a mount, but it doesn't seem keen on attaching itself so is still held on with string. Maybe it wants the wood to be damper. Also growing well and has flowered.

Leomesezia Lava Burst - another rootless wonder, just now coming to life. Early days but it seems pretty hardy and I don't think too bothered by drying out.

Rhipsalis (OK not an orchid) - added for a bit of contrast; being succulent it is fine with going dry. I was surprised to see it rooting across the bare bark, I'd imagined the fine roots would stay in the little pocket of peat I'd planted it in.

In terms of care I just mist in the morning, enough to wet everything thoroughly, and again in the evening if I remember. There's a little bit of Sphagnum on the Phal and Onc. Nothing special about humidity etc, though as it's the kitchen it gets fairly steamy for an hour or so a day. The main problem I've had is that spikes grow towards the window and I can't easily move the mount so you get a better view from outdoors!

[Melian]

Originally Posted by LexyBoy

I'm a newbie to mounts also (and orchids in general - but one of the things I find attractive is their epiphytic nature; once you've seen habitat photos they just look odd in pots).

I have a mixed mount on my east (a touch southeast) facing kitchen window, made of a bit of branch (about 50 cm long) cut to fit the corner of the window. It's been going about 8 months now I suppose so long enough to get a feeling for how things are getting on. Currently I've got the following (might be added to with ideas from this thread!):

Oncidium croesus - a nice small species, not sure if it qualifies as a miniature but pretty dainty for an Onc. When bought it was in Sphagnum and had no live roots though the pbulbs were nice and plump - it took a couple of months to come into growth and grow new roots but has done fantastically, looks healthy and has flowered.

NoID Phal - a smallish one that I had sitting around. The plant as a whole looks much better on a mount, but it doesn't seem keen on attaching itself so is still held on with string. Maybe it wants the wood to be damper. Also growing well and has flowered.

Leomesezia Lava Burst - another rootless wonder, just now coming to life. Early days but it seems pretty hardy and I don't think too bothered by drying out.

Rhipsalis (OK not an orchid) - added for a bit of contrast; being succulent it is fine with going dry. I was surprised to see it rooting across the bare bark, I'd imagined the fine roots would stay in the little pocket of peat I'd planted it in.

In terms of care I just mist in the morning, enough to wet everything thoroughly, and again in the evening if I remember. There's a little bit of Sphagnum on the Phal and Onc. Nothing special about humidity etc, though as it's the kitchen it gets fairly steamy for an hour or so a day. The main problem I've had is that spikes grow towards the window and I can't easily move the mount so you get a better view from outdoors!

Would love to see a photo if you can! I'm infatuated with epiphytes of all kinds, not just orchids. I grow several epiphytic cacti, including rhipsalis.

[LexyBoy]

I'm liking the Lepotes, might have to keep an eye out for that. Similar in look to Holcoglossum which I've been put off by tales of growth at tectonic rates...

Originally Posted by Melian

Would love to see a photo if you can! I'm infatuated with epiphytes of all kinds, not just orchids. I grow several epiphytic cacti, including rhipsalis.

Quick snap from today attached (hopefully). I'm growing other epiphytes too like Hippeastrum aulicum and Pamianthe peruviana, but I think these wouldn't take being mounted in a home environment. I'd like a miniature bomeliad to add as well but not aware of any small enough to mount, except the air plants.

[Melian]

Originally Posted by LexyBoy

I'm liking the Lepotes, might have to keep an eye out for that. Similar in look to Holcoglossum which I've been put off by tales of growth at tectonic rates...



Quick snap from today attached (hopefully). I'm growing other epiphytes too like Hippeastrum aulicum and Pamianthe peruviana, but I think these wouldn't take being mounted in a home environment. I'd like a miniature bomeliad to add as well but not aware of any small enough to mount, except the air plants.

Thanks, that looks really cool! I'll be on the lookout for a suitable piece of wood to do something similar

I wasn't aware of those two species of epiphytes, will definitely add them to my want list. I also have two epiphytic Gesneriads: Aeschynanthus and Columnea, but they are grown in hanging pots.

As for bromeliads, I don't currently grow any other than some Tillandsia. I have seen miniature Neoregelias online but I don't know anything about their growing requirements. A lot of the mini epiphytes seem to require a terrarium setup, which I haven't gotten into yet.

[estación seca]

There is information about those bulbs at the Pacific Bulb Society Web page. They probably grow too big for your mount. There are people in the PBS growing H. aulicum and Pamianthe in the house.

And there are a lot of small bromeliads that would do great there. You mentioned Tillandsias, but there are also small species and hybrids in Billbergia, Neoregelia and Vriesea. Check the Tropiflora Web page for information.