Very Basic: How to Water when Potted in Spaghnum

[SundayGardener]

This is a very basic beginner's question. How does one best water an orchid potted or wrapped in spaghnum moss? For my purposes, the moss is fresh, not old, and is not compacted or densely packed around the roots. I'm thinking of something like a neofinetia in the traditional moss.

I have found that water often sheds off good quality spaghnum. And of course, if it gets too wet, then it compresses. When I use spaghnum as a top dressing, I wring it out so that it is damp but not heavily wet. However, I can't wring out a whole plant.

My question is really, what is the best way to get water to the roots of the orchid, without waterlogging the moss? Do people use misters, or pour a predetermined amount of water?

[Leafmite]

I have quite a few in moss (Bulbophyllum, Draculas, Phals, Butterwort plants and the Burr. Nelly Isler). I combine the moss with either very shallow pots or basket pots which sit in a saucer. To water the basket pots, I fill the saucer with water and let the moss absorb it. When the moss is completely damp, I empty any remaining water from the saucer. To water the shallow dishes with the Bulbophyllum, I just pour water into the dishes. The Bulbophyllum don't mind a little extra water at the bottom of the dish.

[estación seca]

For Phals and Cattleyas, the aim is to keep the moss between moist but not completely wet, and almost dry, but not dry enough to be resistant to wetting. During warmer or lower-humidity periods it is OK to get the moss completely wet, if it dries fairly rapidly.

[Ray]

I have all my phals in sphagnum, and like Leafmite, I water bottom-up.

[Dollythehun]

My phals are in moss mix and clay pots. I water from the top, soaking them. However, I only water when the moss is crunchy and the pots feel light. I also have excellent air circulation. Although they are at the lower end of their temperature range, they do well.

[orchidsarefun]

I also water when sphagnum crunchy. In temps below 60f a cold wet moss for an extended period is fatal for Phals so I moisten the moss only. When roots are actively growing they seem to like it wet and with a high ambient humidity, external roots grow fast.

[SundayGardener]

Thanks! I have one bulbo which is in moss in a shallow pan. I've been keeping it moist but not soaked.

I'm always tempted to use moss, but it seems to be a struggle for me to transition from soil to ... other stuff. I am really liking lava rock in baskets lined with coir though. Apparently I can relate to rocks better than moss.

I'll try the bottom up method. It sounds like in that scenario, the moss is wicking up the water?

[DeaC]

I have bulbos hanging from plastic mesh pots and growth is all around these pots containing only moss. So I need to hold each one under the tap and give a good soaking then hang to dry off from a curtain rod above the sink. Works for me. When warmer weather ever arrives, they go outside under a tree and nature or I get to them as needed. I've never found a bulbo that didn't benefit from copious amts of H2O.