Growing paphiopedilum and phragmipedium on mounts

[Kevin_PR]

Slipper orchids have never really been my thing. I periodically buy 1 or 2 to try them out again and they just keep rotting on me. Usually it is crown rot. I figure that I always overwatered them. I recently started looking for plants that can grow mounted and purchased Paph. Parishii and Phrag Caudatum. I read that both these species can grow as epiphytes and wanted to know if anyone has had success with growing them in this manner. I mount on treefern with a little sphag moss. All my plants are grown outdoors, I live in Puerto Rico avg. temp 85 humidity 70-80%, pretty much year round.

[WhiteRabbit]

[eggshells]

Indeed some paphs grows mounted in vertical cliffs and trees. So it is possible of you can provide constant moisture and high humidity.


Paphiopedilum hangianum by JataR, on Flickr

[jeremyinsf]

How are you watering them, exactly, that would contribute to crown rot? If that is the primary reason (problem), perhaps address that first?

Phrags, in many cases, grow next to river beds and require a fair bit (ok, a lot) of water. Some call them "the only orchid you can't over-water". So, do you think you could provide enough for them? My guess is probably not. You might want to check out this thread:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...no-medium.html

parishii grows as a true epiphyte, so it's perhaps a much better candidate. I have a mature one myself, but I grow it in my standard premium paph and phrag bark mix.

[Kevin_PR]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm definitely gonna mount the Phal Parishii and see how it goes

[The Orchid Boy]

I wish you luck. Keep it quite moist. The Phrag could probably be say in a saucer of water, one of mine is sitting in a whole bowl of water.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Recently in the August edition of ORCHIDS magazine I saw a photos of a Phrag growing wild on a cliff-the cliff was covered in moss and was dripping with water. SO yes you could mount it, if you gave it right conditions it could work. Basically constant moisture and lots of moss on the mount.

[jeremyinsf]

So, it's like a sideways stream :-)

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

So, it's like a sideways stream :-)

Pretty much.

[Kevin_PR]

Since my last post I have mounted 2 slipper orchids. 1 was last week a Paph. parishii. I mounted it on tree fern using a little bit of sphag around the roots. I am growing it in shade w dappled afternoon sun. Its seems to be doing alright no changes since its been mounted. The other plant is a Phrag wallisii. I mounted it on the outside of a tree fern pot. I bought a large tree fern pot filled it with a mixture of 50%sphag and 50% geoballs(name? littler round red balls) I then topped it off with tree fern chunks. I inverted the pot and mounted the phrag on the outside using a little bit of sphag. I then sat the mount in a saucer filled with pebbles and watered thoroughly. My hopes is that filling the center cavity with water retentive material will keep the mount moist all the time, and still have enough air pockets and circulation to keep the whole thing fresh and alive. Tomorrow I will put some fresh live moss on it. I set it in a very bright location that receives almost full sun. Hopefully in a year or two the pot will be covered in moss, small fern, and more orchid growths. Sorry no pics my mom took my camera back to NY