DirtyCoconuts latest project

[DirtyCoconuts]

My incredible wife, who tolerates all my bizarre and oddly expensive hobbies, has recently taken more of a shine to orchids and asked me to make her a nice mount for the entry way to the house.
I had been contemplating it and studying the light and rain and decided to mount this old Live Oak branch on the North side of the bricks so it wont get really any direct light except for the very end of the day and it is mostly under the roof overhang to avoid it getting drenched and destroyed by our weather. Based on the criteria i had to work with i went with three mini Phals and one mature NoID phal, two small dendro keikis (on the side in the sun and rain, one bromilead that was just getting unruly on my bathroom window and a ton of Spanish Moss.

I used two tapcon screws to mount a 2x4 to the brick and then predrilled 1/4" holes 2" into the branch to allow the 3" deck screws to reach the 2x4.....i wouldn't do pull ups on it but it is not going to fall off

i have not made many mounts for walls as most of mine are designed to be free hanging, so please feel free to give me any and all constructive criticism and suggestions.

Other flowers by J Solo, on Flickr

Other flowers by J Solo, on Flickr

you can see from the mildew on the walls where the rain starts to fall and where is under cover.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I had a few more pics of the individual plants. Three kinds of Tillandsia and the minis. I really love how these little Phals make so many keikis

Minis w minis by J Solo, on Flickr

Minis w minis by J Solo, on Flickr
One of the dendrobium

[DirtyCoconuts]

well the bromilead fell off, too windy and that species is apparently more terrestrial lol.

all of the plants are taking very well and grabbing the mount aggressively and three of the phals are sending out spikes!!
Show by J Solo, on Flickr

Liz and bog by J Solo, on Flickr

Show by J Solo, on Flickr

Show by J Solo, on FlickrShow by J Solo, on Flickr

[DirtyCoconuts]

does Spanish moss flower?

Buds n stuff by J Solo, on Flickr


i would say yes, not terribly attractive bloom

[wisdomseeker]

Definitely... often missed or overlooked because they are so small.

First picture to the left (on the second row) in this link:
Macro Photography with your Mobile Device - Bird Rock Tropicals Blog

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

does Spanish moss flower?


i would say yes, not terribly attractive bloom

Not only does it flower, but flowers are fragrant. Being not very big, you have to get up close when sniffing. May not be all the time, but try at different times of the day.

[DirtyCoconuts]

No way! That’s cool. I’m gonna go smell it right now

[DirtyCoconuts]

a small bit of D pierardii starting to wake up

New spikes by J Solo, on Flickr

same with this NoID cane Den.
New spikes by J Solo, on Flickr

and two spikes on this tiny mini phal (second one is quite tiny on the left
New spikes by J Solo, on Flickr

i really cannot wait to see this mount with blooms!

[WaterWitchin]

Isn't new growth just delightfully fun?!?

[DirtyCoconuts]

it is in many ways more exciting than flowers

---------- Post added at 02:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:19 PM ----------

i took the Velcro off two of these phals last night...by far the fastest to self hanging on a mount ive had....

Cats on the....grow by J Solo, on Flickr