mini phal on cork bark

[mofms1]

About a week ago I bought a couple of seriously dried out mini-phals from Lowe's for $1 each. Today I mounted one of them up on cork bark. There was a natural depression that had a hole about 3 inches long. I figured it was perfect for not overwatering.

[Roberta]

Suggestion... put a bit of sphagnum moss over the roots. This will help keep the roots hydrated, but still getting plenty of air. Once the roots attach to the mount, you can remove the sphagnum if you want, but by that time it will be irrelevant because the roots will adhere all over the mount and ignore the sphagnum. (You don't want sphagnum between the roots and the mount because you want to encourage the roots to go for the mount. A bit over the top of them will help keep the plant going until it grows some new roots.)

[mofms1]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Suggestion... put a bit of sphagnum moss over the roots.

I appreciate the suggestion and there's already a little bit of Sphagnum over the roots that were in a pot. There were quite a few air roots on this plant and I did leave those free. The sphag is not that visible because where I put the plant has a little bit of a natural bowl with a hole in the middle (I figure that would work as a sort of natural drainage).

My biggest worry is that the phal itself isn't flat to the cork bark, it's sort of pushed away and hanging out into the air.

[DirtyCoconuts]

well done-- i love those $1 rescue projects!!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by mofms1

My biggest worry is that the phal itself isn't flat to the cork bark, it's sort of pushed away and hanging out into the air.

once the roots grab the cork, the orchid will orient itself. It's how they grow in nature. Given adequate water and humidity, Phals are excellent mounted plants.

[mofms1]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

well done-- i love those $1 rescue projects!!

I think I can bring them back, but if not, I won't be super sad about losing these. I have a couple of normal-sized phals that seem to be doing well and I'd be much more upset if I lost those

---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:52 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

once the roots grab the cork, the orchid will orient itself. It's how they grow in nature. Given adequate water and humidity, Phals are excellent mounted plants.

So now I just have to keep it alive long enough for that to happen!

I posted a pic of it on FB and everyone keeps telling me I need to water it b/c the leaves are so wrinkly. I feel like I should have waited to post pics b/c now I just look like I'm abusing the poor thing

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by mofms1

I posted a pic of it on FB and everyone keeps telling me I need to water it b/c the leaves are so wrinkly. I feel like I should have waited to post pics b/c now I just look like I'm abusing the poor thing

Sometimes a mounted plant does better if the mount is horizontal - watering is a bit more efficient that way because it doesn't all run off so fast. Once it gets going, hanging it vertically is fine. I have rescued some pretty pathetic Phals that way. Once it starts to get what it wants (moisture and air) new root growth may be quite rapid (for an orchid).

[DirtyCoconuts]

ignore what the leaves that are there are telling you and watch the new leaves...i have a phal i rescued from a Redlands nursery that was potting them up for sale at a big box store and the ones where the spike broke or that looked bad they tossed in a $1 dollar pile.....there are now three wrinkly and wilt leaves that are dark and three boss, bright thick and plump leaves....they know how to heal or how to grow a new ____ .

i agree about horizontal mounting...just add a second hole at the bottom and keep it oriented that way for a bit

[mofms1]

I'll talk to my SO about drilling a new hole and turning it around until it establishes. Thanks for the advice!