Tamandama attempts

[harpspiel]

Has anyone on here tried this?

There's an epiphytic growing technique, invented by an Instagrammer, called #tamandama. The account is encouraging people to use the hashtag for their own experiments, so I don't think it is a problem to reference here. It's adapted from kokedama, which uses LFS. I believe the original inventor uses tree fern fiber to create a ball, then wraps epiphytes and moss around the ball, and hangs it. Look it up - it essentially creates living floral arrangements, and it's gorgeous.

I'm trying to find a material that I can source easily, and also easily create a cohesive ball (without a silly amount of fishing line), with some water retention but good aeration. My local hydroponics shop has rockwool, and I have some matala chunks, so my first attempt is going to be a hollowed sphere of rockwool with the center filled with matala chunks (for superior aeration). Does this sound like it will work? Or way out there? Open to other ideas!

I haven't decided what I'm going to mount yet, but it will most likely include an orchid, a mini fern, a Peperomia and some moss. It will be hung in my grow tent, with humidity around 75%. Pics as soon as I assemble it.

[Shadeflower]

You'd have to get people to comment that have experience using rockwool which I don't that much but like with any material, the more you use of it the more water it will retain.
I've never heard of it being done so if we get to see the result, I'm all for it. If it works like moss does then why not

If you want my opinion what might work well, I'd try using an old sock, fill it with matala, tie off the end and cover in moss.

[harpspiel]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

I've never heard of it being done so if we get to see the result, I'm all for it. If it works like moss does then why not

If you want my opinion what might work well, I'd try using an old sock, fill it with matala, tie off the end and cover in moss.

As far as I can tell, rockwool has similar water retention and aeration properties to LFS (maybe even better aeration), and is used regularly in hydroponics, but I have never used it. I like the sock idea for making a ball easily, but I would be concerned about the sock material rotting. Some sort of weather-resistant fabric like fishnet, though...

[DirtyCoconuts]

WW recently tried a neo mount and used onion bag, brilliant. i would do that, make a tube of leca, charcoal, and big perlite with the grow wool and then wrap it in onion sack. i bet you would not even need moss on the outside other than for looks


this is basically all of my mounts that are not on wood, i just only put one plant on each one.....i guess i should have made a hashtag LOL

[harpspiel]

First attempt, looks pretty rough. I hollowed out a 3x3x3 cube of rockwool and carved it into a sphere, then wrapped moss and plants around it, securing with fishing line. I would probably glue some of the plants on with superglue gel next time, I’m afraid the fishing line has crushed some of them.



These were all extras, I’m not risking anything I only have one of:
Begonia lichenora
Elaphoglossum peltatum
Epidendrum ‘Panama Ruby’
Peperomia emarginella?, red leaf variety
Peperomia aff Jamesoniana
Psilotum sp.

I’ll see how the Epidendrum does, might be too consistently wet but I have never quite figured out what conditions that hybrid wants.

This is my “wet” variation, I’m going to try a chunky mix inside a mesh for a “dry” variation, with epiphytic cactus and a Dendrobium.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i think it looks great-

def a wet mount- keep us posted.

---------- Post added at 12:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:32 PM ----------

on the top it look like parsley lol

[harpspiel]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

on the top it look like parsley lol

It's a less-divided form of Elaphoglossum peltatum, a rambling little Central American fern. I have 3 different leaf forms now, which I'm pretty proud of, but it's extremely slow growing and pretty fussy.

I'm using a "throw it at the wall and see if it sticks" approach with plants on this mount, but I actually think the Elaphoglossum will do pretty well, it likes consistent moisture at the roots and good airflow.

[Roberta]

For tying plants to a mount, I have been trying this nylon-wrapped elastic, got it from Tarzane Group

It is much easier to work with than fishline (easier to tie, elastic makes it easy to get a firm wrap without crushing delicate parts of the plant) I have only been using it for about a year (and have some plants that I bought that were already mounted that way) so I can't speak to its durability relative to fishline. Fishline tends to get brittle in 4-5 years, so it will take some time to fully evaluate this material. But I sure like it so far.

[WaterWitchin]

LOL... speaking of onion bags, here's one I made up prior to the onionskin bag. It turned out to be too large for the project I was working on. I saw this at the Dollar Store... a miniature bingo game set...



Dismounted the bingo ball "cage." Filled it with medium orchiata bark and LECA. Wrapped spagh around it. Sorry for no demonstrative pictures... at the time I didn't realize I could have patented it.

So I had a new "rescue phal" from a friend. Here it is mounted on my bingo ball.



Should I trend this on Reddit or Instagram?

[DirtyCoconuts]

brilliant!

i will add to Roberta's comment that braided fishing line, expensive, but it last a very long time and is unbreakable for our purposes.

i only use it for situations where it is structural, the mounting thread i want gone in a year or two tops so i like the velco best still