mounted in the wrong orientation. - Orchid Board

Jeff214 · #1 06-10-2021, 09:22 PM

This Rhyncholaelia digbyana is the second plant I've ever mounted and well... I realize now that it would have been better to mount it perpendicular to the mount and to have used a bigger mount. Regrets aside... Moving forward, I wasn't sure if it would be better to put the entire mount in a pot (or nail a plastic pot to the mount so it catches just the newest growth?)

Last one I had was in sphagnum moss (sold that way) and it died a slow death... I tried the second mounted.

DirtyCoconuts · #2 06-10-2021, 11:35 PM

this looks beautiful to me

i think this will handle about 20 more pbulbs if you allow it to grow all around the mount.

what dont you think is good?

this plant will grow in a straight line right along and as long as it is not reaching for light, it will stay somewhat that height (mine are only 4-5 years old so i dont know if they are late growers lol)

Roberta · #3 06-11-2021, 12:06 AM

No matter how careful you are to orient the plant with the growth toward the mount, sometimes the prediction doesn't work out. When this happens to me (and plants do sometimes perversely decide to switch directions and grow away from the mount even it it was right initially), I just drop the whole plant+mount into a basket (wood basket preferred)... Think of it as a 3-dimensional mount. No medium is necessary. If you want to add some large bark to help hold things in place, that's an option, though. The roots can then either go around the mount or around the basket or some combination. But you don't have to disturb the plant, you're just "managing" it.

Jeff214 · #4 06-11-2021, 01:23 AM

Well, the eyes against the mount aren't developing and it's been steadily turning away from the mount. And yes, it's probably because I'm growing it under a light. I'm imagining the next few growths could start protruding out into space... It's troublesome to keep the roots happy when they dangle away from the mount. Daily misting is helping but I'm sure that's also directing the roots to grow away anyway... (can't win). I was thinking of making it easy... (but not as pretty) to plop the entire thing in a pot. I think Roberta's suggestion sounds good. Aesthetics... or ease of growing... I don't know!

DirtyCoconuts · #5 06-11-2021, 09:45 AM

go with a basket or a big clay pot....i am slowly finding that catts are really happy in terracotta with no medium at all

do you especially want her hanging? that can be done with a pot but harder and riskier

Jeff214 · #6 06-11-2021, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

go with a basket or a big clay pot....i am slowly finding that catts are really happy in terracotta with no medium at all

do you especially want her hanging? that can be done with a pot but harder and riskier

Yeah, me too - I am finding that Catts are happy mounted or in terracotta with minimum medium. I just dunk this mount in water once a week, then some misting here and there. Seems much happier than being potted.

For plants that really like to dry out (like this digbyana), I like it hanging. A wooden basket might work well? I've never used one before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

I think it looks great and, if it were mine and I had the space, would move it into open space and let it grow where it wanted.

Thanks! I wish I could grow my plants better outdoors. I'm renting and don't have much say in what I can put up in the backyard (say a shade cloth...which would freak the neighbors and HoA, apparently

). I've tried to put out Catts in areas that get shaded during the afternoon, but the leaves do get burnt a bit. I've been growing what I can indoors under lights.

Dusty Ol' Man · #7 06-11-2021, 10:10 AM

I think it looks great and, if it were mine and I had the space, would move it into open space and let it grow where it wanted. I do like Roberta's wood basket suggestion. This could end up being a beautiful specimen if left to its own devices. Good growing!
Also, consider adding the photos to the Root Porn thread in the Advanced forum.

Shadeflower · #8 06-11-2021, 10:51 AM

wow, having it mounted would scare me a little. Like you've seen this one will get big and drink lots. I hope you do well with it cause it's one I would love to grow.
It's looking good but the newest leaf has also been revaged by spider mites just in case you weren't aware this plant was/(is) infested.

Roberta · #9 06-11-2021, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

It's looking good but the newest leaf has also been revaged by spider mites just in case you weren't aware this plant was/(is) infested.

I don't see any evidence of spider mites... what I see is the white coating that Rl. digbyana leaves have, especially when grown in high light. (The angle of lighting may have shown it more strongly on this leaf, but likely, they all have it to some degree) Those hard leaves are mostly vertical, as well... the glaucous coating on the leaves as well as the orientation are adaptations to protecting them from blazing sun. (I don't think I have ever toasted the leaves of a Rl. digbyana, which is not the case for other Catts)

Shadeflower · #10 06-11-2021, 11:08 AM

as long as it is only the coating but it is looking exactly like one of my L pumilla seedlings, lots of white bite marks. Once one notices, damage has already occured. It is a bit suspicious that only the one leaf has a white coating. If it was a natural white coating like on my ryncholaelia glauca then I wouldn't be worried but the fact it is pitted white spots on only one single leaf made me think it looks exactly like the spider mite damage I have at the moment and it has set the plant back as you'd expect. Better safe than sorry. I've just sprayed preventatively again just to make sure they haven't spread more.