Growing on mounts in the house...the non-messy way? - Orchid Board

Kostas · #1 01-30-2011, 07:19 PM

Hello!

I am interesting in seeing your mounted orchid setups you keep indoors and are able to water on the spot. I would also love to hear idea on how this can be done with a biggish mount in the house and what you do when you leave on vacations for a couple weeks. I have ordered a Phalaenopsis gigantea and would like to keep it mounted indoors along with a couple other orchids on a biggish,natural looking,free-standing mount. I have some ideas but i dont imagine them attractive enough to be acceptable in the house(the whole thing i mean) so i would love to see your setups and hear your ideas on the subject! Especially if you have made your mounts somewhat self sufficient or able to be watered on the spot.

Thank you very much in advance!

jrodpad · #2 01-30-2011, 07:25 PM

This is a great question. The only mounted orchids that I have live in a terrarium perched on pedestals over a bed of moss (great for keeping humidity up). I just open the lid and soak the mounted orchids. The extra water gets soaked up by the moss. Works great Hard to imagine how this setup would work for large mounts though.

-J

Connie Star · #3 01-30-2011, 08:41 PM

I have 3 mounted orchids (out of about 75) that hang on the sides of a wire shelf. I keep a bucket of water under them, and I soak them in it almost daily and spritz them periodically with fertilizer. I use the same water on all 3, which is a no-no, but otherwise I couldn't manage them. I also have a tile floor where they are, so water damage to the surroundings is not an issue.
Welcome to Orchid Board, by the way!

camille1585 · #4 01-31-2011, 06:37 AM

My mounts are hanging under lights on a windowsill. I kee a bucket on a table nearby which is only for soaking mounts. Like Connie I wouldn't be able to manage if they had to individually soak in fresh water each time. Once I hang them back up they drip into a tray below. That being said, I don't have any large mounts. I know one person that hauls their large mount to the bathroom and gives it a shower.
As for being self sufficient while on vacation, I wish they were. At the moment the only solution I have is to put all the mounts in a large shoebox and take them on vacation with me (this works as long as I stay intra EU) So far my mounted orchids have been to France, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland....

Connie Star · #5 01-31-2011, 05:35 PM

[QUOTE=At the moment the only solution I have is to put all the mounts in a large shoebox and take them on vacation with me (this works as long as I stay intra EU) So far my mounted orchids have been to France, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland....[/QUOTE]

CTB · #6 02-01-2011, 10:44 AM

Just shows how important these orchids become to us. Orchidaholism is a terrible disease.

RosieC · #7 02-05-2011, 08:12 AM

I have four mounted orchids and the whole issue of being able to water them them and still keep them neat in the house is the reason I only have a few.

In the summer they go either in the greenhouse or outside... and there I can just soak them and leave them to drip... no worry about mess.

In the winter they have to come in as my greenhouse is kept for cool growing orchids and the mounts all need to be warmer.

I keep them in my bathroom, they hang from the side of a very large pot containing a non-orchid and they can drip onto the tiled surface below.

I soak them in the sink most days, and the other days I spray with fertiliser water. Like others I don't have time to do them seperately, I put them in and leave them while I get ready for work then pull them out before I leave (I only forget to pull them out ocasionally

)

I tried initially to keep my first one in the living room but I got water stains because it was impossible to stop them dripping where they shouldn't. Like you I think most solutions would not look as attractive as I want in my living areas.

Jennyfleur · #8 02-06-2011, 11:26 AM

I admit, there are a couple of mine I'd like to mount but, for the reasons you've all outlined, I've decided it's not for me at the moment as I'd have to have them in the house. Maybe if there are some interior designers/ engineers out there, someone could develop a decorative but functional product for indoor mounts - could make a fortune!

littlefrog · #9 02-06-2011, 12:53 PM

I often suggest to people that they put their mount into a larger clay pot. Just stand it up in there. Then you can treat it like a potted plant, put it on a saucer or tray or something. The clay pot also adds a bit of humidity.

Nic100 · #10 02-06-2011, 06:14 PM

I have 2 mounts who live near the kitchen sink where they get a daily soak. If I go away I have to give them to someone to care for. Unless I'm only away at the weekend in which case they get a little neglected. But one of them has spiked for the second winter running so they mustn't mind the neglect too much.