Mounted Orchids in the House .......

[NeoNJ]

I don't have a Terrarium, and I don't have a Greenhouse - but I do have about 20 Mounted orchids - most Angraecoids - growing happily on the inside wall of a Windowsill.........

Is anyone else growing their Mounted orchids inside without the aid of a Terrarium or greenhouse ?????

What are you growing and where ???

[WhiteRabbit]

I have a few small mounted orchids. I had an aerangis for some time, never did well for me, and has finally given up the ghost
But, growing well are a mounted Den. bigibbum ssp compactum, Tolu. sylvestris, Bulbo. lasiochilum. I also have a small mounted Neofinetia which is outside.
All of them grow outside in warmer months. The Den. and Tolu. are hanging in a south facing window, the Bulbo. in a west facing window.

[NeoNJ]

Living in Northern New Jersey, it's fair to say I do not grow Outdoors.....

In the Summer, I do put my Brassavola nodosa outdoors and my Sophronitis outdoors.

I'm really trying to find people who grow mounted indoors, and what challenges they are having with mounted Orchids indoors.

[WhiteRabbit]

Yes, well most of mine are inside now, except for the Neo, so that was why I replied. A challenge I have growing them inside is getting them sufficient light, since I have them hanging from the curtain rods, they are a bit further back from the window than those potted and on the window sill.

[RosieC]

I have 4 mounted orchids which grow in my house over the winter, and mostly outside during the summer.

The problem I have growing them inside is the dripping after they are watered. I have them in my bathroom windowledge because then they can drip on the tiles with no problem, but that limits the number I can easily have.

[RosieC]

Sorry, meant to say what I have.

Milt spectabilisis
Max tenifolia
Gastrochilus japonicus
Leptotes unicolor.

The Leptotes is the only one I'm not sure how it's doing the others seem to love it. The Gastrochilus is in a growth spurt just now with new leaf in the crown, a basil keiki and masses of root growth.

[camille1585]

I have 9 mounted orchids, and most stay inside all year. They're all hanging under a growlight and for me dripping water isn't really a problem since the windowsill beneath is ceramic tiles. Keeping high enough humidity is a problem, if I don't do anything it's only 50% most of the year (exept for summer which is more humid). During the winter I keep up the humidity by draping wet towels on the radiator beneath the window. That way I usually get 70-80% at orchid level. Since the mounts do tend to dry out fast most have a good wad of sphag between the mount and the roots, and will need dunking nearly daily.

I have various types of orchids mounted: Phal parishii, Leptotes bicolor, Sophronitis cernua, Haraella odorata, Howeara Lava Burst, Gastrochilus japonicus, Aerangis rhodostica and 2 others which I can't remember the name right now. My Aerangis citrata will be mounted soon.

But I'm finding the mounts to be too time consuming and limiting (ex, they have to go on vacation with me) so I'm currently ordering everything I need to make a mini terrarium for them. Got a small plastic aquarium, ordered a 45W cfl to screw into my desklight, ordered a fan. Still need to get some hydroton for the bottom (to keep covered with water for humidity -don't want to invest in a misting system), a hygrometer, and some sort of wire grid from which to hang the orchids.Also need a glass/acrylic panel to use as a lid. I should be able to install a very basic terrarium for less than 100€.

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[NeoNJ]

My greatest challenge with my mounted Angraecoides is that they always appear dehydrated -- the leaves wilt and curl and wrinkle ---so I never know if its from Overwatering or Underwatering. The roots remain green and appear healthy --- so I assume the plants need an increase in Humidity and Watering. This is my greatest challenge - I never seem to be able to get the Humidity level up beyond 55% and I'm using a Humidifer on the windowsill and closing off the windowsill with a curtain/drape.

Any suggestions ....?

[thakshila smith]

Here we get sun light for 12 hours and no need to bring them inside. But orchids need shade and no no direct sun light . Its not easy to provide shade verses sun light .
Therefor I made a wooden stand near my patio and keep plants on it. They never get direct sun light and the roof is there. The light and wind is there and I water them regularly and to maintain humidity I keep coconut husks under neath .
The husks absorb dripping excess water .
And I use clay pots.

[fishmommy]

I grow mostly vandas bareroot, and I have a small assortment of mounted miniatures. I soak all my mounts/bare plants daily in a bucket of DI water. I have all of them on humidity trays in an enclosed space with a humidifier.