Water requirements of mounted Phals?

[Huntergirl]

Hi, I am very new to orchid growing. I have six orchids and most of them came with rotten roots from wherever I got them from, mainly as gifts or big box stores here in Canada. As a last ditch attempt so save two of them I have decided to mount them. I honestly have no clue what I'm doing so I'm wondering if they look okay? How often and how do I water them properly? I know they should be hung upside down aka right side up but I haven't got to that yet, for now I have them sitting on my table until I figure out how to care for them. Any advice, tips or tricks would be great. The one on the right has very few roots that are in terrible shape and I'm not sure if this will even survive.

[tucker85]

Unfortunately mounted phals usually need to be watered every day. That means if you're leaving for the weekend you'll need to have someone water them for you. Many phals grow well mounted, especially once they're established on the mount and have grown a few roots. Good luck.

[Huntergirl]

Thanks for the info:-) So do I need to soak them daily or just spray them with a mister? What about fertilizer?

[SlipperGirl]

tucker is right they need to be watered every day but they look good the leaves are floppy but not as bad as they could be and they still have some roots, I think they have a chance of making it

[ALToronto]

Get a small watering can with a narrow spout and water them thoroughly in the sink, making sure that water doesn't get to the crown. The one with good roots should be fertilized, but the one with no roots needs a seaweed extract. Contact Ray Barkalow of First Rays for the seaweed, and for a good fertilizer as well. If there is a hydroponics store near you, they also sell good products. Just don't use the blue powder crap from mainstream stores.

[RosieC]

I don't have mounted phals but do have other mounts. I water daily by either soaking in the the sink, or by pouring water out the watering can all over them getting them thoroughly wet.

I find my mounts (some of which usually need more water than phals) need watering every day, but once established can be left a few days if I need to leave them. I even left them a week last year by putting them in the bottom of the bath, with a tiny bit of water in the bottom (not touching the mounts which were at the other end). That seemed to keep humidity high enough inside the bath and I watered them properly as soon as I got home. It wasn't ideal but they all survived it. One that is still establishing probably needs more care though.

[tucker85]

The watering can that AlToronto suggested sounds like a good idea. I water mine with a misting nozzle on a hose but mine are all growing outdoors. You want to use enough water to get the roots, the mount and the moss, all good and wet. I fertilize my mounted orchids once a week this time of year and twice a week during the spring and summer when they're actively growing.

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[Brooke]

I water my Phal mounts every day with a hose and tell them it is raining. You want the roots to be saturated and the mount material to also absorb some moisture.

The only thing I would change is to put sphag on top of all the roots to hold the moisture for a longer period of time.

Love the wood you used!

Brooke

[butterfly_muse]

Just out of curiosity, I am about to mount my first phals myself...will their roots still rot if they are watered every single day with moss over their roots? That seems so...against instinct with what we've been told about sphag and root rot and overwatering.

[ALToronto]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

Just out of curiosity, I am about to mount my first phals myself...will their roots still rot if they are watered every single day with moss over their roots? That seems so...against instinct with what we've been told about sphag and root rot and overwatering.

Not in Maryland. Make sure there is air movement around your mounted phal, and it will do just fine.