haraella retrocalla....new to mounts and minis....

[Leafmite]

I have two of these. One grows completely enclosed in a small container and the other grows on a stick (Andy's Orchids) in a water bottle with the top cut off. I keep water on the bottom of both containers to allow water to wick to the roots. I like the set up on the stick better as I can see the orchid without removing a lid so I will probably change the set up of the one in the container to be more like the one on the stick. What I have learned about these is that they love humidity, warmth, and light. The roots like some exposure to air while staying moist.
I took pictures of the one in the container and posted them somewhere here. I have had it for about three years, now. At first, I tried to grow it like other orchids and it nearly died. I put it in the container as sort of a sphag-n-bag attempt and it did so well, I just left it there. The one on the stick was bought earlier this year but it is a simple set up. Just stick in bottle, water on the bottom.

If I would change anything concerning how you grow yours (I do not know the lighting or temps), I would remove a little of the moss from around the roots to let them breathe a bit more. I am not sure that is the right thing to do but it is what I would likely do. Good luck!

[WhiteRabbit]

Make sure the sphag isn't staying too wet.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Rosie, would you mind sharing a photo of your setup? I had asked you for one once on Facebook, but it's now buried on my Facebook wall. I love this orchid, and just ordered a new (mounted) one to try again. I'd love to try out your method!

Sorry only just seen this I posted it for Camille over on facebook again, but so others can see it, here is how I grow Haraella retrocalla (and it's just dropped a flower and has another on the way )



Water in the bottom provides humidity, sometimes the water is touching the mount, sometimes it isn't. If I'm in a rush I water by pouring a little over the mount in-situ (which raises the water level a little), if I have more time I take it out, pour more water over then put back. I change the water completely every few weeks (when it starts to look green is usually what prompts me to).

It seems to like a west window with it's back to the sun (facing into the room) strangely. I tried it in an east window both facing out and facing in and it got very very pale.

I don't mist at all, and the top is always open. When it was in the wrong light the leaves got pale almost yellow and I lost two. Since moving it back to where it was last year (though it was in an old pop bottle then) it has greened up and seems much happier.

Humidity is not noticeably high to my senses, however when I had it out in open air it wrinkled and a spike dried up even though I was watering daily. I then put it in a cut off base of a pop bottle, hung from the side like it now is in the vase, watered daily, and it plumped back up quite quickly. It's never looked dehydrated since.

[Nepenthesguy]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Sorry only just seen this I posted it for Camille over on facebook again, but so others can see it, here is how I grow Haraella retrocalla (and it's just dropped a flower and has another on the way )



Water in the bottom provides humidity, sometimes the water is touching the mount, sometimes it isn't. If I'm in a rush I water by pouring a little over the mount in-situ (which raises the water level a little), if I have more time I take it out, pour more water over then put back. I change the water completely every few weeks (when it starts to look green is usually what prompts me to).

It seems to like a west window with it's back to the sun (facing into the room) strangely. I tried it in an east window both facing out and facing in and it got very very pale.

I don't mist at all, and the top is always open. When it was in the wrong light the leaves got pale almost yellow and I lost two. Since moving it back to where it was last year (though it was in an old pop bottle then) it has greened up and seems much happier.

Humidity is not noticeably high to my senses, however when I had it out in open air it wrinkled and a spike dried up even though I was watering daily. I then put it in a cut off base of a pop bottle, hung from the side like it now is in the vase, watered daily, and it plumped back up quite quickly. It's never looked dehydrated since.

Love the simplicity (and effectiveness) of that setup! Going to have to try that next time I get in mini's (may do it to a larger plant that doesn't seem to happy).

[Tindomul]

That's a great setup. WHen I kept this one I was very successful at keeping it blooming and a little growth too. I think what ended up happening was that the moss it was mounted on stopped drying out enough, always soggy. Then it died.