Root issues, orchids growing on trees

[lzel924]

I have 3 Phalaenopsis orchids attached on different trees. All 3 currently have flowers and a decent amount of leaves. Recently the roots have started to look shriveled and I am worried the orchids are sick, or dying. 2 of them have double flower stalks and one of them ended up with 35 flowers/buds at one time. Any advice on what is going on or how to save them would be greatly appreciated!

[Dollythehun]

They look terribly dehydrated.

[epiphyte78]

Maybe not enough water and/or shade. These orchids have big leaves and relatively little capacity to store water.

Here in Southern California when it's hot... water evaporates pretty quickly during the day. So when the temps don't fall below 50F I only water at night. This gives my mounted orchids a lot more time to fully hydrate.

[lzel924]

Thank you. I was worried they were getting too much water as we just installed sprinklers 3 months ago and I was worried they were being impacted by that. It has been dry here. Any tips besides just watering more often? Would adding some sph moss to them help? I always worry about overwatering them but given how hot it is in Miami I guess I should not be

[epiphyte78]

Part of the benefit of mounting orchids is that overwatering is far less of a concern. Instead, you have to worry about underwatering! But it sure is easier to recuperate a dehydrated orchid than a rotted one.

Adding moss can certainly help provide more moisture. But it can also help hide slugs and other pests.

Like I said, watering at night helps the orchids have more time to hydrate.

Since you live in Miami... perhaps these threads might be of interest...

Community Orchid Project - Dog Park Miami

Tampa Florida outdoor growing.

I like the idea of multiple people watering orchids mounted on trees in the same park. Would they have to coordinate with each other? Or would they simply walk around with supersoakers and water the orchids when they looked thirsty?

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by epiphyte78

...I like the idea of multiple people watering orchids mounted on trees in the same park. Would they have to coordinate with each other? Or would they simply walk around with supersoakers and water the orchids when they looked thirsty?

If they're near ground level, the people can just stand and point.

[epiphyte78]

Originally Posted by estación seca

If they're near ground level, the people can just stand and point.

There's a very small community park a couple blocks from my house and I've definitely thought about attaching an orchid or two to the trees there. Of course I'd have to water it. Unlike Florida it rarely ever rains here during summer.

There's usually quite a few old people who congregate at the park. I wonder if they would prefer the park more if the trees had orchids on them. If so, then since they hang out there anyways then they should water the orchids.

I guess I could conduct a survey...

1. Would you like orchids on these trees? If yes...
2. Would you be willing to water the orchids?

Many hands make light work!

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by epiphyte78

...[old people] should water the orchids.

I guess I could conduct a survey....

2. Would you be willing to water the orchids?

You don't know many old people, do you? Most of us would prefer whatever is the least amount of work.

[epiphyte78]

Originally Posted by estación seca

You don't know many old people, do you? Most of us would prefer whatever is the least amount of work.

I'd put Draculas on the trees and make the old people stand there all day misting them.

Or, I could just use a drone to water the orchids?

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[Roberta]

It is really impossible to over-water a mounted orchid. These Phals would be happy with a good dousing every day at a minimum, in the summer twice a day. Even with Miami humidity. The underlying species come from the Philippines, where they get rained on pretty much every day, and the humidity is very high.